Numismatic

1836 Capped Bust Dime VG

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This silver ten-cent piece from 1836 offers a tangible look at early United States coinage. Struck at the Philadelphia Mint, the dime represents a period when the nation's currency was establishing its visual identity. Crafted from 0.8924 fine silver, this piece has survived in a circulated, Very Good condition, showing the honest wear of a coin that passed through many hands in the nineteenth century. The obverse features a left-facing portrait of Liberty, recognizable by her draped bust and the soft folds of her Phrygian cap. Her hair cascades downward, surrounded by thirteen stars that represent the original colonies. The year 1836 is clearly visible below the bust, grounding the piece in its historical moment. On the reverse, an American eagle stands with wings spread, a protective shield draped across its chest. In its talons, the eagle grasps both an olive branch and a bundle of arrows, symbolizing the dual national ideals of peace and defense. The motto E PLURIBUS UNUM is inscribed above the eagle, while the surrounding legends identify the nation as the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and denote the face value as 10C.