Type 5, Legend Obverse

Q. David Bowers (edited and updated by Mike Sherman): In the half dime and dime series, a modification to the design occurred in 1860. The Liberty Seated motif was retained as the central obverse design, but the peripheral stars were eliminated in favor of the inscription UNITED STATES OF AMERICA that had previously appeared around the border of the reverse. The date remained below Liberty. The reverse wreath was restyled to a larger format without lettering at the border, enclosing the denomination expressed as HALF DIME. This style was continued thorough the end of the denomination in 1873.

The type collector will have no difficulty acquiring a common date of this type in any desired grade from Good through Uncirculated. As might be expected, Superb Uncirculated pieces may require a bit of searching. Proofs were issued to collectors and are generally available. Scattered among the common dates in the series are several scarce varieties, and the Philadelphia issues of 1863-1867 inclusive are rare.

-- Reprinted with permission from "United States Coins by Design Types - An Action Guide for the Collector and Investor" by Q. David Bowers