1802 Dime Value (2026 Guide): Errors List & No Mint Mark Worth

The 1802 Dime value commands serious attention from both advanced collectors and investors — and for good reason.

This coin is a genuine rarity in every sense. In Good condition, average market values sit around $2,088. In Fine grade, that rises to approximately $6,708.

Higher-grade examples climb significantly further — AU coins average $20,700, and Mint State examples reach an average of $66,700.

To understand what really drives these numbers, you need to look beyond the grade. Die variety, strike quality, and the coin’s documented survival history all play major roles in determining the true 1802 Dime value.

 

1802 Dime Value By Variety

The 1802 Dime was produced using four distinct die pairings — all struck at Philadelphia with no mint mark. Each pairing carries its own rarity rating, which means variety identification can make a significant difference to your coin’s final value.

If you know your coin’s grade, you can find the exact price below in the Value Guides section.

Also Read: Top 100 Rarest Dimes Worth Money (Most Expensive)

 

Top 10 Most Valuable 1802 Dime Worth Money

Auction records reveal just how much collectors prize high-grade and rare-variety 1802 Dimes.

The top sale belongs to the 1802 JR-4 in MS-62, which realized $138,000 — the highest price in this dataset, achieved through Heritage Auctions in 2008. The standard 1802 in MS-62 follows at $82,250, achieved at Stack’s Bowers on May 19, 2015, with the JR-2 MS-62 close behind at $70,500.

A clear pattern emerges: both grade and die variety drive value significantly. The JR-4 variety appears multiple times in the top ten, reflecting strong collector demand for that specific die pairing.

Even lower-ranked entries are notable. The 1802 JR-2 in AU-55 sold for $24,150 — a substantial figure for a circulated coin. These results confirm that the 1802 Dime consistently rewards collectors who understand both condition and variety.

 

History Of The 1802 Dime

The story of the 1802 Dime begins with the Coinage Act of 1792, the legislation that first authorized the ten-cent denomination and established the United States Mint. The dime was authorized as the smallest silver coin in the new American coinage system, valued at one-tenth of a dollar.

The Draped Bust Dime series launched in 1796 — the first dime ever struck by the United States Mint. Chief Engraver Robert Scot adapted the design from a portrait concept attributed to artist Gilbert Stuart, and it quickly became the defining style for U.S. silver coinage of that era.

The series went through two design phases. The early Small Eagle reverse ran from 1796 to 1797. In 1798, the reverse changed to the Heraldic Eagle style, modeled after the Great Seal of the United States, which continued through 1807. The 1802 Dime falls within this second and final phase.

Mint production was irregular throughout this period. No dimes were struck with the date 1799 — due to a shortage of silver blanks — and no dimes were produced in 1806 either. This reflects the unpredictable nature of early Mint operations, which were driven by availability of raw silver rather than any systematic production schedule.

Against this backdrop, the 1802 Dime was struck in very limited numbers. The key reference work for the series, Early United States Dimes 1796–1837 by Davis, Logan, Lovejoy, McCloskey, and Subjack, confirms the 1802 as one of the most extreme rarities in the Draped Bust series — a direct result of the economic conditions and hand-operated minting methods of its time.

Also Read: Top 100 Most Valuable Roosevelt Dimes Worth Money List (Year Chart)

 

Is Your 1802 Dime Rare?

The 1802 Dime is widely recognized as one of the rarest dates in the Draped Bust Dime series. However, rarity can vary sharply depending on the specific die variety and the grade of your particular coin.

What makes this coin unusual is that rarity exists at two levels: the date itself is scarce, and within that date, certain die varieties are dramatically rarer than others. The JR-1, for example, is rated R-8 — with only two known examples in existence — placing it among the most extreme rarities in all of American coinage.

To find out where your coin stands, check it with the CoinValueChecker App.

 

Key Features Of The 1802 Dime

The 1802 Dime carries the Draped Bust, Heraldic Eagle design — one of the most recognized styles in early American coinage. Knowing its design elements helps collectors identify, authenticate, and evaluate their coins more confidently.

Because this coin was struck by hand using screw presses, no two examples are perfectly identical. Strike quality varies across the known population, and weakness in certain areas is expected and accepted by graders for this series.

The Obverse Of The 1802 Dime

The obverse depicts Liberty facing right, with flowing curls and a ribbon accent in her hair. She features a draped neckline, which gives the design its name.

