Pre-Long Beach Auction #84

1844. PCGS graded Proof 64. CAC Approved. Although proof coinage mintage figures for many early U.S. issues before 1858 are either inaccurate or nonexistent, both Walter Breen and current authorities have estimated that perhaps eight examples of the proof 1844 Seated Liberty dime were produced. This coin issue is well-known to numismatists as the "Little Orphan Annie" dime, a case of early hype that originated in the 1940s, attributed to the Kansas City coin dealer, Frank C. Ross.

The digits of the date are entered high in the die and slope upward from left to right, so that the last 4 is nearer to the base under Liberty than the 1. The pendant on Liberty's gown is a bit to the left of the upright of 4 in the date, and the shield is upright. The bottom left serif of the 1 in the date is over the right side of a dentil. Both sides display bright underlying luster, with champagne-pink, pastel-gold, sky-blue, and silver surfaces with some localized spotty russet color near the rims. There are a couple of thin hairlines in the obverse fields, visible only with magnification at indirect light angles. The strike is expectedly sharp, with sharp wire edges on each side. Liberty's head details, gown clasp, sandals, and the star centrils on the obverse are all well brought up, and no weakness is visible on the reverse either. Slight cameo contrast is also seen on each side, although unmentioned on the PCGS holder. This fully original and exceedingly rare coin, a true legendary rarity, should appeal both to collectors of early proof type coins, as well as to the many collectors of Seated Liberty collectors. Pop 3; 2 finer in 65. (PCGS # 4731) .
Estimated Value $40,000 - 50,000.