I have in my library excellent references on all the half cent issues and most of the large cent issues. But glaring absences are detailed books on die varieties of the Draped Bust cents (1796-1807) and the Classic Head cents (1808-1814). Can anyone recommend one or more books on these issues?
Looking at the EACS website and their recommended books... they dont really have any listed besides Penny Whimsy: https://www.eacs.org/books/
Yes, I'd checked EAC before I posted and PW and Noyes are too old and bad photos. I am looking for something more along the lines of Ed Fuhrman's books on the half cents. But thanKs for looking.
Of course I assumed you'd had. But I'd figured I'd post for those less familiar with places to check.
It's useful but only up to a point. I'm really looking for a complete reference by Sheldon number with commentary on a full range of history, striking issues, die states, collectibility, planchet issues, & etc.
That would be the Breen book. Del Bland did a lot of work on it after Breen went to prison. It has the information you are looking as of the time when it was published. One thing that drives me nuts is that it has a different numbering system, and you have to translate from that to get to the Sheldon numbers. The book is big and heavy, and might tell you more than you want to know. Breen was known to make things up now and then. There is shorter version by Bill Noyes, but it doesn't have much history. It's easier to use if you just want the Sheldon variety. And then there is the 1958 Sheldon book which was reprinted. You don't have to pay a fortune for it now. I bought one when I was in high school in the 1960s.
I understand that Marc Borkhardt had a hand in that reissue. But the shortcomings of it have really put me off that publication. I looked on-line at the NGC Varieties site and it seems pretty thorough on Sheldon variety identification but there's nothing on die states or any other topic. Kind of surprising to me that we have a massive wealth of published knowledge on the 1793 to 1796 issues, particularly with several recent labors of love on the 1794 but very little in the last 25 years on the Draped Bust and Classic Head cents. And I have Penney Whimsey, the 1965 reprint for Krause. But it's shortcomings are well-known.
If you want die state information, Breen has it for each variety. It also has extensive auction results up to the time the information was gathered. Nothing is perfect.
Robert Powers published a book on large cent varieties from 1793 to 1814. Tom Deck has it listed on his website https://largecents.net/books/bookindex.html
Publius.... it sounds like the grounds are ripe for a burgeoning new author/researcher/scholar to write the book you've always wanted to see. That's what led me to write my book... I felt like there was something I wanted that didn't exist. So I wrote it.
That person is not me - neither the skill, knowledge nor ambition to attempt it. I bought your book a few years ago and it's a valuable addition to any library. I learned a lot.
