1792 10C J-10, BN (Special Strike)

P. Scott Rubin: The 1792 Copper Disme with Reeded Edge, Judd-10 is a Rarity 6 coin (13-30 known), making this issue the second most common of the rare 1792 coinage varieties. The much more common 1792 Silver Half Disme, a coin with over two hundred specimens known was struck in the metal of a circulation strike and many believe it was issued for circulation. However, the 1792 Disme does not appear to have ever been issued for circulation and was a pattern-only issue. It is somewhat surprising then that so many of the Copper Dismes were struck. It is also surprising that approximately two-thirds of the surviving 1792 Copper Dismes with Reeded Edge are known in Very Fine condition or better. Three of the survivors are graded either Proof or Specimen Issues.

It seems probable that 1792 Copper Dismes with Reeded Edge were given to a number of people to display as an example of the proposed coinage of the U.S. That would explain the Specimen specimens and helps explain why so many survive in nice condition. While it is not definitely known who engraved these coins, it appears that they were not engraved by Birch (who did the 1792 Birch Cents) and they were not engraved by Joseph Wright (who engraved the 1792 Pattern Quarter).

Besides the two identified as Specimen issues, which are graded SP65 Brown and SP55 by PCGS, and one Proof graded PR62BN by NGC, there are two 1792 Copper Dismes with Reeded Edge with claims to Uncirculated condition. Since Proof coinage was not officially started at the U.S. Mint until about 1817, it is probably more accurate to call any coin that appears to be a proof struck before that date a Specimen.