Lot #46: 1875 CC US Seated Liberty .900 Silver Dime Semi-Key Date

United States of America Seated Liberty 1875 Silver dime. 17.9mm (2.38 g) 0.900 Silver. Mint: Carson City (mark below the bow rather than above) Obverse Designer: James B. Longacre Reverse Designer: James B. Longacre Edge: Reeded Lady Liberty clad in a flowing dress and seated upon a rock. In her left hand, she holds a Liberty pole surmounted by a Phrygian cap, and right hand atop shield; thirteen six-pointed stars above. One dime, Wreath. It's not certain why the Philadelphia Mint shipped reverse dies to San Francisco and Carson City having mintmarks that were placed either above or below the wreath bow. The normal position since 1860 was below, and this experiment was conducted with dimes only in 1875. A similar trial was made with half dimes during 1870-72, though only the last date is found both ways. Perhaps, this was an attempt to deal with the problem of filled or indistinct mintmarks, since the below bow position was directly opposite Liberty's head on the obverse. Whatever the reason, no further such switches appear after 1875. The 1875-CC Seated Liberty dime is considered a highly collectible "better date" or semi-key date coin due to its origin at the Carson City Mint. While not as rare as the 1873-CC or 1874-CC, the 1875-CC is sought after. Pickup category timeslot {A}