Transitional Tuesday: 1841 Seated Liberty Dime, PR67+ Transitional No Drapery Design

1841 10C PR67 NGC. CAC. Fortin-101, R.8 as a proof. Ex: "Col." E.H.R. Green. This exceedingly rare Superb Gem proof boasts extraordinary eye appeal with delicate cobalt-blue and pale reddish-gold toning over fully mirrored and flawless fields. The design motifs are boldly and completely defined.



The 1841 No Drapery dime is a transitional issue from an obverse die entirely unlike the earlier Without Drapery type. The 1838 to 1840 Without Drapery design has the shield tilted to the left, with the word LIBERTY starting well below the nearby thumb. Three fingers are visible in that hand. Although there is no drapery at the elbow, there is drapery covering her entire upper arm near the pole. Her gaze is slightly above horizontal. Four fingers grasp the pole, and all are closely spaced.

This obverse is also unlike the With Drapery design that began in 1840. The differences are especially noticed at the upper torso. The drapery between Liberty's torso and arms on both sides shows an entirely different treatment. The drapery coming over her upper arms toward the shoulders is clearly absent on the 1841 No Drapery dime, and that feature alone proves that it is more than merely a lapped die.

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