1836 Dime Error List with Pictures
An 1836 JR-2 dime graded PCGS MS65 sold for $3,840 in August 2019. JR-2 identifies the pair of stamping tools, while MS65 describes a coin with no circulation wear and few marks.
This 1836 Capped Bust dime error list covers a line across Liberty and an 8 punched over an earlier 8. Estimated whole-coin values run from $100 to $5,000.
Read on to see how these two features formed and where to find them.
1836 Capped Bust Dime Bisecting Obverse Die Crack (Estimated Up to $3,000)
A raised line crosses Liberty on some 1836 JR-2 dimes. It runs from the upper rim through T in LIBERTY and the hair toward the upper left of the date’s 3.
The coin itself did not split. The die, a steel stamping tool, cracked and allowed coin metal to rise into the opening.
As that crack grew, later coins could show a stronger line than earlier ones. The same tool did not leave an equally bold mark throughout its life.
A scratch can follow a similar route. Its cut-down surface differs from the raised line left by the cracked tool.
Estimated Value
A practical whole-coin estimate is $100–$3,000, from worn collectible pieces to examples with little or no circulation wear. A long crack alone does not make the coin rare.
An 1836 JR-2 graded PCGS MS64 sold for $1,860 in June 2018. A different JR-1 graded VF25 brought $198 in July 2025.
Those sales show how condition and the underlying coin affect value. Neither amount is a separately measured surcharge for the crack.
How to Identify
Find T in LIBERTY with a magnifier, then follow the line through the hair toward the date’s 3. Nearby design helps you compare the actual route rather than one bright streak.
Tilt the coin under a lamp. A die crack rises above the surface; a scratch cuts down and may push small ridges along its sides.
Wear can make parts of the line harder to follow. Check the full date and denomination so you do not use a half-dime photograph by mistake.
A scale and calipers compare about 2.70 grams and 18.5 mm, with a grooved edge. Begin with the raised line linking the upper rim, T, hair, and area above the 3.
1836 Capped Bust Dime Fancy 8 over Block 8 (Estimated Up to $5,000)
A decorative 8 sits over remnants of a plainer 8 on the JR-2 date. The engraver first punched a Block 8 into the tool, then used a Fancy, or Script, 8 over it.
The earlier outlines did not disappear completely. Their remains identify the overlapping date work.
A Fancy 8 by itself is only a number style. The important clue is the other shape beneath it.
A PCGS registry description notes this feature alongside the long crack. The changed numeral came first; the crack developed later while the same tool was used.
Estimated Value
For clearly identified examples, estimate $100–$5,000 from worn grades through MS65. The PCGS MS65 JR-2 sold for $3,840 in August 2019.
That price values the whole coin, not an extra fee for the overlapping 8. Clear remaining digit outlines make the feature easier to enjoy, while original shine and surface quality still matter greatly.
Exceptionally preserved coins can exceed this working range. Heavy cleaning or other serious surface damage also needs separate consideration.
How to Identify
Use a sharply focused date photograph and a magnifier to compare the 8 with a clear JR-2 example. Keep the neighboring numerals visible so their spacing helps the comparison.
Move the light to distinguish actual raised outlines from borders of dark toning. A flat shelf beside the numeral can come from movement during striking instead.
Check the normal dime measurements with a scale and calipers: about 2.70 grams and 18.5 mm. The edge should have grooves, allowing for wear.
The long crack may support the match, but an earlier coin can show it faintly. Begin with the overlapping shapes of both 8s, rather than the decorative style alone.
Conclusion
Estimated values for these 1836 dime features span $100 to $5,000 for the whole coin. A long raised crack and an overlapping 8 can occur together, but their prices should not be added.
Follow the line through LIBERTY and inspect the date separately. One feature records a broken stamping tool; the other shows a changed numeral.
Compare wear, cleaning, and remaining detail before choosing a similar auction example.