1803 Draped Bust Dime. JR-4. Rarity-5. AU-53 (PCGS).This is an exceptionally well preserved survivor of both the issue and die pairing that would do justice to the finest cabinet. Both sides are boldly and evenly toned in a blend of steel gray and olive-copper patina. Nicely centered on the planchet, the design is sharply rendered for an early U.S. Mint product with most features fully detailed. Overall smooth in hand, this is a solidly graded and visually appealing example worthy of a strong bid. Mint records indicate that 33,040 dimes were delivered during calendar year 1803. Examples of this date are known from five die marriages, and it is the sign of the scarcity of this issue that JR-4, elusive in its own right, is the second most common variety after JR-3. This is also perhaps the most visually intriguing die pairing of the 1803 dime due to the extensive die cracks on the reverse, which are so pronounced to make it a wonder that this die held together long enough to strike any coins in this state. One of perhaps just 175 to 250 survivors of the issue as a whole (per Winston Zack et al., 2015), and far finer than the typically offered coin with well worn, if not also impaired surfaces.PCGS Population (all die marriages of the issue): 4; 8 finer (MS-64 finest).
