My most exciting buy in 3 years (old copper)

As far as I can see, you only made one mistake in purchasing that coin, and it's a fatal one, I'm afraid. You're on your way to becoming a copperhead like a lot of us. One coin is all it takes to get hooked, then you're doomed. But, you have a good support group here, so not all is lost.
Guy

 

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If you haven't already, check out the British Conder tokens, issued 1791-99 roughly, copper farthings, halfpennies, and pennies, totally cool and beautiful designs, cost very little even today in circ condition. A good start is www.thecoppercorner.com run by Bill McKivor.

 

Wow, the coin I am in love with I bought back in the mid 1970's. I couldn't afford it, but it called out to me. I paid First Coinvestors (remember them?) $300 for a 1794 large cent. I haven't posted it here yet, but want to because I would like to know just what variety it is. I got $crewed back then, but I have never regreted it and could make my money back now if I ever decided to sell it. And what the heck, I would probably bought beer with the money and that would REALLY be edited it away

 

The 5 in-bedded in the bust narrows it down to s76a/b or s77. The high 'one cent' confirms the 76, the s77 has one cent more centered on the reverse. The plain edge makes it a s76b, the s76a has a lettered edge, and often weights more.

 

It took me some deep reflecting at 2 in the morning to realize how much I love copper. I was looking over at my slabbed toned franklins and just thinking. "Man this coin was around during the time Frankling was actually alive." If you were to look back at one of my original posts back in 2010 (was active for 1 month) I bought and regretably had to sell a large cent. It was coroded and in an ANACS slab, but it was awesome. I finally feel like I made up for that one that came and went. So much history in these coins. Thanks again for the feedback.

 

Value = what someone is willing to pay for an item.

I personally don't collect as an investment. While I wont say I will ignore a price, I often do. I buy what I like. It soulds like you did the same here. Many of us here do, whether we admit it or not. I.e. Toned coins. Many people will pay a premium because of toning. While there is a certain level of market justification for this, it boils down to making the decision to pay more than the coin is "worth" because someone likes it..

Bottom line, IMO, buy what you like at a price you are ok with and you have a good deal.

 

That $253 figure was for a S-77 which is an R-4 coin, much scarcer than the other two which were both S-78's R-1.

Or NC-3. The high ONE CENT keys it as S-76 and the plain edge as 76b.

 

What you describe is a natural progression for many collectors.

As they gain experience, they tend to migrate towards older coins.

 

That's all that counts as a collector.

 

Nice coin! I have yet to get any 17XX US coinage. My oldest is an 1800 large cent. Date is barely visible and coin is worn done, but I treasure it. My oldest coin that is non-US is an old Roman coin from around 315AD. I love that thing. Just wondering who held onto that coin throughout the ages is mind blowing IMO. I'm a huge history buff, so the historical side of coins really intrigues me.

 

Reminds of myself, when I buy rusty signs, old cash registers, odds and ends. People always say, why would u buy that? Because to me it tells a story.of hard work and others cant see that. I salute you on your purchase because you bought it for your own reasons, not numismatic reasons or someone elses opinion! Nice oeice btw would love to throw that thing in my michigan register!