Dark brownish gray and iridescent toning with hints of lustre suggesting this may actually be finer than our grade. Somewhat weak at central obverse. This is a rare variety that was just discovered in 1982. Two years later, the variety was considered Rarity-7 and today, Rarity-5. Two finer examples are recorded among 10 coins listed in the Dime Census.

First use of the obverse die prior to JR-1. First use of the reverse die prior to 1825 JR-4, JR-5, and 1827 JR-1.

The obverse has a small rim flaw or cud left of stars 5 and 6 along with a faint die crack through stars 6 and 7 into the field above. There is no evidence of the faint crack through stars 8 and 9 as seen on the JR-1 example, suggesting that the JR-2 combination was struck first. A note in Russ Logan's copy of the Dime Book agrees with our findings. The reverse has an extremely faint die crack from rim to left wing tip, just left of U.

Purchased from John W. McCloskey. Previously from Brian Greer, May 1996.