Some Pictures of Early Coppers

It is so new and shiny it looks like a high grade copy.
I am sometimes tempted to snag some of the high grade copies out there to fill holes. But its extremely rare to find high grade old coppers with that bright newly minted shine, like a new lincoln cent. They just stand out too much.
Also, good copies cost enough that for the cost of 3 or 4, I could have the real thing.
So, maybe a 43 copper, 1916d mercury, 1804 dollar, 1964 Peace, aluminum cent, 1913 nickel, etc.
I am still jealous of this copper collection, and as another said, not a slab in sight. Just great old American coppers.
Sigh!

 

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I have never seen a 93 facing left. Thank you bunches. Is that super rare ?????

 

1893 H1c facing left is authentic and rare.

 

I'm trying to collect as many Half Cent varieties as possible, on the cheap. My budget doesn't allow many nice high-grade coins. I don't even care if they come in with a details grade. Most coins that are over 200 years old, are going to have some issues. Here are a few that I like for various reasons.

 

They all look great. Thanks for posting. I loved seeing them.

 

Fantastic Edaurd! I do have a French Ceres Head set that I plan on posting as a group for size reference. Great idea

 

Black Friar, thank you for posting those beautiful Conder tokens. They are really very nice and in amazing condition!

Those are some nice half cents you have, TexasJarhead. Hopefully you'll find some interesting varieties as you progress with your collection.
Regarding grades and condition - my philosophy is similar to yours: I really do not mind if the coppers I collect are not 'perfect' (can't be done anyway with much of early copper unless you are willing to spend enormous sums). I am perfectly happy and will accept details coins, imperfections, etc. To me numismatics is not about having 'the best', even if I have been very lucky to add some nice coppers to my collection for relatively modest sums. Numismatics to me is more about the historical context of the coin; what was happening in the United States when this coin was minted? what significant events? who carved the dies, where, and how was it made? Every time I add a new copper I also wonder, how did this US copper coin managed to get here, to me, so that I may take care of it. Sentimental and idealistic ? Maybe. But it suits me.

 

Ah, you mean the half Cent 1793. In fact, all half cents of 1793 were designed with the bust facing left.
This was then modified for all half cents 1794-1797, and continued with the Draped Bust Half cents 1800-1808, all of which portray the bust facing right.

 

"Those are some nice half cents you have, TexasJarhead. Hopefully you'll find some interesting varieties as you progress with your collection.
Regarding grades and condition - my philosophy is similar to yours: I really do not mind if the coppers I collect are not 'perfect' (can't be done anyway with much of early copper unless you are willing to spend enormous sums). I am perfectly happy and will accept details coins, imperfections, etc. To me numismatics is not about having 'the best', even if I have been very lucky to add some nice coppers to my collection for relatively modest sums. Numismatics to me is more about the historical context of the coin; what was happening in the United States when this coin was minted? what significant events? who carved the dies, where, and how was it made? Every time I add a new copper I also wonder, how did this US copper coin managed to get here, to me, so that I may take care of it. Sentimental and idealistic ? Maybe. But it suits me."

We do think alike. The fact that the 1803 Half Cent that I posted was circulating when Thomas Jefferson was President is pretty neat to me.

 

OMG, that is an awesome family photo !!

 

This post reminded my of my large cent collecting days. I dug out this old print photo and made a digital copy. I no longer own these coins but this image represented pretty much my whole collection in the mid 80's. Then as now, I saved my coin money to buy the highest quality I could find in my limited price range, sometimes buying only one or two coins a year. These are worth a bit more now than they were then. Note the Fugio cross after date [reverse with raised rims] - My namesake, purchased for $400 in a coin shop. The perfect 1837 N6 cost me all of $300

 

@Eduard and @Fugio1 you posted some really amazing coins! ...but where are the slabs and those little green stickers? ;-)

 

I think that this would count as an extremely late die state. This is the reverse of my 1804 Half Cent.

 

Very nice! 1804 1/2 Cent Spiked Chin. Variety C-6, B-6. R-2.
As you mention, the reverse is very popular among collectors due to the extensive reverse breaks/cuds. Your example seems to be a relatively late die state 9.0 or so. Amazingly, the die progression goes even further and as high as die state 11 (I believe) with even more extensive breaks.

 

I have the American Half Cent book by Roger Cohen, but need to order the Manley Die State book. This particular coin is one of my details coins. Appears to have been used as a button at some point. Cost me $40 back in the day.

 

Love seeing group shots of coins, wonderful coins, Eduard.

 

Fugio1, I really like the group picture of your coins. Besides being very suiting
to the topic at hand, it also perfectly brings out the colours and tones of your old coppers. I will try to find something like that when I attempt a group picture again.
You made some very good purchases back then - sorry to hear you no longer have them. That Fugio is a very appealing coin.

 

Thanks, Michael!
But you know you are not likely to see many slabs in any threads that I start .
(specially not with any old coppers in them)

 

Killer stuff. A 1804 3 wreaths a chain and a 93 half cent. That’s a collection to be proud of for sure I do like my copper raw. But I mostly have slabs and sell the same. I started out with early copper but the big silver distracted me