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The 1814 Capped Bust dime is a Philadelphia Mint silver dime struck during the War of 1812 era, with a recorded mintage of 421,500 pieces split among three main collector varieties: Small Date, Large Date, and STATESOFAMERICA. It's a coin that sits right at the intersection of early American history and serious variety collecting, since a modest mintage produced several distinct die combinations that specialists still hunt down today.
Whether you already own one of these dimes or you're weighing a purchase or sale, this guide breaks down what the 1814 Capped Bust dime is worth right now, how to spot the different varieties, and where to get a fair offer if you decide to part with one.
What Is the 1814 Capped Bust Dime?
The 1814 Capped Bust dime is a 10-cent silver coin struck only at the Philadelphia Mint, part of the Capped Bust dime series designed by John Reich. It carries a recorded mintage of 421,500 pieces, all dated 1814, making it one of the earlier dates in a series that ran from 1809 to 1837.
The design shows a capped Liberty bust on the obverse and a heraldic eagle on the reverse, a style that replaced the earlier Draped Bust dimes starting in 1809. Because the series is old and mintages were small compared to modern coinage, even common dates like 1814 draw steady interest from early silver collectors. Anyone building out a set of Capped Bust dime types will run into this date fairly early in the process.
Why Was the 1814 Capped Bust Dime Minted During the War of 1812?
The 1814 Capped Bust dime exists because the Philadelphia Mint resumed dime production that year after skipping 1812 and 1813 entirely due to the disruptions of the War of 1812. No Capped Bust dimes were struck in either of those two years, which makes 1814 the first dime date to appear after the gap.
Wartime pressure on bullion supplies, shipping, and mint operations slowed coinage across the board in this period. When production picked back up in 1814, the mint used multiple die pairings to strike the 421,500 dimes recorded for the year, which is part of why several distinct varieties survive from a single date. That combination of scarcity, war-era context, and variety depth is a big reason collectors treat 1814 as a meaningful date within the run.
What Varieties Exist for the 1814 Capped Bust Dime?
Three main varieties exist for the 1814 Capped Bust dime: Small Date, Large Date, and STATESOFAMERICA. Large Date is the most common by a wide margin, Small Date is noticeably scarcer, and STATESOFAMERICA is a reverse variety where the words are cramped together into what reads like one word.
Specialists sometimes break this down even further. PCGS notes that combinations of different obverse and reverse dies produced as many as five recognized die varieties for 1814, so the three broad labels collectors use are really a simplified entry point into a more layered set of die marriages. If you're new to this level of detail, our guide on identifying die varieties walks through how small design differences translate into real price differences.
Variety
Relative Rarity
Key Identifier
Large Date
Most common
Wider, taller date digits
Small Date
Scarcer than Large Date
Smaller, more compact date numerals
STATESOFAMERICA
Scarcer, sought by variety collectors
Reverse legend words run together
Anyone who enjoys tracking down die-level differences like this is doing exactly what most people mean by the term numismatist. If that word is new to you, our piece on what a numismatist actually does explains the hobby in plain terms.
How Can You Tell Small Date From Large Date on an 1814 Dime?
You tell Small Date from Large Date on an 1814 Capped Bust dime by comparing the size and spacing of the date digits directly above Liberty's cap. Large Date numerals are noticeably taller and more spread out, while Small Date numerals sit tighter together and appear smaller overall.
Because the difference is subtle and wear can blur the edges of the digits, it helps to compare your coin side by side with reference images from a variety attribution guide before assuming which type you have. For coins in higher grades or anything you're considering paying a premium for, sending the coin in for professional attribution is worth the cost. Our overview of coin grading standards covers how third-party grading services evaluate strike, wear, and surface quality, all of which affect how confidently a variety can be confirmed.
How Much Is an 1814 Capped Bust Dime Worth?
An 1814 Capped Bust dime in typical circulated condition is usually worth somewhere between $145 and $1,061 depending on grade, with common Good-to-Very Good examples at the low end and problem-free About Uncirculated coins at the high end. Scarcer varieties like STATESOFAMERICA tend to sell for more than the common date at comparable grades.
Grade
Approximate Value
Very Good (VG)
About $145
Fine (F)
About $309
Very Fine (VF)
About $603
Extremely Fine (XF)
About $750
About Uncirculated (AU)
About $1,061
A STATESOFAMERICA example in XF40 has recently traded around $1,350, showing the premium collectors are willing to pay for the scarcer reverse variety. Mint State coins are far scarcer still, and population data shows only small certified counts at the top end for each 1814 variety, so a coin in true Mint State condition can bring several times the AU price depending on eye appeal and how it's holdered.
What Is the Melt Value of an 1814 Capped Bust Dime?
The melt value of an 1814 Capped Bust dime is only a few dollars, since Capped Bust dimes were struck in .8924 fine silver and weigh about 2.7 grams, giving each coin roughly 0.077 troy ounces of pure silver. At $57 an ounce for silver at the time of writing, that works out to a melt value of roughly $4 to $5, far below what any collectible-grade example brings on the open market.
This is the single biggest thing to understand about coins like this one. Numismatic demand, not bullion content, drives the price. If you're mainly interested in silver for its metal content rather than its collector story, coins like 90% silver dimes struck after 1964 or modern rounds from our silver bullion selection are a more straightforward way to buy silver near spot price without paying a variety premium.
