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 Replies: 9 / Views: 420 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
763 Posts |
Hello Forum, To my knowledge, high end dimes from 1796-1807 seem pretty rare--and ones that are nice for their grades and original seem even more rare. While I understand 1804 to be the key date of the series, and 1802 to wear the silver medal on that podium, it seems the 1803 is equally scarce in grades above VF. How would you grade this coin? And if you would call it details, can you be specific about what disqualifies it from a straight grade? Thanks!      Edited by Adam590
07/24/2026 01:27 am
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Bedrock of the Community
 United States
18771 Posts |
i dont see anything that would result in a details grade on this one. the only early dime I have is an 05 in FR01. I think you are correct in your statement regarding higher end bust dimes. pretty rare birds and values commensurate. i'd take a stab at this one and go MS62. finding strong strikes is even more a rare bird
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Moderator
 United States
191235 Posts |
I do like the toning.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1674 Posts |
The difference between EF and AU here is several thousand dollars. She does show circulation wear, and that star at 11 o'clock is odd. I think a TPG would grade this AU. She's a beauty! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
601 Posts |
I think MS61, great toning, not the best strike.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4476 Posts |
I am not sold on the toning How did the coin get the blue toning on both sides without hardly any rim toning? Coins often tone in the protected areas around the rim first. Below is a common blue toning on the bust dime starting at the rim and progressing darker. I am at AU details AT.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1098 Posts |
I would say AU50 beautiful toning. Amazing
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
763 Posts |
We had straight grades ranging from AU(50) to MS(62). @Slider23, I actually agree with you about the artifical toning, which I think is why this is an NGC holder instead of a PCGS one. I also see that 1802 dime you showed as an example of "natural" toning as the golden standard for collecting this series, and a specimen so fine I doubt I would ever be able to find such a 1798 or an 1800 (I actually have an 1800 one, and shared it on this forum--and that one looks "wipey" to me), 1801, 1802, 1803, or 1804 dime that looks as nice (with the same amazing strike and concentric toning). NGC called this one MS(61), making it one of the highest graded survivors of this date. Yes, there's a much better looking MS(64)+ specimen in a PCGS holder, but that's a 6 figure coin, and almost certainly the finest known in existance. Thanks, everyone, for your time and opinions on this one.  Edited by Adam590
Today 5H 29M ago
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
11936 Posts |
Found some pictures that show the surfaces of the coin a little better. Personally, I would pass on this coin for all the reasons listed above. Not very natural looking, but it is a very scarce coin in higher grades.   IN NECESSARIIS UNITAS - IN DUBIIS LIBERTAS - IN OMNIBUS CARITAS THE MAN IN THE ARENA, Theodore Roosevelt at the Sorbonne Paris on April 23, 1910: " It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat." My coin website: https://fairfaxcoins.com |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4476 Posts |
The 1803 Draped Bust Dime. JR-3. Rarity-4. MS-61 (NGC) sold at Stack's auction in 2024 for $22,800.00. NGC price guide list the single example at $65K and PCGS list a MS61 AT $130K. My guess is that the buyers bidding had a concern that the example may be AT or cleaned as the selling price is that of a detail coin.
The following is what Stack's had to say about the example in their auction comments: Remarkable NGC-certified Mint State preservation for this scarce and underrated Draped Bust dime. Satiny in texture with plenty of original luster intact, both sides are enhanced by rich toning in dominant charcoal-olive. At direct angles the surfaces light up with cobalt blue, champagne-gold and mottled pinkish-rose iridescence. This is a well produced coin by early U.S. Mint standards, the strike nicely centered and the detail bold to sharp apart from a touch of softness along the upper obverse and lower reverse borders. A stunning coin that is sure to attract strong bids from advanced early dime enthusiasts.
Thanks for posting the draped bust dime.
Edited by Slider23
Today 3H 33M ago
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Replies: 9 / Views: 420 |
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Posted 07/23/2026 4:48 pm
