I bought a 1798 large cent and I have no idea what variety it is (help, please!)

Hi folks,

Decided it was about time to get myself an "official" (as in one struck by the mint) US coin from the 1700s. Got a decent deal of this 1798 Large Cent and a Colonial for $60. Trouble is, I have no idea how to attribute this large cent or find out what variety it is, or even what to look for when attributing... Help in doing so would be greatly appreciated...

Thanks,

Simon

 

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non_Cents asking for help on a cent? well that's new.

 

you really paid that much?

 

Have you seen the Colonial ?

 

exactly what I was gonna say o.o

 

At first glance, the falling berry left of and slightly above the O of ONE indicate the S-187. The obverse photo is too poor for the standard grouping involving the Overdate/Letter Style/Hair Style identification.

 

marker, markers, and more markers, o-ya none left, no one should give any info. without having markers to look at, to waisted to tell anything on that one

 

It's a cool looking old cent. I love the color.

 

Yes, I have the colonial. It is a 1788 Nova Caesarea. It isn't in great condition, but I like it.

I'm not sure why you would say that. I have seen many large cents in worse condition being attributed.

Thanks, I'll see if I can get some better photos today.

 

I think you nailed it with the top left berry hanging down - diagnostic on the s-187, if the obverse rim breaks and CUD not evident.

 

thats what I'm talking about, thoses are bad photos to make any kind of call, but again, only made opinion off of what I seen

 

I can't really tell if the cud is there because the coin is very worn...do you happen to know the rarity of this variety? Thanks!

 

Just curious, but other than the that berry position are there any other differences between the reverse of S-175 and S-187? I do not have my book, but looking at pictures these two reverse dies seem very similar.

I agree with the S-187 attribution here, in addition to the berry pointed out, the T in Liberty is not to the right of the hairline as on an S-175.

 

It's an R1, very common.

 

The hanging berry is diagnostic. too far gone on the obverse and I don't see the CUD or cracks. But the s-187 is also known in an earlier die state with only light obverse cracks. I support Marshalls attribution. The other berries match in size and trajectory. The S-187 is very common, an R1. Probably the most common 1798, aside from the s-166.

 

Thank you very much.

 

The S-175 reverse usually exhibits a CUD at U in UNITED, but always has a crack running through the leaves and stem to the left of ONE in CENT and from the right side of the A in STATES through the left highest leaf tip.

 

Is it possible that S187 and S175 share the same reverse die with S175 being a latter state with those die cracks? I just do not see much difference between the two dies based on the devices present.

 

Beef - two different reverses. Both unique. The die cracks are always evident on the S-175, except the CUD (only in the late state). There are some diagnostics, not evident on this example, but the drooping berry is the smoking gun. The stem and the berry have a different connection point and trajectory on the S-187 and s-175.

 

Thanks Dave. I went back and looked and you are correct, the stem on that berry is very different. Plus the die cracks from early to late die states on both the S187 and S175 reverse dies could never be in sequence.

Were the reverse dies in 1798 from a master hub, and if so what was on the master? I can see the difference between these two in the berry and die cracks, but almost everything else matches up. I wonder if the entire reverse except for the berries was on the master...