Semi-Numismatic

1856 Liberty Seated Dime Small Date Good

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This silver dime from 1856 offers a tangible glimpse into pre-1933 United States coinage. Struck at the Philadelphia Mint, the coin is composed of 90 percent silver, containing approximately 0.0715 troy ounces of the precious metal. Despite its circulated Good condition, the piece retains the essential elements of its historic mid-nineteenth-century design. The obverse displays the iconic image of Lady Liberty seated upon a rock. In her hands, she supports a shield and a staff topped with a Phrygian cap, a traditional symbol of freedom. This side also features the date 1856 stamped below the central figure. The reverse of the coin features the words ONE DIME encircled by a detailed laurel wreath, surrounded by the legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. This classic design was the work of Christian Gobrecht, an influential artist who served as the third Chief Engraver of the United States Mint. His Liberty Seated motif became one of the most enduring and recognizable images on American silver currency during the nineteenth century.