Lot 2114
1820 Capped Bust Dime. Small 0. EF-40 but cleaned and retoned. This one has been cleaned and retoned to a dull gray color on both sides. Nevertheless, the coin is very sharply struck, and shows substantial hair and feather details. We also note a rim bump below the 8 in the date, and a small nick on the edge by the tenth star. Research by numismatists has shown that Mint Engraver John Reich apparently "signed" the dies he engraved by using a notched star, often the last star by Liberty's curl on Capped Bust half dollars. Although the design is attributed to him, no notched stars appeared until 1820, 3 years after he left employment at the Philadelphia Mint. It is believed that this die was prepared without a date by John Reich, or perhaps his "signature" punch was used without realizing the significance by another mint worker. The later theory would appear to be unlikely, as all 13 stars show the notched point, always pointing towards the rim, just as it is positioned on half dollars of the Reich period. On dimes, only a single obverse die shows the notched stars, and it was used to coin both JR-5 and JR-6 dimes of 1820.
Estimated Value $125 - 175.
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| Realized $173 |
