1874-S Liberty Seated Dime. Arrows. Fortin-102. Rarity-4. Small Thin S. MS-66+ (PCGS).Breathtakingly beautiful surfaces really need to be seen to be fully appreciated. Both sides are attractively toned in a blend of iridescent reddish-apricot, pale pink and powder blue shades that are bolder and more pronounced on the obverse. Sharply struck with intense mint luster and a virtually pristine appearance. The 1874-S is the second of only two San Francisco Mint contributions to the brief Arrows, Legend Obverse portion of the Liberty Seated dime series. As perhaps the mintages might imply (240,000 vs. 455,000 coins, respectively), the 1874-S is scarcer than the 1873-S in all grades. Both issues saw heavy domestic circulation along the West Coast and on the frontier, where silver coinage enjoyed strong and steady demand stretching back to before the Civil War. Not surprisingly, the typical 1874-S dime extant is well worn, and many are also impaired. This issue is nothing short of rare in all Uncirculated grades, Q. David Bowers (2016) describing it as "very rare in Mint State, with a population on the order of 25 to 50 pieces." Ranked Condition Census #2 behind two MS-67 entries at NGC, this top-of-the-pop PCGS MS-66+ will delight the advanced Liberty Seated dime specialist, especially one whose collection is a contender for the finest listed on the Set Registry.
