On Friday, a coveted 1873-CC No Arrows Liberty Seated dime graded PCGS MS-65 sold for a record $1.84 million USD by Stack's Bowers Galleries to anonymous bidder. Make it as the world's most expensive dime ever sold at auction. The unique Carson city 1873 dime is the only survivor from 12,400 coins minted for that year. All the other coins were melted to make a new coin. The sale of the Battle Born Collection took place as part of Stack's Bowers Galleries Rarities Night Auction at the American Numismatic Association World's Fair of Money held at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia. For a record, a 1894-S Barber Dime sold for $1.9 million in 2007 by Daniel Rosenthal to an anonymous buyer (without auction).
On the obverse design show the figure of the goddess Liberty clad in a flowing dress and seated upon a rock. She holds a Liberty pole surmounted by a Phrygian cap, in her left hand, a symbol of freedom during the movement of Neoclassicism. Liberty's right hand rested on the top corner of a striped shield with a diagonal banner inscribed with the word "LIBERTY." The shield represented preparedness in the defense of freedom. The date of the coin appeared on the bottom below Liberty.
The coin reverse show the inscription "ONE DIME," surrounded by a wreath, consisted of laurel leaves, corn and wheat. The "CC" (for Carson City) mintmarks were located below the wreath next to the rim.
Technical Specifications:
Diameter: 17.90 millimeters
Designer: James Barton Longacre
Weight: 2.48 grams
Edge: Reeded
Mintage: 12,400
Metal Content: 90% Silver, 10% Copper
For more information about the Battle Born Collection auction, you can visit www.stacksbowers.com.
