My newest bust dime, what do you think?...Grading guru head scratcher?

Moneylover, I agree with you that grading these early issues is not straightforward. Witness this 1814 Dime: one could grade it anywhere from EFXX to AUXX. Why? there is slight softness to the eagle's claws and corresponding area on the cap. Is this wear or striking weakness? When I bought it (more than 23 year ago), the seller graded it EF45 as I recall. Personally I grade it in the AU50++ range, but that is MHO.

 

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Eduard: That is a great 1814 JR-5 "Statesofamerica" IMO that coin grades higher than AU50, especially if the luster is as good as it looks. The only way to tell if the soft spots you are seeing are wear or a weak strike is to see if the luster is broken(which I'm sure you know), which we can't do from a picture. From the pics that coin is an AU55+ (IMO of course). Really beautiful coin, glad you posted it

 

50 sounds low for that dime, at least according to TPG standards. Way too much luster for a 50, IMO.

 

In short, I would suggest it was the screw press used (not the steam press introduced mid way through the 1830s). I would also suggest the mint employees just didn't seem to care (or were otherwise directed) about fully struck examples. The problems certainly predate the 1820's, as Eduard's example shows, but they were also present in the 1800's and 1790's too.

 

Thanks for the info Leadfoot.

Bruce