So, I would love to add a Draped Bust coin from the 1790s to my collection...something about have the date start with a 17 is appealing to me and I have never owned one. I have doing a little homework looking for the most common coin that would fit into this category. It seems like a 1798 Cent would be the most likely candidate as far as keeping the costs reasonable. Would that be the best choice as far as being affordable for a coin that meets this description?
I don't know that much about them but that'd be my guess. All the others are much higher priced, from what I've seen. For my U.S. Type Set, I jumped the gun and got an 1801 "3 errors" large cent. It was a details coin, but the price was right and the errors made it attractive enough for me to pull the trigger. Part of me, like you, really wanted that "17xx" on the coin ;-) Does it have to be a Draped Bust? There are some pretty cool Colonial coins, too. Hibernia Farthing or Halfpenny?
I really would like a Draped Bust...I was thinking 1798 Cent in the F range would probably fit this need. There are some others on my list...but I have just always loved the Draped Bust. I do want to pick up a 1773 Virginia Half Penny at some point.
... and I share your enthusiasm for the Draped Bust design. I'd like to find another DB half for my Box of 20 before too long.
Your re quite correct when you say that a 1798 cent will probably be the 'most common' U.S federal issue with a relatively accessible price to match. Specifically of course the more common varieties, so this could be any of a range of 1798 Cents with a Rarity Rating of 1. (R-1's). Sheldon variety S-166, with a prominent arc-like crack at the bottom of the reverse is the one that most comes to mind. Others are S-184, and S-187. There are also 1794 and 1795 varieties (S-76b for example) which are also relatively common and rated R-1, but because they are 94's and 95's they are automatically priced higher. One of the 98's that I indicated is your best bet I think.
Well, what would you consider "reasonable" in terms of cost? My "reasonable" for a Draped issue would be a coin that looked like this:
Well, if you want me to be serious.... Butternut has some rather nice Large Cents, as does Tom Deck. In fact, for my own interests, if it were time to contemplate something like this I'd have to take a hard look at this lovely LDS S-187 which has somehow mostly avoided the weakness of strike on the reverse retained cud which most have: http://www.largecents.net/salecoin.php?P1135 ....and you could probably do even better from a financial standpoint for a more common die state.
That is pretty and in the price range that I was thinking. I don't love the cud though. I will probably just keep my eyes open for the right piece...probably a more common die state. I don't see myself collecting these as a series...mostly looking for a nice type coin.
A pre-cud S-187 in that grade should be had for rather less (~$400); I'm not saying Tom's price is as low as it could be either - it realized $341 in the auction he linked - but all this falls into the realm of "stuff I'd be willing to reach for."
