Lot 499
1844 Liberty Seated Dime. PCGS graded AU-55. Lovely blue and gold peripheral toning on the obverse, with less toning on the reverse. One of the finest graded of this scarce date, PCGS has seen only 1 graded as AU-55, and 3 graded higher (best MS-65). Fully struck by the dies and a spectacular example of this low mintage date (72,500).
Decades ago this date was hoarded by a hack writer from Kansas City named Frank C. Ross (Breen), who then fed specimens from his hoard into the market at much higher prices. Ross is credited with bestowing the name "Orphan Annie" on the date, although no one is certain why this name was used. Whatever the cause, the result was higher prices for 1844 dimes, and this is certainly reflected in the price Dr. Benson paid for this coin, which was more than 10 times as expensive as surrounding dates, and even double the price of the rarer 1846, purchased at the same time!
Estimated Value $1,200 - 1,700.
From the Benson collection and purchased from James G. Macallister on February 20, 1945 for $40.00.
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| Realized $5,750 |
