1873-CC Seated Liberty Dime (No Arrows)

The 1873-CC Seated Liberty Dime without arrows at the date is one of the most celebrated rarities in all of United States coinage, long associated with the fact that only a single confirmed example is known to exist. It was struck briefly at the Carson City Mint before the design was modified partway through the year to add arrows flanking the date, marking a small change in the coin's weight standard mandated by the Coinage Act of 1873.

Because of its singular status, the coin occupies a near-mythical place in American numismatics, frequently mentioned alongside other legendary unique or near-unique U.S. rarities.

Collectors who cannot realistically hope to own the coin itself nonetheless study it closely as part of understanding the broader 1873 arrows transition across the dime, quarter, and half dollar denominations.

The Coinage Act of 1873, sometimes called the "Crime of '73" by contemporary critics for its role in demonetizing silver dollars, also slightly adjusted the weight of the dime, quarter, and half dollar to align more precisely with the metric system and international trade standards. To mark this change, the Mint added arrows beside the date on affected coins for a limited time.

Before the arrows design was implemented, a small number of dimes without arrows were struck at the Carson City Mint dated 1873, apparently in the earliest weeks of the year before the new dies arrived. Carson City, established primarily to coin silver and gold from the nearby Comstock Lode, produced relatively small quantities of most denominations compared to Philadelphia and San Francisco.

Over time, only a single specimen of the No Arrows 1873-CC dime has been definitively traced and authenticated, cementing its reputation as one of the great rarities of the Seated Liberty series and of Carson City coinage generally.

The obverse shows the standard Seated Liberty design: Liberty seated on a rock, holding a liberty pole with cap and a shield, surrounded by stars, with the date below and no arrows flanking the digits. The reverse displays ONE DIME within a wreath, with the CC mint mark positioned within or below the wreath, and UNITED STATES OF AMERICA around the border.

Struck in 90% silver and 10% copper with a reeded edge, the coin is identical in basic design to other Seated Liberty dimes of the period except for the absence of arrows at the date, which distinguishes it from the far more available 1873-CC With Arrows dime struck later that same year.

Because only one authenticated example is known, any coin purporting to be an 1873-CC No Arrows dime found outside of its documented ownership history should be treated with extreme skepticism and referred to major grading services and numismatic experts for verification.

As a unique coin, the 1873-CC No Arrows dime has sold for prices well into the seven figures when it has changed hands at auction, reflecting its status as one of the rarest coins in the entire American series. Because there is only one known example, there is effectively no meaningful "typical" value range as with other coins; its price is set anew each time it is offered.

Most collectors will never own or handle this coin and instead encounter it only through auction records, museum exhibits, or numismatic literature discussing great American rarities.

Given its singular nature and value, the coin's authenticity and ownership history are exceptionally well documented, and any claimed additional example would require extraordinary scrutiny from the numismatic community.