I picked up a few new coins this week and would appreciate any help you guys can offer in regards to attribution & potential grade of this 1794 large cent. In person it appears redder than the pics depict. It's currently being shown under plastic. Thank you! Also, the reverse edge: Am I imagining this or is this a "5" where there should be 1/100? Counterfeit coin or error or just PMD?
Nope...It, along with other silver coins & misc, were from an older man's hand made collection. Everything is in a card board type of container w/a thin piece of plastic covering the coins. The tape & misc on the outside of the container look to be over 40+ yrs old. The coin looks pretty worn to me. It's the first large cent that I've ever owned though, so any info is appreciated. Compared to pics that I see online, this one looks redder/oranger.
I have absolutely no doubt that 1794 large Cent is genuine. The question is which variety? I have seen that hair style before and will take a closer look when I get time. For the moment I was thinking Sheldon variety 57, 60 or 61 are possibilities after a quick and cursory look. Grade-wise I think AG3 to G4 is about right.
Thanks Eduard. Have you seen the last pic that I just posted though? There should be a 1/100 there, not a 5. I don't know what to make of that. There's a lot of pitting and/or corrosion on the coin, but to me that looks like a "5".
Genuine coin, S-57 R-1 As for the "5", the coin is corroded and your eye is picking up on on worn and therefore lighter areas and your mind is then trying to force those features into a known pattern. Having to look at the coin through a layer of plastic is not helping because it hides some of the less visible features that would help you see a different pattern.
Grades are always opionions, but mine is around an 10 net 4, looks like pretty good detail with moderate corrosion. I don't have my price guide with me, but I think that range is pretty reasonable although it well could sell for more as 1794s are in pretty high demand. Nice coin either way.
Thanks! I gave in and opened up the plastic on the coins so that I could get some better pics. Are there any markers for the starred variety other than the stars? It's a huge long shot (even to me), but do these look likes stars to anyone? It's a $20,000 mistake that I don't want to make when I sell it on Ebay!
There are quite a few diagnostics on this coin which confirm it is not a starred reverse, the lowest lock on a starred reverse does not bend around and point back at the date. There is no berry to the right of E in ONE on a starred reverse. <br><br>The attribution of S57 seems correct to me as well. Maris called this the pyramidal head variety, but a clear diagnostic for the S57 is the small 'button' feature on the bottom left corner of the liberty cap, it was an errant mark made by the die cutter. My suggestion, and this goes for most people selling large cents on ebay, is to auction it with a low start price for 7 days. Believe it or not, I have found most unattributed rare varieties sell for what they are worth even when the seller did not know what they had. There are enough variety collectors on ebay that most truly rare unattributed varieties get noticed by the community and bit up, of course this does not happen with a buy it now price. So I always recommend, take good clear pictures and auction the coin off, if it's rare more then likely multiple people will find it and bit it up...
Just an update for anyone who is curious to know the value. The coin sold for $350 which really surprised me.
