1796 Draped Bust Dime. JR-4. Rarity-4. MS-61 (PCGS). OGH.，This is a fully original, exceptionally attractive Mint State example of one of the most popular and eagerly sought of all U.S. dimes. Both sides are noticeably prooflike, with the more lightly toned obverse revealing pronounced semi-reflectivity in the fields. The center is close to brilliant with delicate silver-lilac tinting and an outline of pale reddish-russet to Libertys portrait. The periphery is more extensively toned in similar reddish-russet, as is much of the reverse. The strike is well executed by early U.S. Mint standards, and the centering is nearly perfect with only a trivial lack of denticulation along the lower right obverse and reverse borders. Most design elements are boldly to sharply defined, and we note only the expected softness of detail to some of the obverse stars and the eagles head, breast, wing and leg feathers on the reverse. The eagles eye is readily evident. Solidly in the Mint State category, and very nice for the assigned grade, this lovely piece is sure to command a significant premium.<p>Authorized by the Act of April 2, 1792, regular issue dime coinage commenced at the Philadelphia Mint with a delivery of 14,520 coins on January 18, 1796. Additional deliveries came on February 13 (1,750 coins), March 30 (1,680 coins), April 9 (2,750 coins) and May 27 (1,435 coins), for a total mintage of 22,135 dimes for calendar year 1796. According to some numismatic scholars, as reported in the 1984 reference <em>Early United States Dimes: 1796-1837</em> by the John Reich Collectors Society, the deliveries of February 28 (3,864 coins) and March 21, 1797 (6,380 coins) may also have been from 1796-dated dies. If true, the total mintage for this issue would be 32,379 pieces. The same reference states that the 2,750-coin delivery of April 9, 1796, comprises the total mintage of the JR-4 die pairing, offered here.<p>As the first regular issue dime in U.S. coinage history and one of only two issues of the Draped Bust, Small Eagle design type, the 1796 is very popular. Winston Zack, Louis Scuderi and Michael Sherrill (<em>Bust Dime Variety Identification Guide</em>, 2015) offer an estimate of 800 to 1,200 coins extant in all grades. JR-4 is a median rarity among the seven known die marriages, and it is very scarce in an absolute sense. Mint State survivors of the issue as a whole are rare, especially relative to the strong demand among high grade type collectors and early dime enthusiasts alike. The present example is destined to serve as a highlight in an advanced cabinet.，Acquired from Anthony Terranova, August 1991.，
