By Lynn Ourso:

Pictured is an 1854-O dime that I purchased around 7 years ago in a coin shop in Lafayette Louisiana. The coin was in a box with many miscellaneous type coins. This one had exceptional quality and was problem free. I remembered then that it had a nice rim cud on the reverse. After examining the coin based on Brian Greer’s book on Liberty Seated Dimes I was able to attribute it as a G-102. Gerry Fortin has given it an F-104 designation in his E-book.

My coin is a later die state than the coin pictured in Gerry’s book. Comparing the photos my obverse die has more distinctive die cracks at the toe of Ms. Liberty and from the rim toward the leg below star #13. The left base of the 1 in the date has been just about polished off. Another interest crack has developed from the top of Ms. Liberty’s nose to the rim. Gerry doesn’t mention this in his description; however, it may be there but just very light or thin. The reverse is also a late die state with the crack Gerry describes from the rim to the O in OF being heavier and a rim cud has developed. This is the latest die state of this variety that I have seen. I wished I had remembered I had this coin while Gerry was developing his book.

Around 6 months ago I sent this coin to PGCS and they graded it AU-55 except incorrectlydating the holder 1853-O. I was planning to photo the coin in the holder but the soft plastic that holds the coin hid the rim cud. I asked PCGS at a show if they would put it in a correct holder but remove a bit of the plastic to show the rim cud; they refused (they would correct the date). I cracked the coin out and took the photos that accompany this article.

Now that it is currently hard to locate nice Liberty Seated coins, here is another variety with a late die state that dime collectors will surely look for. Unfortunately for most collectors, this isn’t a Philly or San Francisco coin, so before anyone asks, I collect New Orleans Liberty Seated coins and it’s not for sale (however, $50K might do it). LOL.