1858 H10C (1858 Half Dime) PCGS PR65 CAC. This beautifully toned, gem proof Seated Liberty 1858 Half Dime is tied for second finest at PCGS and comes with a CAC sticker indicating that the coin is a premium quality piece that meets stringent standards within the grade. The devices are a light silver-grey with highlights of russet and orange, and the fields are aqua, teal, with traces of pink, gold with brown outlining the devices and most of the rims. Bright mint luster is seen within the devices on both sides. The coin is well struck, as expected for a proof coin.

Designed by Christian Gobrecht, the half dime depicts Liberty seated looking over her shoulder to the left. She balances the Union Shield inscribed LIBERTY with her right hand and holds a staff on which is placed a Phrygian cap in her left. There are seven stars to the left and six to the right interrupted by her head and the capped pole. The dated is below. The reverse shows the denomination written in two words surrounded by an open laurel wreath. The inscription UNITED STATES OF AMERICA is at the edge. Dentils are around the periphery of both sides of the coin.

The half dime was a silver coin minted in the United States that was valued at five cents. It was the first coin minted by the United States Mint under the Coinage Act of 1792 when the half disme was produced. They were produced until 1873, when they were displaced by the copper-nickel five cent coin that was first issued in 1865. The Liberty Seated half dime was the last type made. Other types included the 1792 Half Disme, the 1794-95 Flowing Hair half dime, the 1796-97 Draped Bust, Small Eagle, the 1800-05 Heraldic Eagle, and the Capped Bust of 1829-37. In addition, the Seated Liberty, 1837-73 had several subtypes.

In 1826 Gobrecht did his first work for the Mint as an assistant to William Kneass. After Kneass debilitating stroke, Gobrecht did all the die and pattern work for the Mint. He became Chief Engraver in 1840 and served until his death in 1844. He was famous for his Liberty Seated motif which was used for all denominations of sliver coinage including the half dime, dime, quarter dollar, half dollar and sliver dollar. He also designed the Liberty Head gold eagle, a motif that was also used on the half-cent, the cent, the gold quarter eagle, and the gold half eagle.

The 1858 proof half dime had an original mintage of 300 making it fundamentally rare in all conditions. In its population report, PCGS shows 11 in PF65 with 2 better. At CAC as of December 2011, there are 4 in PF65 with 1 better.