1802

The 1802 Draped Bust dime carries one of the lowest mintages in the entire US dime series, at just 10,975 pieces struck. The Philadelphia Mint's silver coinage operations remained limited in the early 1800s by bullion deposits from private depositors, who often preferred their silver returned as half dollars or dollars rather than smaller denominations. As a result, dime production stayed minimal. Most of these dimes circulated heavily, and survivors in any grade above Fine are decidedly scarce. Recent census data from Professional Coin Grading Service and Numismatic Guaranty Company shows only modest populations across all grades, with mint-state examples numbering in single digits and commanding very significant premiums in the marketplace.

Robert Scot's draped Liberty obverse, based on Gilbert Stuart's portrait of Anne Willing Bingham, pairs with the Heraldic Eagle reverse, a heraldic eagle with shield on breast, holding arrows in one talon and an olive branch in the other, with E PLURIBUS UNUM on a ribbon above. Specifications include 89.24% silver, 2.70 grams in weight, near 19 mm diameter, and reeded edge. Authentication is especially important here because the genuine rarity creates strong incentives for forgers. Verify weight precisely, examine edge reeding for evenness, and inspect denticles for filing or tooling. Match the coin to the recognized John Reich (JR) die marriage chart to confirm authenticity; only a handful of dies were used for this small mintage year overall.

The 1802 is a key date among Draped Bust dimes, sought by date collectors, early-type specialists, and advanced numismatists building Draped Bust through Mercury dime runs. Heritage Auctions and Stack's Bowers handle nearly all significant offerings, and certified examples in Professional Coin Grading Service or Numismatic Guaranty Company holders bring strong results. Heritage Auctions and Stack's Bowers Galleries archives are the most useful pricing references for tracking realized values across recent sales. For broader context, see the Draped Bust Dime series history.