large cent attribution help

i'm trying to learn to attribute large cents. i believe this one is n-4... am i right?

 

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It's really hard to tell from the small images. I think you maybe correct but would need much larger photos to see how the date and curls and dentils line up. Are you using Grellman's book?
Lance.

 

These late date large cents are tough to attribute. I think it is a N-5. Look at the curl on the eight - nearly in the center. And here is an 1851 N-4.

 

Could you give us a zoomed in high res p hotoof the date, including the rim denticles, bust, and lowest hair curls ?

 

Definitely not N-4, I'm actually leaning towards N-18 or N-(41). I rejected N-5 because the 1 below the point of the bust isn't low enough.

The problem is that with the late dates trying to attribute from photos is almost impossible no matter how good the photos are. The date position can get you down to a few varieties but the final features you need to look for are too small and faint to show up in the photos, even on near MS coins. When you are dealing with worn coins it is even worse. All I can say for sure is that it is one of these N- 7, 18, 21, 30, (36), or (41).

 

I don't know about that - looks close to this one http://www.earlycents.com/Coin127.htm. Of course I don't have my books with me to check your other possibilities. These can be tough to get attribute.

 

here's the best i could get

 

i think you may be right on n-18.

 

Still looks to me like the point on the curl to the eight is almost in the center - too far to the left to be the N-18. Of course it could all be because of the wear.

 

the 5 of the n-5 has more of a curl at the top than mine. or is that not a factor? however, i think n-18 is really close.

http://www.coins.com/coins/lot.asp?auction=3056&lot=1014&imagetype=j2

 

I don't think so - it is the relationship of the point to the curves of the eight. One of the problems with a worn example is how hard it makes it to tell the real measurement - is a 2 or 3 for the spacing.

 

With the new enlargement of the date area I will concede N-5. On the original picture I could get a real good judgement of the position of the 5. With the better picture I can see that it and the 1 were lower than I thought. That would meke N-5 the best fit.

 

thank you guys both! :hail: i still have so much to learn.

 

I was getting all excited about attributing; BUT, I know I've met my match with Late Dates.