Offered is the finer of only two known examples of the JR-3 terminal die state, and a Condition Census representative of the variety as a whole. Beautifully toned in even steel gray patina, with iridescent pale gold undertones. The strike is bold, if not sharp in all areas, and the underlying satin luster is vibrant.The JR-3 die pairing is the second rarest of the seven known for 1796-dated Draped Bust dimes. At some point fairly early on in its life, the reverse die -- which was used only for JR-3 -- experienced a major triangle-shaped rim break above the TA in STATES, with a die crack also leading through the wreath and piercing the eagles left wing. This break proved to be terminal for the die and resulted in only a small number of examples being struck with this feature, hence its rarity today. So far, only two examples are known in the terminal die state, with this by far the finer of the pair. A second MS-63 JR-3 dime is known, but the reverse die had not yet become terminal at the time that coin was struck. As a type, the Draped Bust, Small Eagle dimes are the most challenging of the entire denomination to acquire, especially in higher grades. At the top of the Condition Census, and with the added appeal of an extensive provenance tracing back nearly 60 years, this dime is a specialists delight.
