What would you do in this situation? (1877 IHC possibility)

So, here's what I have:

An extremely worn IHC that appears to be an 1877. However, you can only read clearly the 1 and last 7...but catch just enough of the first 7 to get a bit excited.
It doesn't look like it was altered...and that third digit could ONLY be a 7 (assuming it's original.)

This coin is ROUGH. (I promise to post photos of this soon.) It looks like it was dug up from an old house fire location and then cleaned for a bit, buried, then dug up again and perhaps eaten and passed through someone's digestive tract. Maybe buried again a third time, just for kicks.

Here's what I'm going to do:

Take it into the local coin shop. Have them play with it a while. If they think it's worth it, I might send it in to TPG to get it verified authentic. I doubt it would grade anything but the lowest of grades...but having an authentic one? That would be sweet...

So, and I realize that the answer to this question might depend on the photos I provide...what would you do?

 

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I would put it in a box and be happy with the possibility that it might be an 1877.

 

Some shops carry a liquid solution (Proper name has slipped my mind) that is rubbed over the date on a coin's surface to bring-up a date that may be worn flat (Commonly used on Buffalo Nickels and SLQ's). Though, I am not sure if this would would be the best solution to your problem. Personally, I wouldn't bother sending it in for grading... But that's just me. Do what you please. If it is a genuine '77 IHC, it would most likely not be worth the submission with the certification fees due to the fact that it may come back as FR-AG Details (Though, even in that grade, they can still be worth a pretty-penny). I recommend just keeping it a raw mystery!

-Brian

 

Oh, my!!! I would absolutely NOT use Nic-A-Date on that coin. Nic-A-Date works on nickels by dissolving the copper in a copper-nickel and leaving the nickel. Nic-A-Date would dissolve most of a bronze cent (95% copper) and destroy a potentially valuable coin.

If I were you I would look for other clues as to whether the coin is a genuine 1877 IHC, clues such as the 'Weak N' reverse, shape and placement of the numerals in the date, etc. I would NOT do anything destructive to the coin. If the clues still point to the coin being a genuine 1877 IHC then it would be worth the expense to send it to a TPG for authentication.

 

Yeah, I just figured treating it with these harmful chemicals was a "last resort", but I didn't know it was only used on Nickel composed coinage. I've heard of many dealers using it on Silver and Broze composed coins and saying it works-like-a-charm, but, that's besides the point. I suppose if the TC would like a FR-Details (PCGS-Genuine) slabbed '77 IHC, then power-to-him for sending it in for grading. After further research of the current price of this coin even in thelowest grades, I suppose it may be worth the submission fees. But, again, I'd still rather have a possible 1877 Indian Head Cent than a guaranteed common-date Indian Head Cent. This is the only reason I, personally, would hesitate sending it to a TPG.

-Brian

 

Nic a date is the stuff as someone stated above. That stuff only works on dateless buffalo and liberty nickels (I think it works on liberty nickels better the buffs). That is due to the composition of metals.

There are some diagnostics for your to look for on the 1877. Most notably is the N on "ONE" on the reverse is usually pretty weak. Look at several of the 1877 "N"'s on ebay and see if they match up. Someone smarter them me could probably give more diagnostics too. Good luck!

Edit...

I went ahead and took a pic of a pcgs AG3 1877 I have on hand. Note the center "N" in one is weaker then the rest of the letters despite some obvious wear too. Due to some scratches on the reverse of the holder it was very tough to get a good pic. Hopefully this was decent. This angle minimized them. Hope this helps!

 

Hey everyone! I appreciate all the posts so far - kind of mirroring what's going on in my head. I definitely thought of the Nic-A-Date...for about a half a second, then my brain started screaming at me "What are you THINKING?!?" Ha ha ha...

We'll see what the coin shop says. I did look up "1877 Indian Head Cent diagnostics" on Google and came up with the weak reverse details idea...but unfortunately, I think the reverse might be so worn that the point is moot. I mean, it LOOKS like the N is weak...but if you've seen an IHC in BAD shape like this one...that could be from anything. Photos will help once I get some time to take them.

I promise to let you guys know what the coin shop says...and I promise not to start applying harsh chemicals or solvents to this coin...haha

 

There's only one thing to do.

Bury it.

 

Ha ha nice...two points.

Here are the photos (I had some time to kill while my girlfriend gets ready):


Closeup of the date


Obverse


Reverse

 

Looks like a '77 to me! The angle of the bend in the 7 is very distinct, I don't think it could be anything else. Did you find it metal detecting?

 

I agree looks like a 77 to me. Not sure what you paid for it, but I would send in just to get it certified. Just my opinion.

 

So, coin shop agrees that it is probably an 1877...but thinks that one of the big 3 TPGs won't touch it due to the condition its in. Do you guys have a recommendation of any that would even encapsulate this coin?

 

Oh, and btw, like all the coins I post on here, I get a group of coins, sell some, and whatever I have left is free. This coi basically cost me nothing. Huge thanks to whoever on here put me onto that strategy!

 

Use it to fill that '77 hole in your album until a better one comes along. Or you can ebay it and take your chances.

 

If real, PCGS would slab it as GENUINE but not list a grade. NGC and ANACS would grade it as Fair-2 or Poor-1 details and list its defects (corrosion, etc.)

 

Id only pay 0.09 cents

 

You would pay less than 1/10th of a cent for a one cent coin?? I would at least pay a full one cent.

 

Okay try this. Normally I wouldn't recommend rubbing anything over the surface of a coin, but with that one, you really can't do much more damage. Take a piece of white paper, place it over the coin, and take a crayon or pencil, and lightly rub over the date area. The relief-type shading might just highlight some outlines of that date, making it visible.

It's a long shot, but a better idea than any chemical solution you might try.

 

here is a question for all of you. If this WERE graded as a GENUINE 1877, what would be fair market value for such an ugly coin? Forget book value, what would someone actually pay for it?

 

That's a great question - love to hear the answers...