Rare 1833 Dime Errors (List & Pictures)
A tilted eagle calls for a flip test; a raised reverse line calls for a close look at the silver. These two 1833 Capped Bust Dime errors have estimated whole-coin values of $75–$6,000.
The JR-3 reference-book specimen sold for $4,887.50 in January 2006 despite improper cleaning. Its scarce variety and history are part of that result, so begin by deciding which feature your coin actually shows.
1833 Dime The Eagle Ends at an Angle after a Flip: Rotated Reverse Error
Normal coin alignment leaves the eagle upright when an upright Liberty is flipped straight from top to bottom. A repeatable tilt can show that the dies were turned out of their normal relationship.
The 2012 ANA catalog describes a JR-1 with its reverse about 30 degrees clockwise from upright. JR-1 identifies a die pair, meaning the two tools that made the coin.
A separate worn rotation example is reported without a measured angle. Neither report requires a second strike to explain the orientation.
How to Identify
Set Liberty upright beside a vertical line and flip directly top to bottom without adding a sideways turn. Repeat the motion to see whether the eagle consistently reaches the same angle.
A short video or aligned photographs can preserve that relationship. Two face pictures independently rotated for display cannot establish the original orientation.
The 2012 ANA catalog’s JR-1 supplies the approximately 30-degree comparison. Keep that measurement with its own specimen rather than applying it to every 1833 rotation.
A normal dime began near 2.70 grams and 18.5 mm, in roughly 89.2% silver alloy. Check the grooved edge for alteration and allow for wear when comparing measurements.
What It’s Worth
$75–$750 is an estimated range for worn examples with clear genuine rotation. Condition, original surfaces, and the visible amount of tilt affect the whole coin’s appeal.
The cataloged JR-1 was PCGS EF40, a circulated coin retaining much detail. No completed sale price is supplied for that listing.
A 30-degree rotation is less dramatic than a full half-turn. The higher JR-3 result below concerns a different variety and feature.
1833 Dime A Crack Curves around the Arrowheads: JR-3 Retained Cud Error
On JR-3, a raised line follows the right leg of the final A in AMERICA toward the arrowheads. It then curves back to the rim below the second arrowhead.
The line outlines a cracked piece of die that remained in place. This is a retained cud, so normal design can survive inside the boundary instead of being replaced by a smooth lump.
The reverse die had also served in 1832. That history helps explain the tool, but a matching date and full variety identification are still needed for the 1833 coin.
How to Identify
Keep the last A, arrowheads, and rim in one enlarged view. Trace the line continuously rather than joining unrelated marks from separate cropped pictures.
Side lighting should reveal a raised route with surviving design inside it. A slight change in surface height can also help show the outlined die section.
Cleaning scratches elsewhere do not turn an original raised crack into a later scratch. They are a separate surface problem that still matters when valuing the coin.
What It’s Worth
$1,500–$6,000 is an estimated range for worn JR-3 examples showing the retained break. The reference-book plate coin sold for $4,887.50 on January 27, 2006.
NCS described it as AU Details with improper cleaning, combining light wear with a surface problem. Its reference-book appearance and ownership history added interest specific to that specimen.
A similar-looking crack does not automatically bring the same price. Match the scarce variety, preservation, and surface quality before comparing the result.
Conclusion
Use a controlled flip for the rotation and a continuous close view for the retained cud. The first changes the relationship between the faces, while the second records a broken section of die.
Keep the individual specimen’s angle, variety, and condition attached to its value. An unpriced catalog listing and a historically important cleaned coin provide different kinds of comparisons.