Thirteen stars flank Liberty — seven to the left and six to the right. The word LIBERTY appears above, and the date 1802 is positioned at the bottom. On most surviving examples, weakness is commonly observed on the obverse stars and on the high points of Liberty’s hair — this is a normal characteristic of the series.

The Reverse Of The 1802 Dime

The centerpiece of the reverse is the Heraldic Eagle, with wings fully spread and a shield on its chest. A ribbon bearing the motto E PLURIBUS UNUM hangs from its beak.

The eagle holds a bundle of arrows in one talon and an olive branch in the other. Above the eagle sits an arc of stars beneath a row of clouds. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA surrounds the entire design. As noted by Stack’s Bowers numismatic experts, the stars above the eagle’s head on the reverse are frequently flat or invisible due to typical strike weakness — this is not considered a defect on early Draped Bust Dimes.

Other Features Of The 1802 Dime

No denomination mark appears on the coin — a standard practice for early U.S. dimes. The edge is reeded, the coin measures 19.80 millimeters in diameter, weighs 2.70 grams, and is composed of 89.2% silver and 10.8% copper. All 1802 Dimes were struck at Philadelphia with no mint mark.

Also Read: Top 70+ Most Valuable Mercury Dimes Worth Money (Chart By Year) 

 

1802 Dime Mintage & Survival Data

The 1802 Dime had a total mintage of just 10,975 coins — the lowest mintage in the entire Draped Bust Dime series. To put that in perspective, the neighboring 1801 date saw 34,640 struck, and the 1803 date returned to roughly mid-30,000 pieces. The 1802 stands alone as a dramatic production dip.

Of those original 10,975 coins, only 165 examples are known to survive today. That works out to a survival rate of approximately 1.5%, meaning fewer than 2 in every 100 original coins still exist.

This level of attrition is remarkable. Coins from this era were everyday money — spent, worn, and melted — with no one saving them as collectibles. The Mint report confirms production using four die pairings (JR-1 through JR-4), but the survivors are not evenly distributed across those varieties.

PCGS CoinFacts confirms the coin’s condition ceiling: no example has ever been certified above MS-62. That means no gem-quality 1802 Dime is known to exist, placing a hard upper limit on what even the wealthiest collectors can acquire.

Also Read: Roosevelt Dime Coin Value (1946-Present)

 

The Easy Way to Know Your 1802 Dime Value

Estimating the value of an 1802 Dime involves several overlapping factors — grade, die variety, surface quality, and recent auction trends. Tracking all of these manually requires experience and regular market monitoring.

A more practical approach is to start with a reliable reference tool. Knowing your coin’s grade and variety is the essential first step. From there, up-to-date market data makes all the difference.

For a quick and accurate estimate, use the CoinValueChecker App to check your 1802 Dime’s value in seconds.

 

1802 Dime Value Guides

The 1802 Dime was struck from four known die pairings, all at the Philadelphia Mint. These are cataloged under the John Reich (JR) variety numbering system, named after the U.S. Mint assistant engraver. Each die pairing carries a different rarity rating, meaning variety identification can significantly affect your coin’s value.

Here is a summary of the known varieties and their relative rarity:

• 1802 JR-1 (R-8) — The extreme rarity of the date, with only two known examples. Identified by the position of the “E” in STATES relative to the clouds on the reverse. The R-8 designation means fewer than 8 specimens are estimated to exist in all grades.
• 1802 JR-2 (R-5) — Approximately 12–20 known survivors. A significant rarity, with confirmed auction sales including an MS-62 example at $70,500.
• 1802 JR-3 (R-6) — Among the most elusive varieties, with only a very small number of confirmed specimens known to collectors.
• 1802 JR-4 (R-4 to R-5) — The most frequently encountered variety and the one most likely to appear at auction. An MS-62 example holds the series record at $138,000 (Heritage Auctions, 2008).

Average values across all varieties range from $2,088 in Good to $66,700 in Mint State.

 

1802 No Mint Mark Dime Value

The 1802 No Mint Mark Dime holds a firm place among the most coveted coins in early American numismatics. With a mintage of just 10,975 and only 165 survivors across all grades and varieties, genuine examples are genuinely hard to find.

