1851 Seated Liberty Dime SS Central America PCGS AU-53

Recovered from the legendary wreck of the S.S. Central America, this 1851 Seated Liberty Dime carries a story as compelling as any coin in American numismatics. The ship, lost in a hurricane off the Carolina coast in September 1857, went down carrying California Gold Rush treasure and hundreds of passengers, making every artifact recovered from her holds a genuine piece of American history. This dime sailed aboard that vessel and survived more than a century on the ocean floor before its dramatic recovery.

The obverse presents the classic Christian Gobrecht design of Liberty seated on a rock, draped in flowing robes and holding a shield inscribed with the word LIBERTY, her right hand raising a pole topped with a Liberty cap. Thirteen stars encircle the figure and the date 1851 appears below, all with bold detail and sharp relief consistent with a well-struck Philadelphia issue. The reverse displays the denomination ONE DIME within a wreath of olive and laurel tied with a ribbon bow, surrounded by the legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, with strong definition throughout the wreath leaves and lettering.

PCGS has certified this example AU-53, reflecting light wear on the highest points of Liberty and the shield with significant original mint luster still visible in the protected areas. The surfaces show the characteristic ocean patina associated with SS Central America recoveries, lending this coin an appearance that no mint-state example could replicate. The special PCGS Ship of Gold holder includes a compartment containing a pinch of authentic California gold dust recovered alongside the coin, accompanied by a signed certification from Bob Evans, Chief Scientist of the SS Central America recovery project, cert number 4597.53/36858914. The coin pictured is the exact coin you will receive.

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