1809-1837 Capped Bust Dimes Avg Circ

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In the early decades of the United States, the ten cent piece underwent a beautiful transformation. Minted from 1809 to 1837, the Capped Bust dime represents a fascinating era of American coinage. These silver pieces, struck with a purity of 0.8924, contain 0.0715 troy ounces of precious metal. Today, surviving examples in average circulated condition show the honest wear of a long-circulated currency, with surfaces displaying moderate to very heavy softening of the details from decades of passing through hands in early America. The design, created by John Reich, offers a window into the young republic's symbolic language. On the obverse, Liberty is depicted facing left, her hair flowing freely beneath a Phrygian cap. Thirteen stars encircle her, representing the original colonies, and a clear, readable date remains visible at the bottom of the coin. On the reverse, a powerful eagle is depicted with a shield draped across its chest. In its talons, the bird clutches both an olive branch of peace and arrows of defense, illustrating the dual nature of the nation's early foreign policy. This classic design remains one of the most celebrated representations of early American silver coinage.