1865 10C MS67 Certification #08331040, PCGS #4641

Mintage: 10,500
Obverse Dies: 2 Known

Two sets of dies were used to strike 1865 Philadelphia coinage. This date comes well struck when it can be located. Business strikes are currently in strong demand and are difficult to locate.

The two 1865 die pairs will be found in progressive die states and have produced interesting varieties. The first pair (Obverse 1/Reverse A) was thought to have been used for both proof and business strike coinage by Ahwash, however I have only seen business strikes from these dies. The die pair becomes heavily clashed during its end of life for business strikes. The second die pair (Obverse 2/Reverse B) was though to have also produced both proofs and business strikes by Ahwash. However, I have only seen proofs from this die pair, with a spectacular 180 degree rotated reverse variety being known for the die pair.

Plate Coin: Fortin 101a, Repunched Date, Condition Census, Wonderful Luster and Cameo Effect

Ron Guth

In keeping wth the two previous years, employees at the Philadelphia Mint produced hardly any Dimes at all -- in fact, it probably took as much time to make the 500 Proofs of this year as it did to make the short run of 10,000 circulation strikes.  Fortunately, by 1865 the number of collectors in America was large enough that sufficient Mint State examples were socked away to satisfy the demands of collectors a century or more later, though such coins are not inexpensive by any means.  Nonetheless, like the 1863, 1864, 1866, and 1867 Dimes, the 1865 seems like a tremendous value when compared to regular type coins of the period.

Seated Dime researcher Gerry Fortin identified two die pairs for this year: one used solely for Proof coins; and the other only for circulation strikes.