Capped Bust Dime
1809 to 1837

	In 1809 the portrait was changed to the Capped Bust design, a left-facing liberty similar but not identical to the large cent design in use at the time. The reverse was altered again to display an eagle-on-branch, still bearing a shield but with its wings down. With minor detail differences, this issue was maintained until 1837, and since mintage during some years rose as high as 1.4 million coins, most specimens can be had for as little as $45 in good condition.   The 1822 is the rarest issue and the 1809 is next.
I currently have 21 Capped Bust dimes in an album in my collection plus an 1835 specimen which is in the U. S. types album. The example above is classified as AU but does have what appear to be mint errors: a deep scratch under the cheek and a second outline on the left, which may lower its value, depending upon collector desire. This is the only good quality Capped Bust dime I own. This one is in the D case.		The reverse side of the dime at left. 635,000 of these were minted, all at Philadelphia, in 1834, with two minor variations in the size of the 4.