1887 Seated Liberty Silver Dime Appraisal

1887 Seated Liberty Silver Dime

This is a United States Seated Liberty Dime dated 1887. The coin is composed of 90% silver and 10% copper, measuring approximately 17.9 millimeters in diameter. The obverse design features Liberty seated on a rock, holding a staff topped with a Phrygian cap in her left hand and a shield inscribed with 'LIBERTY' in her right. The date '1887' is clearly visible at the bottom. Surrounding the central figure are thirteen stars, representing the original colonies, along with the text 'UNITED STATES OF AMERICA'. The coin shows evidence of circulation with moderate wear on the high points, particularly on Liberty's knees and the shield's inscription. The surfaces exhibit a natural greyish-silver patina with some darker toning around the rim and within the recessed areas of the design. No significant scratches, gouges, or cleaning marks are immediately apparent from the visual inspection, although microscopic hairlines are typical for a coin of this age. The strike quality appears average for the period, with the denticles around the rim remaining mostly distinct. This variety does not feature arrows at the date, which was the standard configuration for this year of production at the Philadelphia Mint.