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1798 Large 8
| Weight | 2.7 g |
| Diameter | 19 mm |
| Mint | Philadelphia |
| Strike | Circulation strike |
| Mintage | 27,550 Combined mintage for all 1798 varieties |
| Edge | Reeded |
| Alignment | ↑↓ Coin |
| Composition | 89.24% Silver, 10.76% Copper |
| Melt value | — |
| Designer | Robert Scot |
| Collector's Key ID | CK-1660 |
Collection
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Other recorded varieties for 1798:
- 1798 1798/7 Overdate, 13 Star Reverse · 1798/7 Overdate, 13 Star Reverse
- 1798 1798/7 Overdate, 16 Star Reverse · 1798/7 Overdate, 16 Star Reverse
- 1798 Small 8 · Small 8
External references
The 1798 Large 8 dime represents one of the date-punch varieties produced during the Mint's first full year of Heraldic Eagle dime production. Combined 1798 dime mintage was just 27,550 pieces. Workers at the early Philadelphia Mint hand-punched individual numerals into the working dies, and the size of the final "8" varied based on which punch was used. The Large 8 variety shows a noticeably bigger final digit relative to the rest of the date, a feature readily diagnosed under low magnification. Surviving examples of this variety are scarce in any grade, and choice high-grade pieces remain elusive enough to command meaningful premiums whenever they cross the auction block today in major sales.
Robert Scot's obverse continues the draped Liberty portrait based on Gilbert Stuart's painting of Anne Willing Bingham, here paired with the new Heraldic Eagle reverse adopted in 1798. The reverse displays a large eagle with shield, clutching an olive branch and arrows, with the motto E PLURIBUS UNUM (Latin for "out of many, one") on a banner above its head. Specifications include 89.24% silver, 2.70 grams, near 19 mm diameter, and a reeded edge. Authentication on this variety starts with weight and edge reeding to rule out cast counterfeits, then careful examination of the final digit size and shape against published plates. Match the coin to the John Reich (JR) die marriage references and verify denticles for tooling indicators always.
The Large 8 variety draws steady demand from variety collectors building advanced 1798 sets and from type collectors seeking distinctive early Heraldic Eagle dimes. Heritage Auctions and Stack's Bowers regularly handle properly attributed examples. Professional Coin Grading Service or Numismatic Guaranty Company certification is strongly recommended for this issue. Adjustment marks from overweight planchets are a routine production feature of the period and do not affect the grade or value when verified by the major services. For more context, see the Draped Bust Dime series history.
Reference data only — not an appraisal.
| Grade | Description | Low | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| G-4 | Good (G) | $2,005 | $2,315 |
| VG-8 | Very Good (VG) | $4,440 | $5,125 |
| F-12 | Fine (F) | $6,065 | $7,000 |
| VF-20 | Very Fine (VF) | $7,465 | $8,610 |
| EF-40 | Extremely Fine (EF) | $12,155 | $14,025 |
| AU-50 | About Uncirculated (AU) | $24,210 | $27,935 |
| MS-60 | Uncirculated (MS) | $40,685 | $46,945 |
| MS-63 | Choice Uncirculated (MS) | $78,755 | $83,385 |
How much is a 1798 Large 8 Draped Bust Dime worth?
How many 1798 Large 8 Draped Bust Dimes were minted?
What is a 1798 Large 8 Draped Bust Dime made of?
What is the melt value of a 1798 Large 8 Draped Bust Dime?
Is the 1798 Large 8 Draped Bust Dime a key date?
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