1796 Draped Bust Dime. JR-1. Rarity-3. MS-61 (NGC).We note blended sandy-gold and pewter-gray patina on both sides of this handsome example. The fields are smooth, the texture soft and satiny with suitable luster quality at the assigned grade level. Struck from a median state of the JR-1 dies, the obverse portrait is surrounded by few clash marks. Similarly, the lower points of star 1 have been consumed by a cud that stretches outward from the rim, and a few of Libertys hair curls have been exiled from lapping. The overall definition remains pleasing, with unusually sharp delineation to the eagles head and breast feathers for the variety. Criss-crossing adjustment marks on Libertys portrait are as made.<p>As the inaugural issue of both the design type and the denomination, the 1796 Draped Bust dime is a highly sought issue. As is the case with numerous first year issues U.S. coinage history, many 1796 dimes were saved as mementos and, as such, Mint State survivors are among the most available in the Draped Bust series. Even so, demand for examples for type, date and variety purposes is high and attractive examples like this NGC MS-61 coin rarely remain on the open market for long.PCGS# 4461. NGC ID: 236B.
