Lot 832
1797 Draped Bust Dime. 13 stars. NGC graded JR-2 AU-58. Nicely toned on both sides. Aesthetically appealing, a handsome early Draped Bust, Small Eagle dime bristling with delicate mint bloom and without marks or spotting. The toning is nicely balanced and definitely "old time." The centers exhibit lighter silver gray hues. The color deepens to more saturated gray blue around the margin. This is an otherwise strongly struck example, with nice detail to all the important obverse high points except the curls at the center, with the reverse being typically more softly struck on much of the eagle (although its wings show much detail).
The designs of the dime, first coined in 1796, follow closely those of the half dimes up through the seated Liberty type. The draped bust design is the work of mint engraver Robert Scot. A two-year only Type bearing the rare and desirable small eagle reverse. Only 25,261 struck. In the new style NGC 4 prong holder. Pop 1; 1 finer in 65.
Historical note: Thomas Jefferson had called for striking a ten-cent coin as far back as 1783 as part of his proposed decimal system for the Confederation. He was joined in his advocacy by Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton and the man who would become the first mint director, eminent scientist David Rittenhouse. The decimal system was gradually gaining acceptance for use with calculations, but it had not yet been used for any nation's monetary structure. These early pioneers in monetary matters believed that not only was decimal coinage an efficient, workable method for commerce, but it also symbolized a break from the Old World.
Estimated Value $20,000 - 22,000.
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| Realized $22,138 |
