1802 JR.3 (R-5). Choice About Uncirculated. The present coin is a whisper away from a full Uncirculated designation. Wonderful iridescent toning of dappled blue and gold at the periphery, lighter gold to the center of the obverse. The reverse is similarly toned with teal around the rim, rose-gold to the center. There is an unfortunate edge scrape in the dentils above stars two and three, and a corresponding nick on the reverse above 'ED' which produced a slight wave in the planchet. A short scratch is found on the lower right loop of the '8'.
Fully and boldly struck for an 1802 Dime, the present coin has most of the curls on Liberty clear and the reverse is bold save for a couple of clouds that are opposite Liberty's bust. The obverse die is in the usual die state, and the reverse is late, with a thin die crack through the left claw of the eagle, shield and out the rim through the 'F' of OF. The short but sharp die crack through the 'CA' of AMERICA is bold. Certainly well up in the Condition Census for the variety, behind a couple of About Uncirculated coins, both of which are tied up in a specialized collection. A tremendous opportunity for the numismatist who desires an exemplary specimen of this variety.
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