I've got the reference book Early United States Dimes 1796-1837 by Davis/Logan/Lovejoy/McCloskey/Subjack, 1984. Each year the variety labeling for a date starts with 1 and goes to however many varieties are identified for that year. So varieties are designated "1" through "n". Was there no specific person associated with creating the variety listings for (in my case) Capped Bust Dimes. No one equivalent to Cohen or Sheldon or Newcomb or whomever? I'm just interested so that I can make correct labeling for collecting and inventory purposes.
Ooooo, wait. I just bumped into a reference indicating there may be such a person. I think the labeling is attributed to JR. Is that correct? If so, who is JR? And is there a listing of the appropriate JR variety numbers?
JR stands for John Reich. All the die varieties are prefaced by "JR" in remembrance of his activities in the early Mint. You might consider joining the John Reich Collectors Society. You already have the first comprehensive and primary reference for early dimes. There is also a very nice little spiral bound book (5" x 8") by Zack/Scuderi/Sherrill called Bust Dime Variety Identification Guide, 2015 which covers 1792 to 1837 and provides all the pick-up points, rarity, etc. This little 130 page guide also adds newer information.
Goes to show my numismatic library is getting a bit too large. I started searching on line for this Guide which is out of print and didn't appear to be available anywhere. But I found a picture of it and (red-faced here) I discovered I already have it So between those two books I can now consider collecting Bust Dimes.
Yes, it's a reference to the designer of the capped bust design, John Reich. As the book was a compilation by five main authors and several prominent contributors, they decided to do away with the tradition of naming after an author. I do feel a little bad for the early dime people, who should have had different designations. My preference would have been for EUSD, instead. The numbers' order were assigned based upon what the authors could surmise based upon a number of factors; prior use of involved dies, sure states, mint warrants, etc. The variety grids in EUSD very clearly show a pattern of distribution that must have been quite satisfying to a room of authors heavily involved in technical professions!
