Probably does not exist in Mint State. — Early United States Dimes 1796-1837A classic rarity, unknown in Mint State, imbued with the aura of the year 1804. The present specimen is the finest survivor known from these dies, boasting a provenance seven decades old. Finest known examples of rarities are not always pretty, but this piece is surpassingly so, with a golden ring of cartwheel luster surrounding the deep antique gray obverse, and even more luster present on the lighter reverse, scattered with colorful bits of gold, blue, violet, and silver gray. The obverse is superb for the grade, showing just a whisper of wear but no sizable defects. The reverse is likewise choice, with only a short ancient scratch through the azure of the shield. The aesthetic impact is that of a high grade coin, left alone in antiquity and found in modern times. The merest bud of a die crack emerges from the rim between stars 8 and 9 but does not reach them; a similarly small break joins two denticles on the reverse near the wingtip at left but does not reach the nearby S.There are but two die varieties known among 1804 dimes, both rare, though this one is seen slightly more frequently. The authors of the JR book note JR-1 probably does not exist in Mint State, but EF-40 or better specimens can be located. Finest seen is AU-50, the Bareford coin. This example was not available to the authors of the JR book, as it was hidden away in the Pittman Collection for most of the 20th century. When it came to market, Ed Price determined it was an upgrade over both the Bareford coin that he owned and others he had seen. This is easily the finest I have seen or heard of, Ed wrote, I have owned several of these including the James A. Stack coin, a lovely Choice EF with light pin scratches; and the Bolen coin that is plated in the dime book, previously from Lovejoy, Bareford, and Parmelee, a very well struck AU with several strong scratches across the obverse. This coin, certainly, is the finest survivor. Norwebs was graded VG/Fine and the great F.C.C. Boyd didnt even have one, with Abe Kosoff meekly noting in the Worlds Greatest Collection catalog that there is a 13 star reverse variety -- K-2. (In that catalog Kosoff assigned K numbers, hoping it would become a standard reference; there was no specialized work on dimes at the time.) This 13 Star Reverse die was also used on 1802 dimes and quarter eagles, as well as 1804 quarter eagles. The present example ranks not only first among the 1804 13 Star Reverse type, but high among all 1804 dimes of either variety.
