Even aside from proof status, the eye appeal of this marvelous dime would have to be considered amazing, as it provides a distinctly cameo appearance (not so designated on the slab) with gently frosted devices lying atop mildly reflective fields. Of course, reflectivity does not approach that of proof coins of the mid-19th century onward, but can nonetheless be observed even between the vertical lines of the shield. Because the opportunity to examine a proof bust dime is in itself a rare experience, your humble cataloger will devote much detail to diagnostics of this particular proof example.S4 (star 4) is recut on the lower three points, S5 recut on the upper-right point, S11 recut at the lower-left point, and S13 is recut on four points, excluding the upper-left two. All four digits in the date appear lightly repunched, the overdigit feature of the 3 being noticeably present, with the lower right serif clearly visible and attached to the bottom right of the bottom of the "3", and there is a tiny die crack connecting the two balls of that digit. Two tiny center dots rest on the portrait. The underdigit of the "9" is virtually invisible, with just a hint of the right side of the ball just barely visible at the inside lower-left corner, and the outer profile of the "9" just slightly hinted at the lower-right corner of the "0". It is an interesting practice in observation to note that the underdigit "9" is more readily apparent if the coin is held upside down and a resulting "6" searched for (remember that this is an 1830/29). On the reverse, a tiny die line is seen below E1, E3 is repunched, and C is repunched. All three characters of the denomination are slightly repunched south. All the arrow heads and shafts are broadly recut. The left edge of the shield is entirely recut.
Speaking to the strike quality, the obverse stars are very sharp, yet surprisingly, one may see business strike coins that differ little in appearance from proofs because the proof dies were put into use for commercial strikings. Blueberry tone crescents appear in all three open obverse field areas, lying atop a platinum-tan backdrop that features some iridescence at the extreme edges. Handling marks include one just right of S4 and a slightly large one just right of S5, and there is a bagmark just above the corner of mouth. The reverse is more uniformly toned in glimmering cobalt-steel with hints of platinum-tan iridescence at the extreme peripheral areas echoing the color scheme of the obverse. A small patch of carbon overlays the "U", but there are no additional signs of carbon on either side. Lovely beading just inside the rims is complete except for an arc along the left reverse rim. Cataloger's note: the original NGC no line slab for this coin was substantially cracked, and Scotsman paid for replacement into a brand new NGC slab for the protection and benefit of the coin.