1831 Dime Error List with Pictures

An 1831 dime with a raised mark above UNI sold for $8,812.50 in July 2013. A broken piece of the stamping tool had stayed in place, so it still formed some letters.

This 1831 Capped Bust dime error list explains raised patches caused by that kind of break. Estimated values run from $200 to $12,000 for the whole coin.

Read on to see why letters inside a damaged-looking area can be an important clue.

1831 Capped Bust Dime Retained Cuds and Die Breaks (Estimated Up to $12,000)

A raised patch at the rim can form when part of a die breaks. A die is the steel tool that stamps a coin’s design.

If the broken piece stays in place, it may still stamp some of the picture or lettering. Collectors call the resulting mark a retained cud.

If that piece falls away, coin metal fills the opening and forms a larger raised patch. The 1831 examples occur near ER, TED, or UNI on the back, and stars 2–3 on the front.

These are separate examples, not four breaks found together on one coin.

Estimated Value

The estimated whole-coin range is $200–$12,000. Condition and the size of the raised break both affect the price.

The retained-cud example above UNI sold for $8,812.50 in July 2013. PCGS graded it MS65, meaning unworn with relatively few marks, with CAC approval from a second quality review.

A different 1831 dime sold for $492 in July 2025, graded AU50 with light wear. That ordinary example is not a cud sale.

How to Identify

Find the raised area, then follow its boundary with a 10× magnifier. A slight step may separate it from the surrounding surface.

Letters can remain inside the area when the broken tool piece stayed in place. Do not reject the error just because those letters are readable.

Compare the location with the John Reich Collectors Society’s dime pictures. The page also shows smaller half dimes, which are different coins.

When safely accessible, use a scale and calipers against about 2.70 g and 18.5 mm. Check the edge grooves and nearby rim for impact damage or added metal.

Light from a low angle makes the boundary easier to see. Look for a raised, rim-connected area with a clear change in level around it.

 

Conclusion

Estimated prices for these 1831 dimes run from $200 to $12,000, with the coin’s overall condition contributing much of its value. A readable letter inside a raised patch does not rule out a broken stamping tool.

Start with the boundary of the patch, then compare its location with a pictured example. That simple check helps separate a retained break from ordinary wear or damage at the rim.