How Much Is A Seated Liberty Dime Worth?
Values for the Seated Liberty dime run from about $12–$20 (Common dates, Good) to $500–$100,000+ (Carson City issues (1871–74)). Here is what separates the bottom of that range from the top — and how to find out where your coin lands.
History of the Seated Liberty Dime
The Seated Liberty dime spanned half a century of American history, from the age of Jackson to the dawn of the Barber coinage. Liberty sits on a rock holding a shield and pole — a design used across every silver denomination of the era. The long run includes numerous subtypes: stars added, arrows at the date marking weight changes, and legends replacing stars.
Carson City issues from the early 1870s are the glamour coins of the series; the 1873-CC No Arrows is unique, and other early CC dimes bring five and six figures. Common Philadelphia dates of the 1880s, meanwhile, remain surprisingly affordable for coins nearly 150 years old.
The Seated Liberty dime was struck from 1837 to 1891 in 90% silver. The design is the work of Christian Gobrecht. Each coin weighs 2.49 grams (later standard). Production took place at Philadelphia, New Orleans (O), San Francisco (S) and Carson City (CC).
How much is a Seated Liberty dime worth?
Like every collectible coin, the value of a Seated Liberty dime comes down to grade, rarity and demand. The ranges below are approximate retail prices collectors pay for problem-free examples — coins that have been cleaned, scratched or holed usually trade well below these figures.
Printed price guides age quickly. The most honest benchmark is what comparable coins actually sold for. AI Coin Collector gives you a starting point: the Numista catalogue price per grade, from VG to UNC, whenever it identifies a coin.
- Common dates, Good: $12–$20
- Common dates, Fine: $20–$35
- Common dates, XF: $50–$90
- MS-63: $250–$450
- Carson City issues (1871–74): $500–$100,000+
How to identify a genuine Seated Liberty Dime
Before you get excited about a potential find, confirm that the coin in your hand matches the genuine article. Work through this checklist:
When a coin fails any of these checks, treat it with suspicion. Modern counterfeits can be convincing at arm's length, but weight, dimensions and die details rarely lie.
- Arrows beside the date (1853–55 and 1873–74) mark weight-change subtypes collected separately.
- Mint marks appear on the reverse, inside or below the wreath.
- Early CC dimes are heavily counterfeited — certification is advised for any Carson City example.
Check your Seated Liberty dime with AI Coin Collector
The fastest way to find out what you have is to photograph the coin with AI Coin Collector. Our own AI vision model suggests what it is (you check and adjust the suggestion), the app estimates a grade on the Sheldon 1–70 scale, and shows the Numista catalogue price per grade.
From there you can add the coin to a collection, see the collection’s total value and export it to CSV. The app is free to start and comes to Android first.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a Seated Liberty dime worth?
Broadly, examples at the bottom of the market (Common dates, Good) trade around $12–$20, while the strongest pieces (Carson City issues (1871–74)) bring $500–$100,000+. Grade, rarity and eye appeal decide where a specific coin lands, and problem-free coins always bring the best prices.
How can I tell if my Seated Liberty dime is genuine?
Start with the physical basics: arrows beside the date (1853–55 and 1873–74) mark weight-change subtypes collected separately. Counterfeits usually fail on weight, dimensions or fine die details, so compare your coin against verified reference photos before paying a premium.
Can an app identify and value my Seated Liberty dime?
Yes. AI Coin Collector suggests an identification from a single photo using our own AI vision model — you check and adjust it — estimates a Sheldon grade from 1 to 70, and shows the Numista catalogue price per grade.