1805 Bust Dime, Net Grade And Approx Value?

Hi JD! Any early dimes(1796-1807) are quite valuable. This dime, even if it netted a G4 could be worth over $400.00 dollars(four or five berries on the reverse, same value until EF grade)with only 120K minted. I agree,the details look like a solid high VF. The soil damage, rim hits, gouges and harsh cleaning(looks like a wire brush! ouch!) are most likely going to play havoc on the net grade.

A trip to ANACS would help this coin. Just make sure to request a net grade. You will have to live with the old holder, but who cares? A VG grade kicks it up to about $500.00. The 1804 is the tough coin in this series with only 8265 minted!!(the 1798/97 13 stars reverse is no slouch either!) I love the series and this coin. It's been "around the block" but is way cool and very collectable! Are you keeping it or selling it? Mike

Jordan, this dime looks like it was put against a bench grinder. But, as Mike said, any 1805 dime has a fair amount of value since they are so uncommon. I wouldn't hold out much hope of getting a net grade any more than AG-02; I think even G-04 might be stretching it. Nevertheless, it's definitely worth getting slabbed by ANACS if for no other reason than to get it authenticated.

Pricewise, I don't think I'd want to go by The Book on this. There's a couple listed on ebay (one is by Heritage, so no bids showing) and a couple past auctions have sold, respectively $281 and $53 - the latter can barely be identified as an 1805 dime:
http://cgi.ebay.com/1805-Draped-Bus...mZ8403848389 . If I wanted it badly enough, I'd keep bidding until everyone else dropped out. Similarly, I'd bid heavily on an 1856 Flying Eagle cent which was run over by a locomotive just to fill out the series in my collection. This 1805 is just too uncommonly offered to put a realistic value on it. Set a price, wait long enough, and someone who wants the date badly enough will come along.

...Which brings up a philosophical (but relevant and oft asked) question: at what point of rarity would PCGS and NGC ignore the damage and slab it anyway with a net grade? If somebody submitted an 1804 Bust Dollar (15 known) which was in similar condition to PCGS or NGC, would they slab it or bodybag it? After all, a rare coin is a rare coin. (I'm pretty sure I know the answer to this question; I just wanna see what others might say.)

Since this dime is in such poor condition and is obviously unsellable, I'd be happy to take it off your hands so you won't have to worry about it. I'll send an SASE to you so you won't have to bear the burden of postage.

(Seriously, it's a really nice find!)

Fred