How to Identify the Capped Bust Dime

What It Is

The Capped Bust Dime was struck from 1809 to 1837, designed initially by John Reich and later refined by William Kneass. It represents an early United States dime type known for its Liberty portrait wearing a soft cap.

Obverse (Front) Design

Liberty faces left, wearing a cloth cap inscribed "LIBERTY" across its band, with curling hair falling from beneath it and drapery across her shoulder. Stars line the border and the date sits below.

Reverse (Back) Design

An eagle with a shield on its breast holds an olive branch and arrows in its talons, with "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" around the border. The denomination is expressed as "10 C." beneath the eagle on the earlier, larger-diameter coins (1809-1828); after a size reduction beginning in 1828, some later dies continued with "10 C." while the overall design was tightened and given a more uniform, closely spaced border of denticles.

Size, Weight, Metal, and Edge

Early "Large Size" Capped Bust Dimes (1809-1828) measure about 18.8 mm in diameter, while the "Reduced Size" dimes (1828-1837) are slightly smaller, around 18.5 mm, with tighter, more mechanically uniform devices reflecting improved coining equipment (the close collar method). Weight throughout the series is about 2.70 grams, struck in .8924 fine silver, with a reeded edge.

Mint Marks

No mint marks appear on any Capped Bust Dime, since all were struck at the Philadelphia Mint.

Telling It Apart from Similar Coins

The large-size and reduced-size varieties are distinguished mainly by their diameter and the crispness of their border denticles; reduced-size coins, struck with a closed collar, have a more perfectly round, evenly denticled rim, while large-size coins often show a slightly less uniform, open-collar edge. This design should not be confused with the later Seated Liberty Dime, which replaced the capped portrait with a seated figure starting in 1837.

Judging Condition at a Glance

Check Liberty's cap and the hair curls just beneath it, along with her cheek, since these are high points that wear early. On the reverse, examine the eagle's breast feathers and the shield's vertical lines; well-defined feather and shield detail indicates a coin with lighter circulation wear.

Authenticity Notes

Given the age and collectible value of Capped Bust Dimes, cleaned or artificially retoned surfaces are a common issue rather than outright counterfeiting. A coin with unnaturally bright, polished-looking fields, or hairline scratches consistent with old cleaning, should be evaluated carefully, since such alterations can significantly affect how the coin is perceived even though the coin itself remains genuine. Weight and diameter checks against the large-size or reduced-size specifications can help confirm a coin is consistent with its apparent date.