The 1811 cent is the second “key date” in the Classic Head Cent set. It is not as scarce as the 1809, and it is not even close to the rarity of the 1793, 1799 and 1804 cents. There is also a somewhat scarcer overdate variety. The mint was running out of planchets at the time that these cents were made. The planchets are often dark an unattractive, which indicates that they may have had a bath or shower in seawater when they shipped from England. One can spend a fortune on this date, which is something I did not want to do. This piece is VF, as it was with the 1809, was exactly the grade I wanted for this date set of cents. For those of you who might be from New England, this piece was in the late Dick August's collection. He was a well-know collector who specialized in colonial coins. I bought this in a Stacks-Bowers sale and Dick's name is on the holder. This is Sheldon #287. It is rated as an R-2, not so common. It is the more common of the two die varieties which are known for this year. Those who collect half cents will note a similar situation exists for those coins. There are two die varieties, both scarce, which were struck on sub par planchets. The mint director at the time did not like half cents. He struck up the remaining stock of them that were on hand and ended their production. The mint would not issue any more half cents until 1825.
