Ron Guth:
The 1809 Dime is the first year of the Capped Bust type. It ranks fourth among the Large Diameter types with an estimated 200 survivors in all grades. Despite being a scarce date, a surprising number of Mint State examples are known. The PCGS Condition Census includes grades between MS-64 and MS-66, indicating that collectors preserved a fair number of high-quality coins (naturally, these are very valuable). This trend toward the high end is misleading, as the majority of the circulated examples grade only EF-45 or less, thus any 1809 Dime in AU or better condition is quite a find.