Vividly Toned Gem Uncirculated 1820 JR-5 Dime

Intriguing "Notched Stars" Obverse

1820 Capped Bust Dime. JR-5. Rarity-4. Small 0. MS-65 (PCGS).

Beautiful surfaces exhibit vivid cobalt blue peripheral toning that yields to striking rose-red, apricot and champagne-gold iridescence toward the centers. The luster is full and frosty, and the strike is well centered and suitably bold overall for an early date Capped Bust dime. Significant as a high Condition Census example from the 1820 JR-5 dies, this impressive Gem allows ready appreciation of the well known notched star feature. The obverse stars all have a notch out of a single arm, in this case that located nearest to the border in orientation. This "notched stars" obverse die was used to coin both the JR-5 and JR-6 1820 dime varieties, and it is the only obverse die in the entire dime series to show this feature. The notched star was created by Engraver John Reich from the time he joined the Mint in 1807 until he left in 1817 on dies for all denominations he worked on. Apparently two star punches were needed for all denominations, one for general use, the second with his notch to place his mark. Reich is believed to have "signed" his dies with the final star having this notch out of the point nearest the border, right of the date. Although Reich was at the Mint and working when the 1809 dime was introduced, this die does not show this notched star feature, nor does it appear on the 1811 or 1814 dimes. Perhaps the notched punch was prepared sometime after 1814 and no dimes were then coined before Reich left the mint. Subsequent engravers may have simply used Reich's signature star punch in error, not realizing the significance. Curiously all of the stars on this obverse die have the notched star feature, never used by Reich in that manner, so this die may not have been a leftover from when Reich was at the Mint.

PCGS# 38785. NGC ID: 236X.

PCGS Population (JR-1 attribution only): 1; 0 finer.