This is not particularly rare, but I needed this variety. The 1800s are a bit difficult to attribute and this had the markers for both variety and die state/stage. Spoiler to follow. Stop here if you wish to attribute it yourself. The reverse is solid as Q, but the obverse actually looks more like 11 than either 12 or 13. But it's just not sharp enough to discount a little movement of the copper to cause the illusion that it's the 11 rather than the 13.
My first guess was 1795 S-76. The date is visible, with the top of the 5 touching the bust. Then the letters on the reverse are crammed into the top of the wreath. Plain edge, then. The common one, I believe.
Had to add this one! "Walked" into a dealer's shop and listed on a budget FB site for sale as an S-22; sold for $600.00.
I hate 1800 large cents. I think S-209 is as close as I will get. Thoughts? @Marshall @Eduard I was also thinking S-198 (but no die crack over 1 in denominator), NC-4 (but 0’s seem too far apart), and S-204 (but C does not touch leaf).
Nice to see you post that rare coin here, Jack! I definitely like it (who would not), and think the high CC status and net grade is well deserved.
I agree, TC. 1800's are very (very) difficult. At this stage I am leaning rather toward S-204 or 205. Both share reverse T. I shall have a closer look later, but that seems most likely to me at this stage.
That's a beauty. I'll break the ice. S-66 early 33C obverse with the obverse crack not quite reaching the dentil. I'm guessing that it slots in at 16, just ahead of the Noyes 16-18 group.
I have to run for Church, but at first look at the obverse, I'm thinking obverse 9 before the crack in the left field. Primarily from the position of T, and the position of the HWH and SHWH. I'll look at the reverse when I return.
If it is obverse 9, then it is a new variety. Five die pairs use obverse 9: S-199: On reverse berry across from E in UNITED has no stem. Mine has a stem. S-200: Cracks around OF and serif of C in CENT practically nonexistent. I cannot see any obvious cracks on mine, and the serif of C is quite plain. NC-3: There is a spike on top of the I in AMERICA. Mine has no spike. Same story about the C as above. S-201: There are no stems to the leaves to the left of O in ONE. Mine has stems. S-202: There is a spike on the right ribbon. Mine has no spike, plus the fraction bar is in the wrong position.
Doing some more reading, the obverse of NC-4 (obverse 13) is the original version of obverse 9. My coin seems to match the diagnostics of reverse S. This reverse was used on NC-4, S-208, S-209, and S-210.
I am going to conclude my 1800 is S-204 and not NC-4 unless proven otherwise. It matches the striking characteristics (obverse swelling from TY to K3 and a strong reverse) as well as fits the position of the letters an numerals. The T in LIBERTY is too far right to be either S-198 and S-209.
I'm back from church now and will take a look at the reverse. It's interesting because I just acquired a low grade S-208 because the reverse diagnostics and wear are pretty much identical to the NC-4 Die Stage/State I use as a comp and it confirms that Reverse R is the same as Reverse U on the NC-4.
Excellent. I didn't know how much he would net down the coin. I just couldn't see anything lower than 16.
I'm having a problem with the reverse. Perhaps it is from inadequate comps. The primary thing I'm looking for is the length of the stem which points toward the middle of the C(E). If I had to choose only among the comps I have, then Reverse P is the best choice. But the stem here looks longer than my comp. The berry left of C(E) appears stemless on my comp or at least VERY short while the subject has a short, but readily visible stem. Lastly, the inner leaf of the lowest left inner doublet (left and below C(E) reaches to the bottom of the outer leaf of the doublet on my comp and doesn't on the subject. But I can find no better alternative. The berry stem pointing toward the middle of C(E) at eliminates all but Reverses F and P and even those appear different on my comps. Maybe photos will help.