1800 Draped Bust Dime. JR-1. Rarity-4+. AU-58 (NGC).This satiny and vibrant example is untoned apart from delicate pinkish-gold peripheral highlights. Nicely centered and well executed in strike, both sides exhibit overall bold definition within uniformly denticulated borders. A smooth and inviting piece, certainly more so than typically encountered in early U.S. Mint silver coins that saw actual, however limited circulation. Official Mint records indicate 21,760 dimes were delivered in March of 1800, though there is some debate as to whether or not all of these were in fact dated 1800. The 1800-dated dimes are known from only two die pairs both sharing the same obverse die. The more available of the two die combinations, the JR-1 pairing was produced first in the sequence and is quickly identified by having a reverse with the star free of the eagles beak. Most estimates indicate between 200 and 250 dimes remain in any condition, the vast majority of which are in lower states of preservation. Indeed, this variety quickly presents a challenge to the early dime specialist intent on procuring a high grade examples, as here. Desirable as the last year of the 18th century and as a substantially scarcer issue overall, the attractive surfaces make this an especially appealing specimen for inclusion in an early dime cabinet.NGC Census (both die marriages of the issue): 4; 5 finer (MS-65 finest).From our Baltimore Auction of March 2016, lot 13037.
