Capped Bust Dime Values & Mintages

Grading tips

Check the curls around Liberty's face and the band of her cap, then the eagle's wing feathers and the claws.

John Reich's design

John Reich came to the Mint as an assistant engraver in 1807 and redesigned the silver coins over the next few years. His Capped Bust dime appeared in 1809. It was the first dime to show its value, 10 C. It kept the eagle from the Great Seal on the reverse in a simpler form than the heraldic eagle it replaced.

The design was used for nearly thirty years with only small changes. William Kneass, Chief Engraver from 1824, kept the portrait and the eagle when the coin was made smaller in 1828.

Large Size and Small Size

From 1809 to 1827 dimes were struck in an open collar. The edge was reeded before striking and the coins spread a little as they were struck, so their size and rims vary. In 1828 the Mint began using a close collar that formed the reeding and held every coin to the same diameter, about 18.5 millimeters. Collectors call the two types Large Size and Small Size. The 1828 is the only date found in both.

Small Size dimes have a raised rim with a ring of small beads inside it, while Large Size coins have long denticles running to the edge. Holding one of each makes the difference easy to see.

Collecting Capped Bust dimes

There are twenty dates in all, from 1809 to 1837, with gaps in 1810, 1812, 1813, 1815 to 1819 and 1826. The keys are the 1809, the 1811/09 and the 1822. The late dates, especially 1835 and 1836, are the usual choice for a type set.

Each die was finished by hand, with stars and digits punched one at a time, so many varieties exist. Overdates such as the 1823/2, 1824/2 and 1830/29 are easy to see. Specialists collect by JR number. For grading, look at the word LIBERTY on the cap band and the curls above the eye. Full, sharp letters on the band point to a coin in at least Fine.

Frequently asked questions