1804 13 Star Reverse

The 1804 dime carries the lowest mintage of any 1804-dated US dime issue, at just 8,265 pieces combined for the year. This 13-star reverse variety refers to the count of stars between the eagle's head and the arc of clouds on the reverse, the standard arrangement adopted for the Heraldic Eagle design. The companion 14-star variety reflects an engraving error where one extra star was added. Combined output of just 8,265 makes 1804 one of the truly rare dates in the entire Draped Bust dime series, comparable to the 1802 in significance. Most survivors show heavy wear, and mint-state examples are exceedingly rare, with most certified populations measured in single digits at the top grades.

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, olive branch, and E PLURIBUS UNUM. Specifications match the series standard: 89.24% silver, 2.70 grams, near 19 mm diameter, and reeded edge. Authentication is critical given the rarity. Verify weight precisely, check edge reeding uniformity, and count the reverse stars carefully against published plates from the John Reich Collectors Society or Davis-Logan references. The 13-star reverse should show 13 stars between the eagle's head and the arc of clouds, and any deviation suggests either the 14-star variety or a tooled or altered example needing further careful third-party authentication.

The 1804 is a key date for any Draped Bust dime collection, and the 13-star reverse is the more common of the two reverse varieties for this rare year. Heritage Auctions and Stack's Bowers handle nearly all significant offerings, with Professional Coin Grading Service and Numismatic Guaranty Company certification essentially required at any meaningful price level. Collectors building a complete Draped Bust dime set should expect substantial competition for every grade level when high-quality pieces appear. For more, see the Draped Bust Dime series history.