Semi-Numismatic

1842 Liberty Seated Dime Fine

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The year 1842 marked a fascinating period in American coinage, captured beautifully in this silver dime from the Philadelphia Mint. Struck in 90 percent pure silver with a weight of 0.0715 troy ounces, this ten-cent piece belongs to the beloved Liberty Seated series, a design that defined the look of United States silver coins for over half a century. On the obverse, Lady Liberty sits gracefully, holding a staff topped with a Phrygian cap, while her other hand rests upon a shield inscribed with the word LIBERTY. The year 1842 is clearly struck below her feet. This elegant composition was created by Christian Gobrecht, whose artistic vision brought a classical sensibility to the nation's pocket change. The reverse of the coin presents a clean and focused design. A delicate wreath wraps around the central inscription, which states the face value as ONE DIME. Surrounding this wreath is the legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, framing the denomination in a timeless, understated style.