1798 1798/7 Overdate, 16 Star Reverse

The 1798/7 Overdate with 16-star reverse is the rarer reverse variant of the first Heraldic Eagle dime. Combined 1798 dime mintage was 27,550 pieces, and this particular pairing, a leftover 1797 obverse die with an "8" punched over the "7" combined with a reverse die carrying 16 stars between the eagle's head and the arc of clouds, represents a small share of that total. The 16-star reverse echoes the same star-count experimentation seen earlier on the obverse following Tennessee's 1796 admission. Surviving examples are scarce in any grade, and well-preserved pieces with clear overdate detail and full reverse star definition command exceptional premiums at every level of the modern collector marketplace.

Robert Scot's draped Liberty obverse, based on Gilbert Stuart's portrait of Anne Willing Bingham, pairs with the Heraldic Eagle reverse showing the eagle with shield, arrows, and olive branch, plus a banner reading E PLURIBUS UNUM. Authentication requires confirming both the overdate and the 16-star reverse count between the eagle's head and the arc of clouds. The underdigit "7" typically shows as a curved remnant inside or beside the upper loop of the "8." Specifications hold to series standards: 89.24% silver, 2.70 grams, near 19 mm diameter, and reeded edge for clip-and-shave protection. Match the coin to recognized John Reich die marriages, since this variety has been targeted historically by counterfeit reverse-star manipulations done by hand.

Variety collectors prize this issue both as an overdate and as a reverse star-count anomaly. Heritage Auctions and Stack's Bowers offerings of attributed examples consistently outperform comparable common 1798 dimes. Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) and Numismatic Guaranty Company (NGC) attribution is critical here. Heritage Auctions and Stack's Bowers Galleries archives are the most useful pricing references for tracking realized values across recent sales. Adjustment marks on overweight planchets are normal production features and do not affect grade or value when verified by the major grading services. For broader context, see the Draped Bust Dime series history.