1827 Proof

An R-7 rarity with roughly ten to fifteen examples believed to survive in any grade, the 1827 Proof Capped Bust Dime is one of the most elusive presentation pieces of the Capped Bust series. R-7 on the Sheldon rarity scale means a population of approximately four to twelve coins, and most census trackers place this issue right at that ceiling. The Philadelphia Mint did not record a separate proof delivery for 1827, so survivors are identified through technical evidence rather than a mintage line. Each known example originated from a polished planchet struck with mirror-finished dies, producing the watery reflective fields and squared rims that define a true proof of this period. The site lists the business-strike mintage of 125,000 alongside this entry, but specialists generally agree that fewer than twenty proofs ever left the coiner's department, and auction realizations in the mid-to-high five figures reflect that scarcity.

Authentication begins with the surface. A genuine 1827 Proof shows fully reflective fields that hold mirror brilliance across both obverse and reverse, with no rolling lines or planchet flow marks visible under angled light. The rims should be sharp and squared, almost knife-edged, rather than the softer rounded profile of a circulating strike. Many surviving examples display Cameo contrast, meaning frosted devices set against the deep mirror fields, and TPG grading services such as PCGS and NGC will note Cameo or Deep Cameo on the slab insert when the contrast is strong enough. Weight should fall right at 2.7 grams on a calibrated scale, and diameter at 18.8 millimeters, matching the large-type Capped Bust dime standard. Cross-reference the John Reich die marriage against published JR attributions for 1827, since several business-strike die pairs were also pressed into proof service after additional polishing, and a correctly attributed JR variety with proof surfaces is the strongest confirmation of authenticity. The certified holder should read PR rather than MS, where PR designates a Proof strike and MS designates a Mint State business strike. Any example offered raw at this price level warrants TPG submission before purchase, since polished circulation strikes have been passed off as proofs in older sales.

For the broader context of how presentation strikes fit into the early dime program, and for the John Reich design lineage that produced this issue, see the Capped Bust Dime series history.