How to Find an 1873-CC No Arrows Seated Liberty Dime

The 1873-CC No Arrows Seated Liberty dime is unique—only one example survived an order to melt the entire mintage, earning it the nickname “King of Carson City coins” among specialists in that branch mint’s output.

GetCoinHunt helps you search inventory from multiple coin dealers in one place and create a wishlist alert. For a coin this singular, that alert exists mainly to flag any claimed listing for serious scrutiny.

What makes the 1873-CC No Arrows dime historically significant?

The Coinage Act of 1873 made a small technical adjustment to the dime, increasing its weight slightly, and required “arrows” to be added beside the date on new dies to visually flag coins struck to the new standard. Before the Carson City Mint received dies incorporating that change, it had already struck 12,400 dimes dated 1873 without arrows, a mintage figure reported by PCGS CoinFacts. Once the new standard took effect, those coins no longer matched current law and were ordered melted and recoined to the new weight.

The order was apparently carried out almost completely—all but one coin. Per PCGS CoinFacts’s and the numismatic trade press’s pedigree research on the issue, the sole survivor’s documented ownership history traces back to John Swan Randall, a 19th-century collector from Norwich, New York. It has changed hands since; a 1873-CC No Arrows dime graded MS-65 by PCGS sold for $3.6 million at Heritage Auctions’ FUN U.S. Coins Signature Auction in January 2023, a record for the issue.

How to evaluate a claimed 1873-CC No Arrows dime

Understand there is only one

With a single known example and a documented ownership history tracing back to the 19th century, any coin presented as a second genuine 1873-CC No Arrows dime should be treated as almost certainly not genuine.

Distinguish it from the 1873-CC With Arrows dime

The far more common 1873-CC dime with arrows beside the date is a different, considerably more available coin. Confirm carefully whether arrows are present—their absence is the entire basis of this coin’s rarity.

Insist on documented pedigree and current certification

A legitimate offering of the known coin would come through a major auction house with full, traceable provenance. Only certification verifiable directly with PCGS or NGC should be considered credible for any claimed example.

Know the physical specifications

Per U.S. Mint records and PCGS CoinFacts, a Seated Liberty dime struck to the 1873 no-arrows standard weighs approximately 2.49 grams, measures 17.9mm in diameter, is struck in 90% silver, and has a reeded edge. These specifications describe the type generally; they are not, on their own, sufficient to authenticate a coin claimed to be this specific unique specimen.

Suggested search terms and filters

A search for “1873-CC No Arrows dime” in ordinary dealer inventory should be expected to return no results—with only one specimen known and fully documented, that’s the expected outcome.

Availability and pricing notes

The coin’s most recent public sale was $3.6 million through Heritage Auctions in January 2023. It is not a coin found through routine dealer browsing, and any future sale would almost certainly happen through a major auction house.

How the GetCoinHunt wishlist alert works

1. Search for the coin to confirm nothing questionable is currently listed.
2. Add it to your wishlist so you’re notified if a legitimate auction offering is ever detected.
3. Treat any match with serious scrutiny, confirming it against the coin’s documented pedigree and current certification before considering it credible.

Frequently asked questions

How many 1873-CC No Arrows dimes exist?

Only one. The Carson City Mint’s entire run of 12,400 was ordered melted and recoined to a new weight standard—all but this single survivor.

Why were the coins ordered melted?

The Coinage Act of 1873 slightly increased the dime’s weight and required “arrows” beside the date on new dies to flag coins struck to the new standard. The 12,400 coins Carson City had already struck without arrows no longer matched current law once the change took effect.

What did it most recently sell for?

$3.6 million, graded MS-65 by PCGS, sold through Heritage Auctions’ FUN U.S. Coins Signature Auction in January 2023.

How do I tell it apart from the more common 1873-CC dime?

Check for arrows beside the date. Their absence is what makes this specific coin unique; the 1873-CC dime with arrows is a separate, considerably more available issue.

Can I realistically buy an 1873-CC No Arrows dime?

Only if the single known specimen is offered again, almost certainly through a major auction house. It is not a coin available through ordinary dealer inventory.

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