I have a very modest collection of coins, which some of you may already know if you read my post on the introductions forum, but this one I consider to be my favorite coin. I have often wondered about the value of it and I've looked it up in the books, seen what similar coins are being sold for, and even gotten a couple of quotes from local dealers. The part I struggle with the most though it's grading coins. I have a general idea, but I am a novice grader at best. So I think my first question is, what do you think this coin would grade as? I myself think it would fall in the EF category, but I ask myself if maybe I'm looking at it through rose colored glasses because it's the favorite of my collection? Would it be in the VF category? Or am I grading it too harshly and could it be as high as AU? The next question is more of a general question that also applies to this coin: does having a coin graded always increase the value of a coin? Should I consider having this graded and slabbed? I have no intention of selling this coin any time soon, so my thought process is: if it would be worth grading 20 years from now and I might be willing to sell it then, it may be better to just do it now so it would be ready come time to sell, and the grading will make it worth more. Maybe I'm just trying to talk myself into having it graded, but I'm sure the answers I receive to my questions will help me figure that out.
I would put it in the low VF range. Really nice looking coin but I would not consider getting it graded.
agree with the cost of grading being too high for this coin. Decent looking coin. I would say its around F-15 to maybe vf-20
There is just something about those old copper coins that make them awesome. Love me some me copper. Nice coin, agree with the VF grading.
Which variety is it? 1843 Mature - Large Letters 1843 Petite - Large Letters 1843 Petite - Small Letters
Checking sold items on ebay, raw 1843 large cents in that condition (assuming F12 - F15) have been selling for $25-$30. The same coins, graded PCGS F12 have not recently sold, but a few are listed with Buy It Now prices in the $70 range. PCGS economy grading is $22, so there is room for a little profit if you were to buy one raw, have it graded, and then sell it. The problem is none of the graded coins have sold, so maybe $70 is too high... Grading the coin to sell for a profit might be a risk, but not a very big risk, really.
I love this series. With most of the PMers going for only silver and gold coins right now, I get ridiculous steals on this series at the auctions I attend.
Thanks all for the replies. Like I had said I did get a couple offer from dealers. The higher of those led me to believe that it might grade higher. But maybe he just fell in love with the coin himself. Michael K it's the Petit - small letter variety which is the most common for that year.
Not sure I agree with the grades people have submitted. Perhaps a better photo. This one is a little blurry and greenish.
eBay Advanced+sold listings+auction+buy it now (check all three boxes) will show the most accurate 'values' - buy it now prices (not sold) can be anything the seller chooses. Example: Coin usually sells for $60-$70, seller asks $277 https://www.ebay.com/itm/1941-D-Lib...388929?hash=item4d7724e701:g:YHAAAOxyzGlQ71Gu
Fine 15+ with a chance at VF 20 based on my readings and comparisons of coins illustrated in "Grading Coins by Photographs" by Q David Bowers. I also agree with halfcent 1793 and others to leave it raw. I have two complete sets of Large cents and a couple hundred loose and not one is graded and encapsulated. I'm sure the older collectors will remember when you could get these for a buck a piece. Happy hunting. Enjoy the coin.
Well if nothing else, this had taught me that I do have a tendency to over grade my coins. I would have thought this to easily be in the VF category closer to EF. It's something I need to get better at so I don't start overpaying for coins. I have a few others in my collection that I'll put up pictures of to see what you guys think. I try to find examples of graded coins to compare to, which I did with this coin. The feature that stood out the most was the LIBERTY on the headband. Which is 100% legible on mine. The example I found in VF condition had worn to the point that a small part of the lettering was gone. The lowest example that it was completely there was EF. I know that you have to look at more than one feature to come up with an overall grade, but I'm just explaining my thought process as to why I thought it would grade higher. I do think the pictures I provided don't do the coin justice. When I look at the picture next to the coin in my hand I feel the coin looks better than the picture. I need to get better at taking pictures to post, or maybe I need to invest in a better camera.
I recently got my hands on a better camera and thought I'd post better pictures of my large cent. The details seem to be similar enough to the old I posted, but I do find the pictures from this camera show the color of the coin much better. I am curious if anybody would reevaluate their opinion on the grade of this coin with better pictures, although I am doubtful that you would.
Nice circulated coin. Looks VF-ish to me. Has a trace of "woodgrain" toning. This is the kind of coin that's great in an album, but not worth submitting for third-party grading, as the others have mentioned. Keep it and enjoy it the way it is.
