1842 10C Liberty Seated Dime PCGS MS65

A conditionally scarce Gem from the early Liberty Seated dime series, this 1842 Philadelphia issue is certified PCGS MS65 and ranks among the finer survivors of the date. The obverse presents Liberty seated on a rock, supporting a Union shield and holding a liberty pole surmounted by a cap, with the date 1842 below and thirteen stars around. On the reverse, a finely rendered wreath encloses the denomination ONE DIME, with UNITED STATES OF AMERICA at the border. This is the classic early No Drapery Liberty Seated dime design, a short-lived and highly collected subtype that represents the formative years of Christian Gobrecht’s silver coinage. In Gem Mint State, the present example offers notably strong visual appeal. The strike is well above average for the issue, with bold central definition, sharp star centers, crisp denticles, and pleasing wreath detail. Both sides retain bright, satiny mint luster with a silver-white appearance and only the lightest, scattered marks expected of the grade. Surface preservation is solid throughout, and the overall presentation is clean, balanced, and attractive, fully consistent with the PCGS MS65 designation. The 1842 dime is a popular Philadelphia issue within the Liberty Seated series and, while obtainable in lower Mint State grades, becomes decidedly elusive at the Gem level. As specialists have long noted, this date behaves much like the neighboring 1841 and 1843 issues: reasonably available in circulated grades and lower Mint State, but scarce in premium preservation. Typical Uncirculated pieces fall into the MS63 to MS64 range, while true Gems are few and finer coins are rare. Gerry Fortin has identified eight die varieties for the year, underscoring the issue’s appeal to both date collectors and die-marriage specialists. Certified examples at this level are distinctly limited. PCGS reports a population of just 10 in MS65, with only 7 graded finer, confirming the coin’s status as a scarce condition rarity despite a substantial original mintage of 1,887,500 pieces. That combination of solid absolute availability, strong type demand, and real scarcity in Gem preservation makes this date especially desirable for advanced type sets, Liberty Seated dime collections, and high-end 19th-century silver cabinets. A sharply produced and highly collectible Gem, this 1842 Liberty Seated Dime offers the quality, historical character, and certified scarcity that sophisticated collectors seek.