DRAPED BUST DIMES (1796-1807)
The first dime to be circulated was the Draped Bust dime, in 1796. It
featured the same obverse and reverse as all other circulating coins of
the time, the so-called Draped Bust/Small Eagle design. This design was
the work of then-Chief Engraver Robert Scot. The portrait of Liberty on the obverse was based on a Gilbert Stuart drawing of prominent Philadelphia socialite Ann Willing Bingham, wife of noted American statesman William Bingham. The reverse design is of a small Bald Eagle surrounded by palm and olive branches, and perched on a cloud. Since the Coinage Act of 1792 required only that the cent and half cent display their denomination, Draped Bust dimes were minted with no indication of their value. All 1796 dimes have 15 stars on the obverse, representing the number of U.S. states then in the Union. The first 1797 dimes were minted with 16 stars, reflecting Tennessee's
admission as the 16th state. Realizing that the practice of adding one
star per state could quickly clutter the coin's design, U.S. Mint
Director Elias Boudinot ordered a design alteration, to feature just 13 stars (for the original Thirteen Colonies). Therefore, 1797 dimes can be found with either 13 or 16 stars.
