A satiny and engaging example of the United States Mints first year of 10-cent coinage. The strike is expertly centered and overall well defined. Both sides are largely untoned with a light silver appearance. Closer inspection reveals delicate highlights of reddish-gold ringing the peripheries. Well preserved and pleasing, this lovely Choice AU is sure to find its way into a high grade type set.The first dimes that the fledgling United States Mint issued for general circulation amounted to 14,520 pieces delivered on January 18, 1796. Thereafter an additional 17,859 pieces followed through March 21, 1797 (all from 1796-dated dies) for a total mintage of 32,379 examples bearing this date. The initial delivery on January 18 is thought to have comprised coins of the JR-1 die marriage, which today is the most plentiful variety. JR-2, offered here, is far scarcer, with numismatic scholars opining that the original mintage from these dies included only the 1,750 dimes delivered on February 13, 1796. Writing in the 1984 reference Early United States Dimes: 1796-1837, the John Reich Collectors Society suggests that only five to 10% of surviving 1796 dimes were coined from the JR-2 dies. In addition to its appeal to series specialists as a scarcer variety of the issue, this 1796 dime is highly desirable for type purposes as a first year issue and as one of just two dates of the denomination to employ the Draped Bust, Small Eagle design. A coin that will certainly elicit strong bids from a wide variety of collectors.
