Quick Coinage Facts
Years Minted: 1809-1837
Mints: Philadelphia
Composition: 0.8924 silver, 0.1076 copper
Diameter: 18.8 mm 1809-1827
18.5 mm 1828-1837
Weight: 2.70 grams
Total Mintage: approx. 11,710,194
Edge: reeded
Introduction
Designed by John Reich, the dime had a composition of 89.24% silver and 10.76% copper.
The obverse design depicts an idealized head of Liberty facing left, her hair covered by a cloth cap with a band inscribed LIBERTY. Her neckline is draped with a gown, secured with a brooch at the shoulder. Seven stars are to the left and six to the right (13 stars were representative of the original 13 states of the Union).
The reverse design features an eagle with the shield on its breast, perched on a branch and holding arrows, with E PLURIBUS UNUM on a scroll above, and UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and 10 C. There are no mint marks as the Philadelphia mint was the only mint during that time period so there were was no need.
An interesting note, the capped bust dime was the first dime to actually carry a denomination (10C.). Prior to this series, there was denomination on this coin indicating it's value of 10 cents.
General Market Notes
The Capped Bust is readily available to most collectors and typically can be found in the collector grades of G to VF and are affordable for most collectors. Higher grades of XF to BU are more difficult to locate and their price premium is reflective of that.
For collectors on a small limited budget you will probably want to limit yourself to a grade of Good to Very Good.
For the investor, the key to the series (excluding errors) is the 1822 issue while the semi-keys were 1809 & 1811 issues.