1869-S 10c F-101 Conundrum To The Non-Variety Example

The HA web site states the following:

Variety: Fortin-101, with a partial first S in STATES and a Small Thin S mintmark.

Population Data (9/15): NGC reports 14 submissions in MS65 and three finer. PCGS lists four in MS65 and five examples finer.

Consignor Commentary: The first S is STATES is awkwardly connected with its upper tip, confirming the variety. This issue is supposedly the easiest to locate of the San Francisco dates from the 1860s, yet finding a coin in top-notch Gem condition certainly proved challenging.

I looked in my personal Seated Liberty dimes variety book by Kamal Ahwash but did not seek any info. on possible die markers etc. to aid in further clarifying this issue.

I have to make a decision on what coins to send to PCGS for slabbing and a CCF-verified AU-50 1869-S 10C F-101 variety would most probably make the cut.

Therefore, once we have a consensus explanation on this issue using these two above verified and documented examples, I will post photos of my own 1869-S 10C with the hope that it too will be a F-101.

The attribution info. provided was very helpful plus I found a new web site, http://www.seateddimevarieties.com, to use.

The following photos are my own coin.

Ideally, it would be preferred to receive at least three opinions on the variety type my coin shows since I want to be sure that I spending my year-end PCGS slabbing money on the highest dollar value ones etc.

Also, I know this is not the grading forum but I'd appreciate seeing your thoughts on what this coin could go for retail-wise based upon its current condition and variety type:





B/t/w I only used axial lighting here to accent better all of the dings. But the true color of this coin is more of a white silver color similar to how it should have left the mint at initially.

I am not an expert in this area but it appears that the die near the date was starting to corrode/crumble. Opine here too.

When I complete the grading piece photos I'll put a link from here to there for all interested parties.

I've been waitng five years and still have not received any further comments on what the variety designation should be for this SL dime.

Please opine with reasons on what variety # this dime exhibits or if it is not a variety at all.

Definitely F-101.

Only two die pairings known for 1869-S according to Fortin's site, and the mintmark varies a good bit between the two. Yours seems to match F-101.

I'm not too familiar with Seated dimes or Fortin's work but it seems he lists the die pairings, not any specific types of die varieties as far as I can tell (at least not for these low mintage dates). So every coin can have a F-# attributed to it. "Not a variety" isn't applicable here.