The coin is composed of 89.2% silver and 10.8% copper, measures 19.80 millimeters in diameter, and weighs 2.70 grams. These specifications are consistent across the entire Draped Bust Dime series.

One critical fact that separates this coin from many others: no example has ever been graded above MS-62. This means the highest possible certified grade is MS-62 — there are no gem specimens, no MS-63s, no MS-65s. Whatever you can find is whatever exists.

The auction record for a standard 1802 No Mint Mark Dime stands at $82,250, achieved for an MS-62 example sold by Stack’s Bowers on May 19, 2015. For the JR-4 die variety specifically, Heritage Auctions realized $138,000 for an MS-62 in 2008 — the highest price ever recorded for any 1802 Dime.

Stack’s Bowers notes an important dynamic in the market: many buyers seek a single example for a type set illustrating the 1798–1807 Heraldic Eagle reverse style, without being concerned about the specific date. This means variety specialists can sometimes acquire genuine rarities — such as a JR-2 or JR-3 — for prices closer to what a more common date would bring, representing exceptional value for knowledgeable collectors.

Auction prices for the 1802 No Mint Mark Dime have shifted considerably over the years, as the chart below illustrates.

Collector interest in this coin also fluctuates month to month, and the market activity chart below captures that pattern.

Also Read: 16 Rare Dime Errors List with Pictures (By Year)

 

Rare 1802 Dime Error List

No confirmed major die varieties classified specifically as “errors” have been documented for the 1802 Dime in the way modern coins are tracked, but the Draped Bust Dime series is well documented for several mint-related irregularities. Because these coins were struck by hand using screw presses and hand-cut dies, imperfections were common — and some add significant value to surviving examples.

1. 1802 Dime Repunched Date Error

A repunched date (RPD) occurs when the date digits were punched into the die more than once, leaving a doubled or offset impression visible on the finished coin. This type of error has been confirmed in the 1802 Dime series.

In 2009, Stack’s Bowers auctioned a Fine-grade 1802 Dime with a repunched date error for $3,900, demonstrating that even error examples in lower grades can command significant premiums.

2. 1802 Dime Adjustment Marks

Many coins of this type show mint-caused adjustment marks — file marks left on the surface when planchets were manually filed down to meet the correct weight standard.

These file marks were part of the production process and are widely accepted by graders within the Draped Bust series. Adjustment marks do not disqualify a coin from grading, but heavily marked examples may receive slightly lower grades or “details” designations.

3. 1802 Dime Weak or Light Strike

Areas of light striking are nearly universal on 1802 Dimes — weakness on the obverse stars and Liberty’s hair high points, and flatness among the reverse stars above the eagle, are all considered normal for the issue.

This tendency toward poor strikes increased as the Draped Bust Dime series progressed. Understanding this characteristic is important: strike weakness is not penalized in grading the way it would be for modern coins.

4. 1802 Dime Off-Center Strike

An off-center strike results from misalignment between the die and the planchet during the striking process. Some of the coin’s design details appear shifted toward the edge, and in dramatic cases, portions of the design may be missing. In 2010, Goldberg Auctioneers sold a Very Good-grade 1802 Dime with an off-center strike error for $3,500. More dramatic misalignments generally command higher premiums.

5. 1802 Dime Die Clash

Die clashes occur when the dies strike each other with no planchet between them, transferring the design of one die onto the other. This irregularity has been documented across multiple dates in the Draped Bust Dime series and is considered a collectible variety by specialists.

Die clash marks typically appear as ghost-like impressions of one side’s design faintly visible on the opposite side of the coin.

6. 1802 Dime Clipped Planchet

A clipped planchet results from an incomplete blank that is missing a section due to a manufacturing error during planchet preparation. Examples have been documented for the Draped Bust Dime series.

In 2012, a collector on eBay paid $2,450 for a Good-grade 1802 Dime with a clipped planchet error — evidence that even modest-grade error examples attract serious collector interest.

 

Where To Sell Your 1802 Dime?

Selling a rare coin like the 1802 Dime requires choosing the right platform to receive fair market value. Each option — major auction houses like Heritage Auctions or Stack’s Bowers, online marketplaces, or local dealers — comes with its own advantages and trade-offs worth understanding before you list.

