1830 large cent question?

So I was at a pawn shop today and I saw this and a walker that I wanted to buy (although they wanted to sell the '43 walker for $35 so I passed on it) but I bought this large cent for $5.71, and I know pretty much nothing about them, so I don't even know if it was a good buy. I'm not sure if I should keep it in this thing it came in or take it out and give it a new home. Any input on this coin would be great

Looking at the enlarged pics of it, I think the coin may have been cleaned in the past, but I'm not sure if that's on the cover that it's in or if it's on the actual coin.

Thanks

-Bryan

Edit: I think the packaging for it looks so dumb by the way.

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

Large cents are very cool! They are big (almost half dollar size) and pure copper, which makes them soft and easy to ding. They were a workhorse, so many are pretty beaten up.

You have a Matron Head, large letters in VG condition. With slightly better photos the die marriage can be attributed.

It appears the cent has been cleaned but don't let that bother you. It is certainly worth at least what you paid. You bought a 180 year old piece of history for just $5! Sweet.

If you don't like the packaging put it away. Don't throw it out. It can't hurt value if you later sell it.
Lance.

 

Thank Ikeigwin! I thought it was pretty cool, minus the packaging, upon closer inspection of the packaging, it's easily removed and replaced, I thought I would have to pretty much destroy the packaging to get it out. Anyway, here are some better pics of the coin outside of the packaging!

 

Looks to be an N.1 variety (R1), Animosity.

It's a little hard to attribute the more worn large cents because often the diagnostics are missing. Denticles, the inner circle, die cracks and chips are weak or gone completely. But you can still judge leaf positions, lettering, star orientation, etc.

Two or three years ago I got really interested in them and decided to build a set, raw, at around the XF grade. It is such a pleasure to finally be able to hold old coins, not slabs, in hand. These old cents are heavy and have great stories behind them.

I quickly found I could obtain AU examples of the late dates but I'd be lucky to find and afford even A3 grades for the early ones, like the 1793 Chain cent, Liberty Cap and Wreath cents. 1799 and 1804 are also very pricey. So I adjusted my goals. I'm still missing four coins but there's plenty of time. The Dansco album weighs about seven pounds!

Here's a 1794 Liberty Cap, "head of 1795". It's one of the few I didn't crack out of its slab because you never know if they'll get back in. PCGS graded it F12. The die pair is typically weak on the right side and strong on the left.
Lance.

 

Thanks so much for the information! You've been a great help!

That's a heavy album! I'm starting to think I like the large cents, just something about them. I've always liked the older British pennies but never looked into any American pennies before wheat cents.

I wish I had the money right now to start putting together a set of these. Thanks again for your info!

 

I kinda liked the packaging. It has that sort of retro 50's look to it.
Guy

 

I think you did real well Bryan. I always loved the old coppers, especially the Half Cents. I would have bought that coin all day long for $5.71. Great pickup!

Bruce

 

I came up with N-1 as well. The inner circle isn't as complete, but I can ascribe that to wear.

 

for 5 bucks its a good deal even tho its been cleaned. the fields still look like they have their original color. when i see them for 5 bucks theyve got multiple problems from being holed to dateless to bent.

 

I'm glad it turned out to be a good buy! They had a few other of the same style packaging. There was a 1977 proof quarter, 1980 proof dime, and a proof nickel that I can't remember the date of (70's or 80's I think) but this is the one that caught my eye the most. They were also trying to sell a horrible looking morgan for 39 or 49, it was pretty much just black, and a franklin half for the same price as the morgan =\.

 

Why do you guys feel this coin has been previously cleaned? It doesn't look cleaned to me. Regardless, it's a steal at $5.71.

 

It appears to have been cleaned based on the horizontal hairlines that run across the bust.

Those in the first picture are probably on the plastic cover. But the second set of images seems to have them as well.

Could be wrong, of course. The OP can tell with a loupe. But it's a safe bet that it, like 99% of these old coins, was cleaned at some point. Question is, is it minor and forgivable or are they harsh and distracting?

EAC collectors don't "bodybag" early copper for such things. It's just another factor to account for in arriving at a net grade, just like other post-mint damage. Another cool thing about large cents. The true nuts don't give a hoot about slabs and TPG's. They have a different drummer.
Lance.

 

the stars, head, edge, wreath, and words are all cleaned probably by whoever put it in the case so anyone could see what they were looking at. the lines are going horizontal.



if that was in the book the average person probably couldnt even tell what theyre seeing.

 

Are you saying a TPG would body bag this coin if submitted?

 

without a doubt.

 

Isn't it possible that the highpoints on this coin are lighter in color than the lower recesses due to the natural rubbing that takes place over the lifespan of a coin in circulation? It has been my observation that the lower points on a coins surface generally seem to collect more dirt than the higher areas.

 

i took the most cleaned large cent i have and stuck it in the middle of my less valueble ones. some of the others have odd coloring because of oxidation or environment but havent been cleaned.

 

Yes, it's possible. We're just guessing based on images and only an in-hand look-see will really say. But my guess is there's no chance it would grade cleanly at PCGS or NGC. Who cares? It's a $5 coin!

If I owned it, and it lived in a PCGS VG8 slab, I'd crack it in a minute.
Lance.

 

At $5 or so it is a good buy, but not worth grading fees. And yes an N-1. Good pickup just the way it is. Yeah - the pictures make it look cleaned, but who cares. Large cents are cool. I have a few around here somewhere.

 

I think they are cool to have a couple. I have a 1831 that I tell people was probably in Davy Crockett's pocket at the Alamo. I mean, it could have been. It's always fun to try and imagine the story the coin could tell. The good and hard times it saw. The travels it made. I have always been a sucker for "Poor " man's" coins. I mean an uncirculated proof purchased in 1830 was a rich person's never played with toy. Just something to sit aside and look at once in a while. Your cent saw some action. It fed someone and likely many different someones in it's lifetime.

Cool coin !