1797 Draped Bust Dime. JR-2. Rarity-4. 13 Stars. AU-55 (PCGS). CAC. Offered is a highly significant example of this challenging JR number, exceptional for its technical quality and eye appeal. Both sides display quite bold detail, lack of all but trivial wear more than compensating for a touch of typical striking softness to the central high points. The impression is well centered, the surfaces retaining much frosty luster that is particularly intense when viewed with direct lighting. The entire coin is dressed in richly original toning of steel-gray and olive with beautiful blue, pink and gold undertones evident.<p>The final date in the historic Draped Bust, Small Eagle dime series, the 1797 has an extant population of perhaps just 200 to 275 coins across two confirmed die marriages. This estimate is per Winston Zack, Louis Scuderi and Michael Sherrill in their 2015 reference <em>Bust Dime Variety Identification Guide</em>. JR-2, offered here, is readily attributable not only by the 13-star obverse count, but also the knobbed 9 in the date. It is more conditionally challenging than its JR-1 counterpart with only three (as opposed to six) examples believed extant in Mint State. Even rarer as a premium CAC-approved Choice AU, the present JR-2 example comes highly recommended for an advanced cabinet of early U.S. Mint silver. PCGS# 4463. NGC ID: 236D. PCGS Population: 3; 4 finer (MS-64 finest).<p>CAC Stickered Population: 1 in all AU grades; 1 in all Mint State grades.
