Authors of theDime Book commented regarding the obverse die: "Both known obverses dated 1837 failed due to a bisecting crack; this was an uncommon mode of failure during the entire period that bust dimes were issued. For three out of the last four bust dime obverse dies (1836 Variety 2 being the third) to fail for the same reason must indicate that some change was made in the method of engraving or making the obverse dies, in the insertion of dies in the coining press or in the use of the press when striking dimes. But what change was made has not been determined with certainty. It is interesting to note that the bisecting crack also appears on early Liberty Seated dimes."

As steam power was introduced to the coining presses in 1836, perhaps this is the simple explanation for the change in production speculated by these authors. Certainly, steam power completely changed the entire operation of coinage production, with a learning curve involved in the production methods.

This is the only obverse die use and the second reverse die use after JR-3.

The obverse has a very light bisecting crack from 12:30 to 5:30. Perfect reverse.