Bust Dimes

The designs of the dimes, first coined in 1796, follow closely those of the half dimes up through the Liberty Seated type. The dimes in each instance weigh twice as much as the half dime. New Mint equipment was used to make the Small Date 1828 dimes and subsequent issues. Unlike earlier coinage, these have beaded borders and a uniform diameter. Large Date has curl base knob 2; Small Date has square base knob 2. -- Red Book (2008)

The word disme does not seem to appear in Jefferson's writings but its origins are known. In 1585 Simon Stevin, a Dutchman, published De Thiende, a detailed presentation of rules for using decimal fractions. Within a short time his book had been translated into French as La Disme, the title apparently coined by the translator. The spelling disme was used in Mint accounts until January 1837 when it was changed to dime, very likely a reflection of the way it had always been pronounced . . . The first dimes, of 1796, used the famous Draped Bust head of Liberty, which is believed to have been created by famed artist Gilbert Stuart at the request of the president. The reverse had a small eagle of rather ordinary artistry but this was changed in 1798 to the heraldic eagle, based on the Great Seal of the United States . . . -- From the 1792 disme to the 1837 Capped Bust dime, by R. W. Julian; Coins (September 2007)