1798 Large Cent Beautiful coin missing "R" in America

Discussion in 'US Coins Forum' started by willymac, May 9, 2013.

  1. willymac

    willymac Member

    Can anyone tell me what the deal is with this one?

    The scan takes away some of the surface beauty...but I saw this one with the missing R and couldnt figure it out, so I figured better safe than sorry so I picked it up...

    Looks like it was never there as you can see the bottom end of the R and the edge etc denticles are not disturbed so I dont think someone scratched it off...

    Looks like the die was filled or something...

    Anyone have any ideas on which variety this one is?
     

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  3. coleguy

    coleguy Coin Collector

    There isn't a Sheldon variety with diagnostics of a missing R in AMERICA, and I've never heard of filled dies on screw press minted coinage, so my guess is a planchet defect. Looks like the dentils do something funny right there as well. I think either the surface of the planchet sunk or the coin was bent upward in that spot and the R simply wore off faster than the rest of the details.
    Guy
     
  4. Conder101

    Conder101 Numismatist

    It is a S-157. The missing R could be a grease fill, or it could be a repair. it almost looks like a hole was expertly repaired there, but I don't see evidence of it on the obv.
     
  5. willymac

    willymac Member

    Thanks a ton - The only thing is the full almost unworn lower right piece of the R...doesnt make sense...

    Thanks a ton for your help!

    Any more thoughts are welcome too!!!

    What would you folks put the condition at?
     
  6. lonegunlawyer

    lonegunlawyer Numismatist Esq.

    G-10 to F-12, light corrosion.
     
  7. coleguy

    coleguy Coin Collector

    Hard to say with scans, but I'd go VF.
     
  8. Treashunt

    Treashunt The Other Frank

    do you mean VG-10?
     
  9. Marshall

    Marshall Junior Member

    I think Conder has the answer. I think it's a repaired hole. I see "something" on the obverse which correlates to the same spot on the reverse. Whether it's a hole or something like pliers grasping the coin, I cannot tell. But it appears to have been done very early in the life of the coin since the toning appears the same.

    This might be one of those VF Detail/net VG situations. Uneven wear along with the corrosion will really hurt an otherwise nice looking coin.

    ps The vertical line through the C(A) is not damage. It is a die crack and indicates a later die state of S-157. It might also indicate a later die state with rusted dies being the cause of the 'uneven wear' and indicate an even higher Detail Grade.

    http://www.icollector.com/1798-S-157-R2-Style-I-Hair-with-Small-8-AU50_i8599307
     
  10. willymac

    willymac Member

    so it is on its way back from pcgs (along with the 1795 large cent) both are graded vf details...this one is environmental damage the 1795 is just damage...any thoughts on what it is worth in this condition? And what does that mean about the missing R? Could that be just environmental damage?
     
  11. mark_h

    mark_h Somewhere over the rainbow

    I think it is a grease filled die and the light corrosion just makes it look like someone messed with it. A couple of these sold on heritage between $200 and $300. Just my opinion.
     
  12. willymac

    willymac Member

    OK so this one came back from PCGS - VF details, environmental damage....I wish i could find out if the missing "R" (there is that very small piece of it there) is something legit that would make it a premium kind of thing...thanks for all your help here...
     
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