1874 Liberty Seated Dime. Arrows. Proof-66 (NGC). This richly original Gem exhibits intermingled cobalt blue, champagne-pink and pearl-gray to dominant olive-charcoal patina. Direct lighting calls forth more vivid undertones of similar colors, and it also allows ready appreciation of a universally reflective finish from the dies. As with their counterparts from 1853 to 1855, the Liberty Seated dimes with Arrows of 1873 and 1874 carried that distinguishing feature to denote a change in the weight standard for the denomination. In the case of these later issues, the weight was increased slightly from 2.49 grams to 2.50 grams by the Act of February 12, 1873. The Arrows coinage of 1873 to 1874 is more challenging to locate in Mint State than its predecessor from the mid 1850s, with the result that Proofs are often selected for inclusion in high grade type sets. This is an exceptionally well preserved survivor from a Proof mintage of 700 pieces for the 1874 issue that is sure to please the discerning numismatist.
