1873 Arrows Proof

The 1873 With Arrows proof marks the post-Coinage Act portion of one of the busiest sub-issue years in the entire Seated dime series. The Coinage Act of February 12, 1873 raised the dime's standard weight from 2.49 grams to 2.50 grams; arrows at the date were authorized to mark the change for the remainder of 1873 and through 1874 before being removed in 1875. Mint records place the With Arrows proof component at approximately 800 pieces, paired with roughly 600 No Arrows Closed 3 proofs for a combined 1873 proof delivery of about 1,400 across the year's sub-issues. The 2,378,500 figure on the site's information card is the year's combined circulation-strike total and has no bearing on the proof issue, which was prepared independently and broken out into its sub-types by modern attribution rather than by Mint accounting.

The coin continues the Legend obverse with "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" replacing the stars, the wreath reverse unchanged, and small horizontal arrows flanking the date. Authentication starts with the arrows being unambiguously present and clearly struck; weak strikes can leave the arrows soft enough to require a 10x loupe (a jeweler's magnifier) to confirm. The 2.50-gram weight on a 90 percent silver, 17.9-millimeter reeded planchet anchors the physical check; the next-year 1874 With Arrows proof shares the design but carries the 1874 date logotype. Surface diagnostics follow the medal-press signature: squared rims perpendicular to the field, watery die-polish lines visible under magnification, complete denticles around both sides, full drapery folds at Liberty's elbow, and sharp wreath leaves on the reverse. The Cameo and Deep Cameo PCGS, the Professional Coin Grading Service, and NGC, the Numismatic Guaranty Company, designations exist for the date in modest numbers, with the strong-contrast pieces drawing clear premiums when offered.

The With Arrows proof is required for any collector building the Seated dime proof set by major sub-issue, and pairs naturally with the 1874 With Arrows proof as the two-year arrows transitional set. PCGS and NGC both attribute the With Arrows variant on the holder. Most collectors approach the date in PR-63 to PR-65, where supply meets demand, with cameo coins reserved for specialists. The Regular rarity badge on this page follows site convention for all proof entries. For the broader story of Gobrecht's design, the 1873 Coinage Act, and the series' proof program, see the Seated Liberty Dime series history.