Hey guys ! It's time for America's favorite home fun game "Attribute THIS !!!" That's right, I came across a decent little Draped Bust cent and thought I would pop it up for everyone's viewing pleasure. Feel free to take a shot at it's attribution. As always, comments on grade etc are always welcome. For the benefits of those new to the attribution game, feel free to add notes about your thinking and decision making process. Live it up, coin peeps !!!
Completely new to me, and I only have Sheldon's book to go by. Looks like it could be 261? Obv. 13 has the die crack between the 8 0 and the plate coin looks to have the same clash or crack on Liberty's neck. The reverse looks like O to me. the Leaf covering the base of the T. Hair curl and high point seem to be correct placement, and PLO looks to be between the O F. Then again I could be way off. Let me know if I need to go back and re-read a few more times.
S-261 - Large fraction, small date, with the three is imbedded in the bust narrows it down to only the S261. This appears to be an early die state with only a small die crack. Nice detail on the coin but it looks like corrosion on both the obverse and reverse. I am not great at grading these, but I would put it at 40 net 25. This die crack eventually extends all the way up and out the left side of Liberty in a dramatic fashion: http://images.goldbergauctions.com/php/lot_auc.php?site=1&sale=54&lot=518 Interesting note, the S261 obverse die was used on the 1804 re-strike large cents, and all re-strikes exhibit the same arcing die crack: http://images.goldbergauctions.com/php/lot_auc.php?site=1&sale=54&lot=532
I concur with bigjpst on the variety.The dot on the forehead is a nice marker as well. Very neat :thumb:
Yes, yes, yes ! Congrats to bigjpst on being the first to discover that it is, indeed, Sheldon-261. Thanks to all for sharing their thoughts and rationale. Since CT is a very educational forum, that's more important than getting the "right answer"... I really want some of the newer folks to understand how we determine what's what. Thanks to beef1020 for discussing the die crack. Yes, this is an earlier die state. According to Breen's work, it is die state 2. It's worth noting that many folks collect the various die states. In Breen's Encyclopedia of these early cents, the plate coin shows the arcing die crack all the way across Liberty to the left rim - far more advanced than this specimen. It's fascinating to ponder the coiners at the Mint back in the day. They had to know about the die crack; they could see it on the coins (which were individually hand-made). That suggests they made a conscious decision to keep the die in service, even though they knew it was falling apart. That helps us empathize with the challenges faced by the young Mint - and the new-born United States.
Very nice coin, 900! I still need to find a decent 1803 for my collection (but then again, also 'need' a 1793 liberty cap, another 1794 with head of '93, a 1799 preferably S-188, a S-103 in VG8+, an 1811 S-286, an.........oh well.......) Like I said, nice coin!
My thought process was Small date large fraction 257 - 261 gap between the wreath ends is not under the serif of the E eliminates 257 (all others are under serif of the S) point of leaf just left of foot of F in OF eliminates 258 and 259 where it is under the right side of the O Highest wave of the hair is under the center of the R eliminates 260 where it is under the upright of the R That makes it 261. I had noticed what looked like it might be the start of the arc crack between the 8 and 0 but since I couldn't be sure I wanted to use other methods to confirm the attribution.