We’ve put together a full breakdown to help you decide:

Check out now: Best Places To Sell Coins Online (Pros & Cons)  

   

FAQ About The 1802 Dime

1. How much is an 1802 Dime worth?

The value depends on grade and die variety. A Good-condition example averages around $2,088, while Fine examples average approximately $6,708. AU coins average $20,700, and Mint State examples average $66,700. The highest auction record is $138,000, achieved for a JR-4 MS-62 at Heritage Auctions in 2008.

2. How rare is the 1802 Dime?

The 1802 Dime is one of the rarest dates in the Draped Bust series. Only 10,975 were struck, and just 165 examples survive today — a survival rate of approximately 1.5%. Within that total, certain die varieties are even rarer: the JR-1 is rated R-8, meaning only two examples are known to exist in the world.

3. What die varieties exist for the 1802 Dime?

Four die pairings (JR-1 through JR-4) are known for the 1802 Dime, cataloged under the John Reich variety numbering system. The JR-1 is the rarest, rated R-8 with only two known specimens. The JR-3 is rated R-6, the JR-2 is rated R-5, and the JR-4 is the most commonly seen variety. Identifying which variety you have is an essential step in determining accurate market value.

4. Who designed the 1802 Dime?

The 1802 Dime was designed by Chief Engraver Robert Scot, who adapted the Draped Bust portrait from a concept attributed to artist Gilbert Stuart. Robert Scot served as Chief Engraver of the United States Mint from November 23, 1793, until his death on November 3, 1823. He created all of the working dies for the Draped Bust Dime series, including all four die pairings used for the 1802 issue.

5. What is the highest grade ever certified for an 1802 Dime?

No 1802 Dime has ever been certified above MS-62 by PCGS or NGC. That grade — Mint State 62, meaning the coin shows evidence of contact marks but retains full mint luster — represents the absolute ceiling for this date. No gem examples (MS-65 or higher) are known to exist, making this one of the few early U.S. silver coins where no gem specimen has ever surfaced.

6. Why was the 1802 Dime mintage so low?

The low mintage of 10,975 reflects the irregular and demand-driven nature of early U.S. Mint operations. Coinage during this period depended on available silver bullion, not a set production schedule. No dimes were struck at all in 1799 due to a silver blank shortage, and none were produced in 1806 either.

The 1802 date simply happened to coincide with a period of minimal silver deposits at the Philadelphia Mint, resulting in the lowest mintage in the entire Draped Bust Dime series.

7. Does strike quality affect 1802 Dime value?

Strike weakness is nearly universal on 1802 Dimes — flatness on the obverse stars, Liberty’s hair high points, and the reverse stars above the eagle are all expected and accepted. Unlike modern coins such as Full Bands (FB) Roosevelt Dimes or Full Steps (FS) Jefferson Nickels, the Draped Bust series does not carry a “full strike” premium designation.

Instead, graders and buyers consider the overall quality of detail relative to what is typical for the issue, with exceptionally sharp examples commanding modest premiums over equally graded but weakly struck coins.

8. Are 1802 Dime errors worth more than standard examples?

Yes — when documented and authenticated, error examples of the 1802 Dime can significantly exceed standard pricing. A repunched date example sold for $3,900 (Stack’s Bowers, 2009) in Fine grade. An off-center strike example sold for $3,500 (Goldberg Auctioneers, 2010) in Very Good.

A clipped planchet example sold for $2,450 (eBay, 2012) in Good condition. Error premiums depend on the type of error, its visual impact, and the overall grade of the coin.

9. How do I know if my 1802 Dime is authentic?

Authentication is critical for this date, as counterfeits exist. Verify the coin’s weight (2.70 grams), diameter (19.80 mm), and reeded edge. Compare the design details — including the position of the date digits, the star placement, and the reverse eagle — against known authentic examples and diagnostic photographs for each die variety.

Because the 1802 Dime is a target for altered dates from more common years, professional certification by PCGS or NGC is strongly recommended before any significant purchase or sale.

10. What reference book covers 1802 Dime varieties in detail?

The definitive reference is Early United States Dimes 1796–1837, authored by David Davis, Russell Logan, Allen Lovejoy, John McCloskey, and William Subjack. This book covers all die pairings, rarity ratings, diagnostics, and population estimates for every date in the Draped Bust and Capped Bust Dime series. It is the standard reference cited by PCGS, NGC, Heritage Auctions, and Stack’s Bowers when attributing 1802 Dime varieties.