I saw the title, and .i knew exactly what I'd be seeeing. I got really excited. That is a very nice example you have there. Thank you for not letting me down.
Now selfishly I have to hope for two things One he doesn't sell it this week Two that he's going to have a table at next week's Cowtown Coin Show and he brings it (I guess that's three) Why? Because there's nothing he loves to do more than show off these amazing Rarities to try to convince people to become early American copper collectors. It doesn't matter if you're 12 or 92. And I keep telling him it's not going to happen and he keeps trying. And I win for getting to see these amazing Rarities.
Interesting sidelights on this particular specimen: It illustrates why low grade chain cents often show the chain and nothing else. The chain persists longer than any other feature because the links are the highest relief elements on the coin. This is unusual; typically, Lady Liberty is highest relief (e.g. Wreath and Liberty Cap cents). But why? Why, oh why? Because the Chain Cent is the only coin in US History which had no master die or device punch with which one creates a working die. Amazingly, Lady Liberty was engraved directly onto the face of the working die! For this reason, Liberty is quite low relief, and wears away faster than the chain links. It also explains why Liberty looks quite different on each of the four known obverse dies. This helps us understand and empathize with the difficult working conditions in the nascent US Mint. Peace and blessings at Christmas, everybody!
Amazing condition for a chain! Well done, 900fine. PS- If something like that came into my life, I would not let her go....
At first i thought this was fake (im just a simple collector with simple coins and know nothing about these) but then i saw the comments. I have never seen one in that condition posted here.
Why don't you think it will happen? I'm and early copper collector and something very much like what 900Fine is doing at shows got me hooked. It's true that not everybody will discover their passion this way, but even if he piques the interest of one out of every 200 people, I'd say that's a huge win for the hobby.
I tried looking it up on CoinFacts (I don't know much about early copper) but it's not listed. any idea why?