What Should You Check Before Buying an 1814 Capped Bust Dime?
Before buying an 1814 Capped Bust dime, confirm the specific variety, inspect the coin for cleaning or repair, and compare the asking price against several recent sales rather than a single listing. Early silver coins like this one are old enough that condition problems are common, and those problems matter more to value than small differences in wear grade.
Confirm whether the coin is Small Date, Large Date, or STATESOFAMERICA before agreeing on price
Look closely at the surfaces for cleaning marks, corrosion, or old repairs under magnification
Ask whether the coin has third-party attribution, especially for STATESOFAMERICA or any Mint State claim
Check strike quality, since many 1814 dimes were weakly struck to begin with
Compare at least two or three recent sales at the same grade before settling on a fair price
What Are Common Misconceptions About the 1814 Capped Bust Dime?
The biggest misconception about the 1814 Capped Bust dime is that all examples from that date are equally rare and equally valuable, when in fact rarity and price vary a lot by variety and condition. Large Date coins are common enough to sit at the low end of the price range, while STATESOFAMERICA examples command a real premium.
A second misconception is that the recorded mintage of 421,500 tells the whole story of scarcity. Survival rates and collector demand matter more than the raw mintage number, since plenty of coins from this era were lost, melted, or worn smooth over two centuries of circulation. A third misconception is that silver content drives the price. It does not for this coin, since numismatic premium is the real value driver, as covered above. Finally, some sellers assume any old dime dated 1814 is automatically worth a lot. Condition and variety matter far more than age alone, and a damaged or heavily worn example may bring only a small fraction of a nicer coin's price.
Where Can You Sell an 1814 Capped Bust Dime?
You can sell an 1814 Capped Bust dime through a local coin shop, an online auction, or a specialized precious metals and numismatic dealer, and the best route usually depends on how confident you are in the coin's variety and grade. A dealer who deals in both bullion and collector coins can give you a read on both the melt value and the numismatic premium in one conversation.
If you want a professional opinion before you sell, it helps to understand what to expect from a coin appraisal so you know what questions to ask and what documentation a dealer might request. For sellers who aren't local to a physical shop, mailing the coin to a dealer with an insured mail-in service is a practical way to get an offer without traveling, as long as the service provides insured shipping and a clear appraisal process.
Why Choose Accurate Precious Metals for Your 1814 Capped Bust Dime?
Accurate Precious Metals is a strong option for buying or selling an 1814 Capped Bust dime because we handle both bullion and numismatic coins, backed by in business since 2012 and over 1,000 five-star customer reviews. We're not a pawn shop. We're a dedicated precious metals dealer with a physical location in Salem, Oregon, and nationwide reach for customers who can't visit in person.
As an NGC authorized dealer, we offer grading services for collectors who want a professional opinion on a coin's variety or condition before selling. Our online pricing reflects live spot prices, so you're not guessing at what silver or gold is doing on a given day, and Oregon's lack of a state sales tax is an added benefit for buyers picking up coins locally. If you're local to the Salem area, you're welcome to bring your coin in for an in-person look. If you're anywhere else in the country, our mail-in service covers free insured shipping and fast payment once your coin has been evaluated for metal content, variety, and condition.
Collectors building out an early silver set can browse our numismatic coins selection for other Capped Bust and Barber-era pieces, including our writeup on 1914 Barber dime values for a later date in the broader dime series. And if you're weighing a bullion purchase alongside a numismatic one, our silver bullion category makes it easy to compare a collector coin's premium against a straightforward, spot-priced silver purchase.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the mintage of the 1814 Capped Bust dime?
The Philadelphia Mint struck 421,500 examples of the 1814 Capped Bust dime, and no dimes of this design were made in 1812 or 1813.
What varieties exist for the 1814 Capped Bust dime?
The three main collector varieties are Small Date, Large Date, and STATESOFAMERICA, with Large Date being by far the most common.
Which 1814 Capped Bust dime variety is the most common?
Large Date is the most common 1814 variety, while Small Date and STATESOFAMERICA are both scarcer and typically carry higher prices.
How much is an 1814 Capped Bust dime worth today?
Common circulated examples typically run from about $145 in Very Good to around $1,061 in About Uncirculated, with scarcer varieties like STATESOFAMERICA often selling higher, such as around $1,350 in XF40.
What is the melt value of an 1814 Capped Bust dime?
Based on its silver content of roughly 0.077 troy ounces, the melt value is only about $4 to $5 with silver at $57 an ounce at the time of writing, far below its typical collector price.
Was the 1814 dime made anywhere besides Philadelphia?
No, all 1814 Capped Bust dimes were struck exclusively at the Philadelphia Mint.
How do I tell if my 1814 dime is Small Date or Large Date?
Compare the size and spacing of the date digits above Liberty's cap, and consider having the coin professionally attributed if you're paying a premium based on the variety.
Where can I sell an 1814 Capped Bust dime for a fair price?
You can sell it in person at a specialized dealer like Accurate Precious Metals in Salem, Oregon, or use an insured mail-in service if you're located elsewhere in the country.
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