1797 10C 16 Stars MS(PCGS#4462)

November 2025 Showcase Auction U.S. Coins

Auktionator

Stack's Bowers

Losnummer

2043

Erhaltungsgrad

AU55

Preis

24.000

Losbeschreibung

Visually pleasing surfaces characterize this very scarce 1797 dime with 16 obverse stars. Eye appeal is always a factor in early U.S. Mint silver, and the present piece benefits greatly from delicate toning in wisps of golden-apricot, light russet and powder blue iridescence. Both obverse and reverse are boldly defined for a minimally circulated Draped Bust dime with plenty of razor sharp detail within the recesses of the design. Softly frosted in texture with semi-reflectivity tendencies remaining in the fields to shine forth nicely at more direct lighting angles.<p>The second year 1797 is the rarer and more conditionally challenging of just two issues in the Draped Bust, Small Eagle dime series. Although Mint records report that 25,261 dimes were delivered during the calendar year 1797, it is likely that some of those coins were struck from 1796-dated dies. The mintage of 1797-dated examples, therefore, is almost certainly less than that reported. With the first year 1796 satisfying what little contemporary interest there was in setting aside examples of the new nation's initial dime production, fewer high grade examples of the 1797 have come down to the present day. In fact, there are probably no more than 300 examples of this issue extant in all grades, and the vast majority are circulated to one degree or another.<p>The two die marriages that make up the 1797-dated issue are easily distinguished by looking at the number of stars on the obverse (both share the same reverse). JR-1, represented here, is the 16 stars variety and was likely struck first since the Mint later defaulted to using just 13 stars to represent the original colonies as opposed to trying to add a new star every time another state joined the Union. Although a bit more plentiful in About Uncirculated grades than its JR-2 counterpart, JR-1 is very rare at the Choice AU level nonetheless, and even more so than current certified population data might suggest. Many resubmissions are likely included therein. With the authors of the 2015 reference <em>Bust Dime Variety Attribution Guide</em> (Winston Zack, Louis Scuderi, Michael Sherrill) accounting for only six or so Uncirculated survivors from these dies, this PCGS AU-55 example represents an important find that discerning type collectors and early dime variety enthusiasts are sure to compete vigorously for the honor of securing.