1853 10C No Arrows VF30 认证号43464592, PCGS号4599

Ron Guth

1853 was a year of big changes in American coins, and the Dimes were not immune.  Early in 1853, the Philadelphia Mint produced 95,000 Dimes under the old weight standard of 2.67 grams.  Later in 1853, the weight of the Dime was reduced to 2.49 grams.  To signify the change, engravers placed arrowheads on either side of the date, then the coiners proceeded to strike over 12 million Dimes of the new format.  Ironically, the 1853 With Arrows Dime is more popular with collectors than the No Arrows version -- even though the former has a substantially larger mintage -- because it represents a type issued for only three years.  Nonethless, the 1853 No Arrows Dime is a scarce and popular coin in its own right.  Despite its scarity, collectors can find this date in Mint State with relative ease, and there are several really nice examples (including some MS68's).  

Dime expert, Jerry Fortin, has identifed two die pairs used to strike all of the 1853 No Arrows Dimes.