Semi-Numismatic

1857 Liberty Seated Dime Good

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In 1857, the Philadelphia Mint produced a ten-cent silver coin that captures the artistic spirit of pre-Civil War America. Struck in 90 percent silver, this dime contains 0.0715 troy ounces of precious metal and represents a long-running era of United States coinage defined by elegant, allegorical imagery. The obverse of the coin showcases Christian Gobrecht's celebrated depiction of Lady Liberty. She is shown seated, holding a staff topped with a Phrygian cap, while her other hand rests upon a shield. This iconic representation of freedom and vigilance is anchored by the year 1857 inscribed directly below the figure. On the reverse, a detailed wreath encircles the central denomination, which reads as ONE DIME. The surrounding inscription identifies the issuing nation as the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. This particular specimen survives in Good condition, showing the honest wear of a coin that actively circulated through the daily commerce of the mid-nineteenth century.