
1809 JR-1 (R-4). Choice Brilliant Uncirculated, or finer. Obverse type: Liberty's capped bust facing left. LIBERTY engraved around the base of her cap, 1809 below her bust. Reverse type: Modified heraldic eagle derived from the Great Seal of the United States of America. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA around the upper half of the rim. E PLURIBUS UNUM on a scroll above the eagle's head. Denomination '10 C' below the eagle. A magnificent example of the first year of the type and a one variety only year. Only a very small handful of 1809 Dimes have ever graded this high, including Allen Lovejoy's. No Dimes had been struck in 1806 and none were made in 1810, putting the mintage of 1809 under high circulation pressure. Eliasberg's 1809 was AU, for example, showing how tough it is to find one of these even in base Unc. grade. A really beautiful example of the first year of issue. Both the obverse and reverse are a lovely combination of pale silver gray and deep iridescent orange gold in color. The fields are bright, lustrous, and somewhat reflective in appearance. A lovely example, worthy of the finest collection.
Engraver: John Reich
Statutory Weight: 2.70 grams
Statutory Size: 18.8 millimeters
Mintage: 51,065
Ex RARCOA's section of Numisma'95 (November 1995, lot 2023).
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