I've got an 1829 Dime labeled JR-2. I'm trying to put a value on it but the Grey Sheet doesn't use that descriptor. And my Early United States Dimes 1796-1837 reference book doesn't cross reference to JR numbers. The Grey Sheet has 4 descriptors: -- Small 10C -- Curl Base 2 -- Medium 10C -- Large 10C Which of those 4 is the JR-2? And for the future where could I have found that information?
It is a "Large 10". Online, I would probably use the Russ Logan auction list. (http://rob.com/russ/collection/index.html
My next problem will be with Capped Bust Quarters/Reduced Diameter (1831-1838). I've got a full variety set by Browning number (minus the two rarest). That's 34 coins in various grades. It's going to take LOTS of searching to find auction results linking the value of each variety linked to a grade. Capped Bust Quarters don't appear to attract nearly as much attention as Capped Bust Half Dollars.
Bust quarters aren't as widely collected simply because they are not as easily located. Halves were stored in banks to back currency; quarters circulated. For info start here...http://www.earlyunitedstatescoins.com/ If you don't have a copy, replace your Browning with Steve Tompkins' Early US Quarters 1796-1838. His price guide is useful as well.
2022 Red Book has it listed. you lucky devil, a G4 list for $40. the 1829 Curl Base 2 list a G4 at $5,000. Good luck.
I've got his 2008 book and also the Rea/Peterson/Karoleff/Kovach book. But I used the Tompkins' book to ID my varieties. I tried to order his 2017 book that you referenced but his order form isn't working for me. So I sent him a message. Now I wait to see what can be done to complete the order.
Also back before 1837 the only precious metal being struck by the mint was that coming in form depositors (The government didn't buy metal and strike coins themselves) and as a general rule the mint struck whatever denomination the depositor requested. The bulk of the metal coming in was from importers and banks. They wanted the largest coins possible for ease in counting and storage so they got half dollars. The requests for smaller denominations were much smaller. And in some cases the mint official would try to talk depositor into getting half dollars as it lowered the workload. $100 made into halves was only 200 coins. If you wanted half dimes that was 2,000 coins. Effectively 10 times as much work for the same value in coins.
