The 1848 Liberty Seated Dime was struck only at the Philadelphia Mint, making it a single-issue year for this denomination. Retail guide estimates for the regular business strike run from about $29 in G4 to around $1,219 in MS63, while a rare Proof example carries a separate and much higher price point.

Original surfaces and correct identification matter far more than shine.

Fast Way to Identify Your 1848 Liberty Seated Dime

Snap a clear photo of the front and back of your coin under even lighting. Upload both images to our identifier for a preliminary look at what you have — it can help narrow down the denomination, design type, and mint.

It won't substitute for professional grading or authentication, but it is a solid first step before you dig deeper.

1848 Liberty Seated Dime Value

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Which 1848 Liberty Seated Dime Versions Are Worth Money?

The regular Philadelphia business strike ranges from roughly $29 at G4 to about $1,219 at MS63 per USA Coin Book guide estimates — original, problem-free surfaces push values toward the higher end of any grade.
Proof 1848 dimes are genuinely rare early issues, not routine collector products; a single PR63 guide anchor sits around $20,000 per PCGS, reflecting extreme scarcity rather than ordinary demand.
Philadelphia is the only mint for this date — no branch-mint versions exist, so confirming the absence of a mintmark is a quick authenticity check.

Step 1: Identify Your 1848 Liberty Seated Dime Mint Mark and Version

1848 Liberty Seated Dime: Mint & Version Guide with all listed versions and genuine identifying details

Start by confirming the obverse shows a seated Liberty figure holding a shield, with thirteen stars around the border and the date 1848 below. The reverse should read ONE DIME inside a small wreath with the words UNITED STATES OF AMERICA around the rim.

If your coin says HALF DIME, stop — that is a different denomination entirely, and its varieties do not apply here.

Philadelphia strikes carry no mintmark. Check below the wreath on the reverse: you should see only an empty field.

Any letter there means a different mint and a different coin listing.

The 1848 dime belongs to the Stars Obverse, With Drapery subtype. Look at Liberty's elbow on the obverse — a small fold of drapery should be visible behind her left arm.

The coin is 90% silver and 10% copper, weighs a nominal 2.67 grams, measures 17.9 mm across, and has a reeded edge. A kitchen scale accurate to the tenth of a gram can help flag obvious counterfeits or plated fakes.

Step 2: Check Your 1848 Liberty Seated Dime Grade

1848 Liberty Seated Dime numeric grading guide

When judging wear, focus on Liberty's head, the shield on her lap, the gown folds across her legs, and her feet. These are the highest points and the first to lose detail.

On the reverse, the wreath tips and lettering show friction early.

Do not confuse a weakly struck coin with a heavily worn one. Some 1848 dimes left the press with soft detail in specific areas due to worn dies or uneven striking pressure.

True wear removes luster uniformly, while strike weakness leaves protected spots still frosty.

Compare your coin side by side with the grading image for this subtype. Luster, surface marks, and remaining detail all factor in together.

A coin that has been harshly cleaned or polished will look unnaturally bright and often shows fine hairlines under magnification — that is damage, not preservation.

Proof coins are a separate category from Mint State business strikes. Proof refers to how the coin was made, not how nice it looks.

A polished circulation coin is still a circulation coin, no matter how mirror-like someone made it.

Step 3: Check 1848 Liberty Seated Dime Value by Mint and Version

1848 Liberty Seated Dime — No Mint Mark — Regular Issue

1848 Liberty Seated Dime Coin — No Mint Mark — Regular Issue, obverse and reverse, with date and mint-location details

The 1848 regular-issue dime was struck at Philadelphia with no mintmark. It uses the Stars Obverse with Drapery design and the small-wreath reverse bearing the ONE DIME legend.

The coin is 90% silver and 10% copper, weighing about 2.67 grams.

USA Coin Book guide estimates place this issue at roughly $29 in G4 and around $1,219 in MS63. Those are snapshot retail figures, not guaranteed sale prices, and actual transactions vary with eye appeal and market timing.

Coins with original toning and no cleaning tend to command stronger bids than dipped or retoned examples at the same technical grade.

If you are exploring values for other dates or denominations, Coin Value Lookup is a handy starting point for browsing coin guides by year and type.

Need help grading?Coin Identifier

Range	Grade	Price	Auction Records	Appraisal
PO	PO 1		—	Coin Identifier
FR	FR 2		—	Coin Identifier
AG	AG 3		—	Coin Identifier
G	G 4		—	Coin Identifier
G	G 6		—	Coin Identifier
VG	VG 8		—	Coin Identifier
VG	VG 10		—	Coin Identifier
F	F 12		—	Coin Identifier
F	F 15			Coin Identifier
VF	VF 20			Coin Identifier
	VF 25			Coin Identifier
	VF 30			Coin Identifier
	VF 35			Coin Identifier
XF	XF 40			Coin Identifier
XF	XF 45			Coin Identifier
AU	AU 50			Coin Identifier
	AU 53			Coin Identifier
	AU 55			Coin Identifier
	AU 58			Coin Identifier
MS	MS 60		—	Coin Identifier
	MS 61			Coin Identifier
	MS 62			Coin Identifier
	MS 63			Coin Identifier
	MS 64			Coin Identifier
	MS 65			Coin Identifier
	MS 66			Coin Identifier
	MS 67	—	—	—
	MS 68	—	—	—
	MS 69	—	—	—
	MS 70	—	—	—

1848 Liberty Seated Dime — No Mint Mark — Proof Regular Issue

1848 Liberty Seated Dime Coin — No Mint Mark — Proof Regular Issue, obverse and reverse, with date and mint-location details

Proof 1848 Liberty Seated Dimes are rare survivors from the early years of deliberate Proof coinage at Philadelphia. These were not mass-produced annual collector sets — mintages were tiny and largely undocumented.

A genuine Proof will show deeply mirrored fields on both sides, with devices that stand in sharp relief against the reflective surface. Under magnification, look for squared-off rims and fully defined denticles.

Hairlines from old cleaning are common on surviving Proofs and do affect the grade.

Do not confuse a polished or heavily cleaned business strike with a Proof. Polishing can simulate mirror fields, but the strike characteristics and edge sharpness will differ.

PCGS lists a PR63 guide value of approximately $20,000, reflecting extreme scarcity rather than routine trading. Third-party certification is essential before assuming any 1848 dime is a genuine Proof.

Need help grading?Coin Identifier

Range	Grade	Price	Auction Records	Appraisal
PR	PR 1		—	Coin Identifier
	PR 2		—	Coin Identifier
	PR 3		—	Coin Identifier
	PR 4		—	Coin Identifier
	PR 6		—	Coin Identifier
	PR 8		—	Coin Identifier
	PR 10		—	Coin Identifier
	PR 12		—	Coin Identifier
	PR 15		—	Coin Identifier
	PR 20		—	Coin Identifier
	PR 25		—	Coin Identifier
	PR 30		—	Coin Identifier
	PR 35		—	Coin Identifier
	PR 40		—	Coin Identifier
	PR 45		—	Coin Identifier
	PR 50		—	Coin Identifier
	PR 53		—	Coin Identifier
	PR 55			Coin Identifier
	PR 60	—	—	—
	PR 61	—	—	—
	PR 62	—	—	—
	PR 63		—	Coin Identifier
	PR 64			Coin Identifier
	PR 65			Coin Identifier
	PR 66	—	—	—
	PR 67	—	—	—
	PR 68	—	—	—
	PR 69	—	—	—
	PR 70	—	—	—