A quiet design with two important identification checks
An 1837 No Stars dime has seated Liberty on the front without the ring of stars seen on later Seated Liberty dimes. Its reverse says ONE DIME inside a wreath. The missing stars are part of the original design, not evidence of a mint error.
Before comparing prices or date varieties, read that denomination. The Mint also made a similar-looking No Stars half dime, and online searches frequently mix the two. A half dime says HALF DIME and belongs to a different five-cent series.
What should an 1837 No Stars dime look like?
Liberty sits on a rock, with a shield beside her and a liberty cap on a pole. The date appears below. On the reverse, a wreath surrounds the denomination, with UNITED STATES OF AMERICA around it. The edge is reeded.
PCGS lists a nominal weight of 2.67 grams, a diameter of 17.90 millimeters and a composition of 90% silver and 10% copper. Those specifications describe the issue. Wear, damage and measurement technique affect an individual coin, and a weight or diameter match alone does not authenticate it.
The photograph above shows a genuine Large Date reference specimen. Its preservation and toning should not be treated as the expected appearance or grade of every surviving example. Use the design arrangement to identify the type; evaluate the surfaces of your own coin separately.
Large Date versus Small Date: compare the arrangement
The two major date styles are easier to distinguish when you compare their position between the rock and the rim. Do not judge the word “large” from the size of a seller's photograph: two images taken at different magnifications can reverse your impression.
| Feature | Large Date | Small Date |
|---|---|---|
| Space occupied | The numerals nearly fill the space between the rock and the rim denticles. | The numerals occupy less of that space. |
| Date alignment | The lower contour follows the curve of the denticles more closely. | The tops of the numerals appear more nearly parallel to the bottom of the rock. |
| Numeral 7 | Compare its height and relationship to the other digits. | The 7 is noticeably smaller in the reference comparison. |
Use all of these clues together. Wear can soften the edges of the numerals, while angled lighting can hide where a digit ends. Photograph the date straight on, with the rock and denticles included, rather than sending an isolated crop of the 7.
Why “1837” and “No Stars” are not interchangeable
The No Stars dime type extends beyond a single date. PCGS identifies Philadelphia's 1837 issue and New Orleans' 1838-O issue within the type. An 1838-O No Stars dime therefore is not an 1837 coin with a misread digit, nor is it proof that all 1838 dimes have the same design.
The 1837 date also marks a transition from the older Capped Bust dime to the Seated Liberty design. Read the portrait and denomination before selecting a catalog entry. A date alone is an incomplete identification.
PCGS gives a total mintage of 682,500 for the 1837 Seated dime. Do not assign that entire number separately to both date varieties or mistake an original mintage for the number of collectible survivors today.
Keep variety identification separate from condition and value
Two correctly identified 1837 dimes can have very different appeal. Wear, strike, surface preservation, damage and cleaning all matter. A sharp date does not establish that the rest of a coin is uncirculated, and attractive color alone does not establish originality.
Record the date variety only as confidently as the evidence allows. For a sale comparison, match the denomination, date, variety when attributed, grade and problem status. An exceptional auction example is not a price guide for every coin with the same date.
For broader series context, see our Seated Liberty dime key-date guide. If the reverse instead reads HALF DIME, use the separate Liberty Seated half-dime identification guide. A holder marked Details needs another distinction: our Details grade explanation covers why a problem designation changes the comparison.
A useful photo checklist
- Photograph both complete sides, keeping the rim visible.
- Capture ONE DIME clearly so the denomination cannot be confused.
- Take a straight-on date detail including the bottom of the rock and the denticles.
- Record any holder attribution exactly, without silently upgrading an uncertain identification.
- Keep the coin uncleaned. Seek a specialist examination when authenticity, alteration or a substantial purchase is involved.
Common questions
Is an 1837 dime without stars an error?
Not for the Seated Liberty No Stars type. That is its normal obverse design.
Are all No Stars dimes dated 1837?
No. The type also includes the 1838-O issue from New Orleans.
Does a Large Date mean the coin itself is larger?
No. The name describes the date style, not a different dime denomination or intended diameter.
Sources: PCGS 1837 Large Date CoinFacts and PCGS No Stars type guide, consulted September 26, 2026. Specimen and date-comparison photographs courtesy of PCGS; CoinHub layout.