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Sale 37
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Lot 1475
1814 Capped Bust Dime. NGC graded MS-67. Silvery-grey with a hint of natural irridescense. A fabulous coin and surely within striking distance of the finest known of the Mint State 67 specimens believed extant of this variety. Silky cartwheel luster blankets both sides with an overlay of mottled russet patina giving the aforementioned irridescence, almost "incandescence"! The only flaw we see on this lovely coin is a slight weakness of strike, most evident on the stars on the right side of the obverse.
On the reverse, that die has cracked from the lowest right olive leaf up through the claw, shield to the eagle's beak. (On a later state than the present coin: The obverse die state has advanced with extensive die clashing before Liberty's face, with the motto above the date, and the eagle's wing outlined in the right obverse field. The obverse die has sunk through the first two stars, weakening that area.) Liberty's clasp is also somewhat weakly impressed as usual for this die pairing. Pop 1; 1 finer in 67 Star.
The website "Coinsite.com" refers to this series in a colorful manner: "This era was one of Rubenesque beauty, as a glance at Scot's dowdy Draped Bust obverse will show. As she first appeared on the 1809 Capped Bust dime, Reich's Liberty was, if anything, a trifle more streamlined than her predecessor. Fifty years later, U.S.Mint writer William Ewing DuBois would claim that the model for all these rather stout, ample-bosomed Liberties was a woman he called "Reich's fat German mistress."
"The reverse bore an American eagle with head turned left, holding three arrows symbolizing strength, and an olive branch representing peace. On its breast is the U.S. Shield composed of six horizontal lines indicating blue, with 13 stripes below, six of these made of three vertical lines indicating red. Such lines were an 18th century engraver's standardized method of showing colors in black-and-white engravings; blue representing dominion, red signifying force, with white denoting purity. Encircling the top of the eagle is the inscription UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, and a scroll with the incuse motto E PLURIBUS UNUM. Beneath the eagle is the denomination 10 C. When grading this series, take into account that weak strikes are common. On the obverse, wear will first show on the drapery at the front of the bust, the hair at the forehead and above the ear and the shoulder clasp. On the reverse, check the eagle's claws, neck, and wings.
"Reich prepared a single steel punch of his Liberty bust, impressing it into each working die by blows of a small hammer. He then impressed each star by eye, seven on Liberty's left, six on her right, placing the date in the space below the bust. Although known as "Large Size," these dimes should more properly be called the "Open Collar" type. They were struck without a restraining collar, giving them a broad, low-rimmed look."
Estimated Value $22,000 - 24,000.
The Greenhill Collection.
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| Realized $27,600 |
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