My father gave me this 1859 Canadian Large Cent 20+ years ago. I had forgotten all about it until I came across it about a week ago and googled it. I'm not a coin collector and no absolutely nothing about grades. I'm just looking for information on my coin as well as an approx value.
It's the 9 in the date that governs varieties, for the most part, and unfortunately that's the one digit which is obscured. Kindly try another image. Krause lists 4 varieties, one common and three valuable. Charlton may show more varieties and/or better illustrations.
Here is a diagram from an old Charlton's (ignore prices). With no trace of a connection between the tail and the loop of the 9, your coin appears to be the common "plain, narrow 9" variety, present catalog value in the $5 to $7 range.
Still there's a lot of people who want '59s Just to check for varieties . Nice family heirloom , worth the most because it came from your Dad .
