1837 Sm Date 10C Liberty Seated NGC AU Details Damaged

1837 Seated Liberty Dime – Small Date (Philadelphia)

Design & Composition

• Designer: Christian Gobrecht

• Obverse: Lady Liberty seated on a rock, holding a Phrygian liberty pole in her left hand and resting her right on a shield inscribed “LIBERTY”

• Reverse: Features a wreath encircling “ONE DIME,” with the earlier versions lacking stars—this reflects the earliest issue type in 1837

• Composition: .900 silver / .100 copper

• Weight: 2.67 grams

• Diameter: 17.9 mm

• Edge: Reeded

Small Date Variety

• The small date variant has a rounded-top 3 and flat-tailed 7, replacing the larger, earlier numerals in 1837

• Fewer Small Date pieces were struck compared to the large date—making it scarcer in higher grades

• Since PCGS populations show more Small Dates than Large Dates, they tend to be slightly more available—but are still uncommon in Mint State

AU Details – Environmental Damage

• NGC AU Details indicates moderate circulation wear consistent with light commercial use.

• Environmental damage is noted, meaning the coin likely was exposed to corrosive elements—such as being buried or stored improperly. This can result in spotting, toning irregularities, or light pitting.

• While considered a defect, it’s distinct from polishing or cleaning and doesn’t affect the Survivability of design elements.

Historical Context

• First introduced in 1837, the Seated Liberty dime replaced the earlier Capped Bust design. This small-date version represents the second die variety of the year

• The series continued until 1891 and serves as a major classic-coin type collecting cornerstone for early silver coinage enthusiasts .