1820 Capped Bust Dime

The story of the 1820

Philadelphia hadn't struck the Capped Bust Dime since 1814. When it came back in 1820, it made 942,587. The next year it made 1.2 million (1821).

No other mint struck it for circulation that year, so every 1820 you find is from Philadelphia. In the whole series, its mintage sits closest to the 1831 (771,350) and the 1829 (770,000).

Philadelphia struck the Capped Bust Dime in 20 issues between 1809 and 1837. By mintage this one lands in the more common half, while the key for that mint is the 1809 (51,065). Within the 1820s it's 7th smallest of 9, between the 1829 (770,000) and the 1821 (1.2 million).

More on the 1820

Dimes returned in 1820 after a five year break. Philadelphia delivered 942,587, the largest dime total the Mint had produced up to then. The year followed the Panic of 1819, the first major peacetime financial crisis in the United States, when many banks failed and coin was scarce.

Collectors list several varieties. The Large 0 and Small 0 differ in the size of the last digit of the date. The STATESOFAMERICA reverse, with the legend run together, also appears in 1820, as it did in 1814. Many die marriages exist, so the 1820 is a favorite of specialists working by JR number. For a casual collector it is one of the more available large size Capped Bust dimes and a good way to own an early dime without chasing a key date. Expect wear, uneven rims and some softness on the stars. Check the zero in the date and the spacing of the reverse legend, then look for cleaning, holes or tooling before you judge the grade.

A long gap and the 1822 (1815 to 1822)

After 1814 the Mint struck no dimes for five years. Foreign silver coins served as small change and depositors wanted half dollars instead. Dime production returned in 1820 with 942,587 coins, the largest total to that date. Like the 1814, the 1820 includes a STATESOFAMERICA variety where the words of the legend run together.

Philadelphia struck 1,186,512 dimes in 1821, the first dime mintage above one million. Then the total fell to just 100,000 in 1822, the key of the large size years. The 1822 is rare in every grade and a significant rarity even when worn.

Dimes of this period still have the open collar look: the rims vary in width and the denticles around the edge are long and uneven. Stars and date digits were punched into each die by hand, so their size and spacing vary from die to die. Collectors attribute the varieties by JR numbers. For an 1822, check the date carefully under magnification. An 1820 or 1821 is much more available and a good way to own an early Capped Bust dime. Proofs of a few dates of the 1820s were struck in tiny numbers, probably as presentation pieces. Only a handful exist. The gap from 1815 to 1819 is the longest break in dime production of the Capped Bust years. Check the reverse spacing and the edge reeding too.