ebay auction question

Why did someone pay $400 for this large cent? Is it a rare variety or something?

http://cgi.ebay.com/1798-DRAPED-BUS...ryZ11947QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

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It is most likely a key date.

 

A key date? 1798? I didn't think that year was considered extremely scarce. 1799 maybe, but 1798?

 

Not a key date but if you look at the buyers "me" page I'm thinking he saw something on that coin that most people wouldn't (including myself).

 

Excuse me while I go beat my head against the wall and cry.







Ok, I'm back. No, I gotta go cry some more.











Ok. There are 46 die varieties of 1798 Two of them are classed as NC's or non-collectible and have less than 10 pieces known of the two of them combined. Of the other 44 varieties, I have 43 of them. The coin in this auction is an S-144, the only variety I am missing. It is a low R6 to high R-5 coin. About 24 to 35 pieces known. That is probably about a $3,000 coin and is the most affordable of the four varieties I still need to complete the draped bust cents. Now excuse me while I go cry some more.

 

So my guess was right then? Buyer saw something most others wouldn't.

Sorry you didn't spot the auction while live Conder101.

 

Conder:
So, uh, it's a variety I guess?

LOL sorry about that man.

 

May all of your rarieties turn out to have come from China.

 

Looks like the buyer was Shawn Yancey from EarlyCoppercoins.com. I wonder if it will appear on his site for sale.

 

Oh, that is cruel !

 

Wrap that lump of coal up again Roto.
Cept it ain't going to me this time!

 

I talked to Shawn and it is earmarked for a wantlist customer. It will only hit the website if the wantlist customer passes on it.