1855 Liberty Seated Dime. Arrows. MS-68 (NGC).Robust underlying luster supports pale peach at the obverse center that slowly gives way to bright electric-blue and gold. The reverse is medium silver-gray, again with strong underlying luster, and with faint blue and gold highlights here and there. A sharply struck Ultra Gem with essentially every tiny die detail evident. Furthermore the surfaces border on immaculate, making for an exciting example of both the type and issue.<p>One of the more popular type coins in the entire Liberty Seated dime series of 1837 to 1891, the 1855 is actually the scarcest Philadelphia Mint issue of the brief Arrows, Stars Obverse design type. As with the half dime, quarter and half dollar whose designs were also modified in similar fashion that year, the arrows were introduced to the obverse of the dime in 1853 to signify a weight reduction, in this case from 2.67 grams to 2.49 grams. The weight standard was changed through the Act of February 21, 1853, to discourage hoarding of silver coins in the Eastern states that followed within a couple of years of the discovery of gold in California and the onset of the Gold Rush. By reducing the coins weight and making them subsidiary, the dime was once again worth more in face value than as bullion and was able to circulate freely. The Mint dropped the arrows in 1856, although the revised weight standard remained in effect until 1873.<p>This is the finest circulation strike 1855 dime that we have ever had the privilege of bringing to auction. Tied for CC#1 for the issue with only one other grading event in NGC MS-68, this stunning Ultra Gem would serve as a highlight in a world class type set of classic U.S. Mint coinage.PCGS# 4607. NGC ID: 239C.NGC Census: 2; 0 finer. There are no examples certified finer than MS-67 at PCGS.
