1856 Small Date

The 1856 Small Date dime is one of two date-punch varieties Philadelphia produced for the year, the first issue after the Mint dropped the arrows from the Stars With Drapery format. The reduced 2.49 gram weight established by the Coinage Act of February 21, 1853 remained in effect, but the design returned to a clean date layout without the arrow flanks that had marked the 1853 to 1855 production. Two different date punches were used during the year, producing distinguishable Small Date and Large Date subtypes from a combined 5,780,000 piece Philadelphia mintage. The Small Date numerals are noticeably more compact, with thinner profiles on the digit strokes, and a clear gap between the base of the date and the rim that the Large Date version closes substantially.

Attribution is the central concern on this issue. Comparison at five power magnification or higher is the standard method, and head-to-head reference against a known Small Date or Large Date plate coin is the surest path for collectors new to the variety. The 5 digit on the Small Date version tends to be the most useful diagnostic, with a tighter loop and a shorter flag than the Large Date counterpart. Strike characteristics fall within the normal range for Philadelphia work of the period, with reasonable head and shield definition on choice Mint State pieces and the usual softness on the upper stars on later die states. Counterfeit risk is minimal since the price spread between the two date varieties is moderate, but raw coins should always be cross-checked against a reliable plate image before paying a Small Date premium.

Both Small Date and Large Date examples are widely collected, with neither variety carrying the kind of premium that would distort the market for a typical year-set buyer. The Small Date is somewhat less common in higher Mint State grades, which reflects its later-in-the-year usage rather than original rarity. Circulated examples from Very Good through Extremely Fine are inexpensive and readily found, About Uncirculated coins are plentiful, and Mint State pieces in MS-63 and finer step up in price but stay within reach. Date specialists working a complete Seated dime set typically acquire both varieties, while type collectors usually pick whichever certified example surfaces first. For the broader story of Gobrecht's design, the 1853 Coinage Act and Arrows transition, and the series' production arc, see the Seated Liberty Dime series history.