Draped Bust Dime (1796-1807)
Mint Location: Philadelphia
Designer: Robert Scot
Composition: 89% silver; 11% copper
Weight: 2.7g
Edge Type: Reeded
The obverse depicts Liberty with flowing hair, a ribbon behind her head, with drapery covering her plunging neckline. The inscription LIBERTY is above and the date is below. 1796 dimes have eight stars to the left and seven to the right on the obverse, while those dated 1797 come in three variations, with a total of 13, 15 of 16 stars.
The Type 1 reverse features an open wreath enclosing a small eagle perched on a cloud, the eagle being smaller in size than that used in 1794-95, and with the cloud more pronounced and higher above the wreath bow. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA surrounds.
The Type 2 reverse is of the Heraldic Eagle style adopted from the Great Seal of the United States. At the center is an eagle with a shield on its breast, holding in its beak a ribbon inscribed E PLURIBUS UNUM and grasping in its talon a bundle of arrows and an olive branch. Above the eagle is an arc of clouds under which is a group of stars. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA surrounds.
Coin Values: The are many more of the Heraldic Eagle coins available and they can be found in grades Good to Fine. A few Uncirculated coins from 1805 and 1807 have been found. These coins are known for light strike flatness for all years. A slabbed MS63 coin sold for $8750, while a G6 sold for $950.
Draped Bust Dollar Front
Draped Bust Small Eagle Reverse
Draped Bust, Heraldic Reverse