Lot 1416
1802. JR-4. NGC grade UNC Details. Obverse Improperly Cleaned. Nice golden toning. nice looking coin. Only 10,975 struck. Although 1802 dimes are seen on occasion, the date is elusive in all grades. The Mint coined 10,975 dimes on July 22, the only delivery recorded for the year. Possibly additional examples were struck in 1803. About 125 to 150 pieces known. The die combination of JR-4 is the most plentiful of four known die varieties of 1802 dimes.
Draped bust, large eagle dimes of this type were struck at the Philadelphia Mint, 1798 to 1807. Eight years are represented in the series (no dimes were made bearing the dates 1799 or 1806), with production totaling only 422,010 pieces. The most plentiful dates, accounting for more than 65% of the total mintage, are the last two, 1805 and 1807. The rarest issues are the 1798 with thirteen-star reverse and the low mintage 1804, with 1802 not all that far behind in terms of scarcity.
Even though produced during a brief period, the series has many interesting varieties, an inherent problem of issues produced with the relatively primitive technology of the Mint's early years. Major and minor design variations include overdates, differing sized date punches, thirteen- and sixteen-star reverses and four- and five-berry reverses. Curiously, Yeoman's Guide Book lists fourteen date and variety combinations, Breen's Encyclopedia lists seventeen and the bible of avid dime variety collectors.
Generally, variety devotees and date collectors pursue coins in VF to XF grade, while type collectors seek pieces grading AU or better. Mint state specimens are quite rare, but examples dated 1805 or 1807 are available with some frequency. Estimated Value $15,000 - 16,000
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