Bill Nyberg wrote:
Discovery of 1797 JR-2 Dime Transfer Die Counterfeits
“1797 Bust dime - genuine or counterfeit?” was the question of a PCGS Forum thread posted on July 24, 2026. The piece had hairlines from cleaning, but most considered it to be a genuine coin with problems. I responded and posted images “Interesting. Check the diameter. Count the edge reeds. At first glance it looks genuine, then I compared with my PCGS VG10 of the 1797 JR2. Compare the 2 small diagonal scratches on the neck on each coin, along with a longer diagonal scratch starting at the bottom of the two scratches to hair. The reverse has post-mint marks that are similar to OP coin, small dig with cratering between S and T, dig on leaf below R, scratch just off end of D to leaf, others.”
Further diagnostic analysis and additional specimens identified by Heritage Auctions catalogers confirmed those examples as being transfer die counterfeits of 1797 JR-2, which is the very scarce 13 Stars major variety. At least ten counterfeits have been identified, with eight encapsulated by third party grading, both graded and details/genuine with the highest grade VG10, and two raw pieces. One was auctioned in 2007, and the subject item was purchased “about 20 years ago at a coin show.” It is important to note that the genuine host coin has not been identified, and it could be one of the examples. Additional research is being done, and more detailed information will be published on these deceptive counterfeits.
Transfer die counterfeits are difficult to detect because the host coin design can be transferred exactly to counterfeit dies and then struck as opposed to being cast. Very few Draped Bust dime counterfeits were previously known. From the 1984 reference book Early United States Dimes 1796 – 1837, “The 1800 Var. 2 dime has the dubious distinction of being the only variety of heraldic eagle dime seen by the authors that has been counterfeited.”
Image of the subject coin and the PCGS VG10 example:
