18th Century Copper and a New Coin Shop

For the last several years, I have struggled to find a coin shop that I like. When I was a kid, there was a local shop that was more of a hang out for the "old farts" to tell stories and I really enjoyed it there. I learned a ton...it was just an old time shop. Then, the owner retired and sold it and that all ended (this was back in the early 2000s).

Ever since then, I have looked for that "coin home" that was more than just a place to buy coins...but also a place to chat with people of similar interests.

Well, I found a new shop online recently and the online reviews said positive things. So, I stopped by. As soon as I walked in, I liked the "feel" of the place. The owner and staff was very warm and friendly...they even offered me a cup of coffee. As I looked through the cases they casually chatted with me...made me feel like they were more interested in me than in making a sale. Just an overall positive experience.

I had set a budget for myself of $40. Figured I would get a couple silver eagles or something (since the wife just got me that IS ASE album) but they didn't have any in stock. The owner (Harry) said they haven't been able to keep them on the shelves with the silver prices so low.

Well, I wanted to buy something. I had the cash burning a hole in my pocket and I figured I should make a decent purchase my first visit to show that I'm an interested customer...if I decided I wanted to have a relationship with this business. I didn't want to chat for 20 minutes on my first visit and then leave with a $2 purchase. Plus...I wanted a new coin.

So, I looked through the cases and there was a coin that kept drawing my attention. It wasn't anything really special...but I liked it. Of course, at $60 it was a bit over my budge...but budgets (like rules) are meant to be broken (right?).

One thing I have always wanted was a US federal coin issued in the 18th century. Something about owning a coin that circulated when George Washington was President (or at least alive) is interesting to me...imagine the history it has lived through. Ever since I was a kid, a 179X coin was a dream. The coin they had was well worn. They graded it a Fair-2 and not being an expert in such coins, I assumed it was close (couldn't be much lower I figured). The obverse had a lot more detail than the reverse (which was nearly worn flat) and the bit of toning it has makes me thing that the coin was cleaned a long time ago and has since re-toned. It has some pitting...but not a ton and frankly looks better than most of the low grade early coppers I see online. I thought for $60...it might not be a steal but it seemed reasonable. Looking through his cases, the coins I am knowledgeable about were all priced fairly.

So, I bought it.

The coin is a 1794 Cent (Head of 94).

It was a very positive experience all around and I will definitely be returning to their shop. I'm hopeful that this will be the coin shop I have been looking for. For those of you in Pacific Northwest, the shop was Harry's Coin Shop in Beaverton, Oregon.

Now, here is a photo of the coin. Hope you guys like it:

 

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It seems superfluous to add written opinion when this'll express everything I'm thinking more efficiently:

 

I'd be curious to hear what some of the copper people here think of this piece. Obviously it's a low grade example...but this is well outside of my knowledge base. I just liked it...and based on the pricing of their coins that I do know, I assumed the price was fair. Either way, I'm happy with it.

 

I think you got yourself a 1795.

NOPE: Still looking... 1796!

Still looking...Obverse #3 used on S-83, S-84, S-85, S-87.

 

You know...I was looking at the photo blown up and I was starting to think the same thing. It's hard to tell...but it looks more like a 5. They had it labeled as a 4...but I'm thinking the same thing as you.

 

Oh interesting...I don't have my references handy (sorta at work right now)...but if memory serves, the 1795 is rarer than the 1794 and the 1796 is rarer than both.

 

I actually live in Beaverton (well, Tigard) as well. I usually visit Beaverton Coin and Currency. Really nice dealer over there.

I'll have to visit Harry's.

Nice coin, by the way.

 

Truth be told, I think you're looking at a 1796 with the S-84-S-87 obverse.

 

Very cool. I don't know anything with it comes to the Sheldon attributions. EAC has always seemed over my head. Anything of significant rarity or value there...or is it too worn to know for sure?

 

There's a couple very good reasons I'm not sure, the most important of them being I really don't know much about this.

With that said, the location of the 1 in the date and the orientation of RT to the top of the hair (particularly the rotation of the R relative to its' neighbors) most strongly resembles the obverses I mentioned above, although I will say I didn't look at every_single 1794-1796 variety available for research.. That, and when I play around with your image in the Gimp, the hints I get are of a 6 rather than a 4.

 

I instantly saw a 1796. Don't know how that affects the value, though.

Contrats of an 18th-Century Federal US issue! I remember my first (1797 Large Cent), but I sold it...

 

SuperDave posted: "With that said, the location of the 1 in the date and its relation to the hair + the notch over the edge of the seven, and the "L" close to the cap.
and the orientation of RT to the top of the hair (particularly the rotation of the R relative to its' neighbors) most strongly resembles the obverses I mentioned above, although I will say I didn't look at every single 1794-1796 variety available for research." I did and SD is correct about the attribution. If I remember, the possible varieties are R-3 to R-5 depending on the reverse.

 

Very interesting. Obviously, the reverse is so far gone there is no way to know the attribution exactly (I assume)...still I think it's a neat find. My minimal knowledge leads me to agree with you guys that the obverse is a Head of 1795...but that's all I was able to figure out.

As for the date, I have been taking additional photos and using photoshop to try and bring out the date better. It sure looks like a 1796 to me. Here is the best I have been able to do so far. I will keep playing with it though.



This has been a fun learning experience for me. I feel that I at least got my $60 worth...is that fair to say?

 

I think it's a 1795 Gardner Liberty Cap cent, because the letters "R & T" are so close to the crown of the head's hair that is rounded, than flat like the others. Just my opinion.

 

Congratulations on finding a nice piece of historic copper. Sometimes I marvel that something like that has even survived to this day. Yours has obviously been passed around by untold numbers of past owners, which, IMO, only adds to its cachet.

Also, it's always nice to find a friendly, 'family type' coin shop where you don't feel pressured into a purchase. Too many 'commercial' coin shops out there now.

At one time, too many years ago to even think about now, most dealers would take the time to just 'talk coins' and educate young collectors. The first shop I visited, as a boy, was such a place. It was old, and cluttered, and dusty.... a real experience just going there. I still remember the box of circulated Indian Head cents they had.... priced at a dollar a dozen. I probably spent an hour picking through them to find the nicest ones!

I bought my first Red Book there, too.

At that time, it was much more common for kids to collect things: coins, stamps, baseball cards. I don't think they do that so much anymore..... So sad. They're really missing out on a lot.

(Unsolicited memories of an Old Timer.....)

 

From the images provided, something more may be visible in hand than might narrow it down.

 

Based on these obverse dies...does that prove that it's a 1796 or were those also used on the 1795?

 

The S-84 through S-87 were all made with the same 1796 dated obverse die.