U.S. Mint coin reference

1809-1837 Capped Bust Dime

Capped Bust dimes are early silver dimes collected by type, date, and die marriage.

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Coin specifications and design

Years made: 1809-1837

Country: United States

Denomination: Ten cents

Category: Circulating coin

Composition: 89.24% silver through 1836; 90% silver in 1837

Silver fineness: 89.24% through 1836; 90% in 1837

Silver weight: About 0.0775 oz ASW through 1836; 0.0773 oz ASW in 1837

Weight: 2.70 g through 1836; 2.67 g in 1837

Diameter: 18.8 mm

Thickness: Approx. 1.35 mm

Edge: Reeded

Designer: John Reich / William Kneass

Design identification

Obverse: Liberty bust portrait.

Reverse: Heraldic eagle with shield, olive branch, arrows, and the denomination 10 C below.

Capped Bust Dime history

The Capped Bust dime began in 1809 after a one-year break following the Draped Bust series. John Reich’s Liberty portrait and eagle design established the basic appearance, while later Mint engravers modified details as production methods improved. During the 1820s and 1830s, changes in planchet preparation and coining equipment made the coins more uniform than earlier issues. The series ended in 1837, when the Liberty Seated design became the new standard for the dime.