Recently it was reported by Bob Evans that a lone 1856-S Seated dime was recovered amongst thousands of dimes found in a bag stored in the purser's lockbox aboard the ill-fated S.S. Central America. The date represents the first year that this denomination was struck at the Branch Mint. Remarkably thiscoin is in gem mint state condition.

In the first three quarters of 1856, the entire year's mintage of S Mint Seated half dollars and quarters were coined principally during the months ofJanuary, April, June and July. During the fourth quarter, the only silver coins struck were Seated dimes. On December 22nd, $7,000 in silver coin was receivedfrom the Coiner. This must have been the entire year's mintage of 70,000 1856-S Seated dimes. Thus, most of these historic pieces were probably paid out in1857, the year that the steamer sank.

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
S.S. CENTRAL AMERICA FIND: FINEST 1856-S DIME(https://www.coinbooks.org/v22/esylum_v22n24a26.html)