United States • 10 U.S. cents
Matching early Seated Liberty dimes use the reference of 2.67 gross grams, 90% silver and .0773 fine silver troy ounce. This guide covers observed dated types from 1837 through 1852 and the 1853 Philadelphia No Arrows issue. An 1853 Arrows dime belongs to the reduced-weight group.
When a fresh spot bid is available, melt values use fine-metal content × spot bid. CashForCoins guide buying offers use the separately configured percentage for each metal. Selected rare/numismatic coins require an appraisal. Dollar amounts remain unavailable when a fresh quote or buying percentage is missing.
Actual source-reviewed issue years for this exact denomination, design and metal/weight scope. Overdates, mint combinations and proof availability remain type-specific; specimen photos and measurements do not certify other examples. 1837–1852 and1853 PhiladelphiaNoArrows only;1853 Arrows belongs to the reduced standard.
Formula: specified fine-metal troy ounces × quantity. Dollar melt value additionally requires an approved current metal price.
Liberty is seated beside a shield with a pole and cap. The earliest No Stars form is distinct from the later Stars designs. Added drapery at Liberty's elbow is another design distinction within this heavier period. Match the date, stars and drapery to the exact dated type.
ONE DIME appears inside a wreath, with UNITED STATES OF AMERICA around the reverse. No Stars and Stars obverses can share this denomination layout. The mint mark and the complete wreath matter for identification; a related half dime is a different denomination.
The January 18, 1837 Mint Act specifies a 41.25-grain dime and a .900 silver alloy. This corresponds to 2.6729550375 nominal grams and .07734375 fine silver troy ounce. The reference presents the dated reference with rounded gross mass and ASW. The reduced-weight legislation of 1853 marks a later change rather than a change in the denomination.
Read the denomination and actual date first. A No Stars 1837 or 1838-O differs from a Stars coin of the same broad period. In 1853, inspect for arrows beside the date before choosing the weight reference. The listed 1853 scope is Philadelphia No Arrows; other alleged transition pieces need exact attribution.
The selected reference is 2.67 gross grams, .900 fineness and 0.0773 fine silver troy ounce per matching dime. Three matching coins contribute 8.01 reference gross grams and 0.2319 reference fine silver troy ounce. Gross alloy weight includes copper; use fine silver weight for a silver spot-price calculation. A spot quote is per troy ounce, and a reference melt estimate is not a collector valuation or buying offer.
Included calendar years are 1837, 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842, 1843, 1844, 1845, 1846, 1847, 1848, 1849, 1850, 1851, 1852 and 1853. The 1853 inclusion is conditional on Philadelphia No Arrows. KM 63.1 has an 1838–1840 URL span, but the inspected annual rows show 1838–1839; the 1840 addition is separately supported by KM 63.2. Date styles, star sizes, added drapery and listed overdates are design or die distinctions, not additional calendar years.
| Dated type | Observed years | Identification scope | The reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| KM 61 | 1837, 1838 | 1837 Philadelphia No Stars; 1838-O No Stars | 2.6700 g / .900 / 0.0773 fine silver troy oz |
| KM 63.1 | 1838, 1839 | Observed 1838–1839 Stars entries; 1840 scope is not inferred from the URL span | 2.6700 g / .900 / 0.0773 fine silver troy oz |
| KM 63.2 | 1840, 1841, 1842, 1843, 1844, 1845, 1846, 1847, 1848, 1849, 1850, 1851, 1852, 1853 | Observed added-drapery rows; 1853 is Philadelphia No Arrows only | 2.6700 g / .900 / 0.0773 fine silver troy oz |
A metal estimate is a reference for silver content, not a collector valuation. Date, mint, condition, original surfaces, finish and attribution can matter more than the silver amount. Keep certification labels and provenance with the coin and avoid cleaning or polishing before an appraisal.
Compare complete photographs of both faces and the edge, the readable date and mint mark, and measured mass and diameter. Wear and damage change a specimen's measured weight. A matching photograph or a single scale reading cannot certify authenticity; uncertain dates, altered markings and unusual surfaces need individual examination.
Separate identified weight families before counting a group of Seated Liberty dimes. Keep uncertain pieces aside and describe their dates, mint marks, arrows and finish in a CashForCoins appraisal request. Supply both faces rather than a photograph of a pile. The reference calculation does not establish a buying offer.
This calculation retains the reference’s reported .0773 fine silver troy ounce directly. Its 2.67 g presentation is not the full-precision statutory nominal mass; multiplying rounded fields cannot restore omitted precision. The legal comparison explains reference rounding without claiming another alloy or manufacturing standard. Annual coverage is limited to observed KM 61, 63.1 and 63.2 types; patterns, replicas and unverified specialist exceptions are excluded.
Content maintained by CashForCoins. Last substantive record update: 2026-10-12. Report a specification or attribution issue through our contact page.
Photo credits and rights on the linked coin profile.
United States • 90% silver, 10% copper
Issue years: 1853–1855 Arrows; 1856–1859 Stars except 1859-S; 1860-S Stars
Fine silver: 0.072000 troy oz
Photographs can help identify your coin. An appraisal may consider authenticity, condition and collector demand as well as metal content.
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