Just bought an EAC - Guess the Sheldon

Here’s a large cent I just bought for about $25ish. It was marked dateless by the seller, however, this is a pretty easy Sheldon to identify. (Hint: Until I get the coin in hand, it cannot be pegged to one specific variety.)

She ain’t pretty, but there’s a reason I bought her:

 

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Alright, I've been squinting at the image on my laptop for about 8 minutes, and the only thing i can tell for sure is that it is a Draped Bust.
I think I see a ghost of a numeral at the bust which can be the top of a 7 (1797), or a 3 (1803).

This is a difficult one.........I am sure Marshall or Conder can tell at a glance.

 

I’ll drop a hint. It is NOT an 1803.

Note: If someone answers correctly before Sunday (PST), I will give them Best Answer. If not, I will simply say what the variety is.

 

No can't tell at a glance, but I can tell its a 1797.

 

What is the reason to post a coin like that? Is this a guessing game? or a coin web site? What would the grade of that coin be?

 

I call it a S-2000 AKA: black blob

 

Also, pictures, as you have proven with this thread, of coins in holders are useless.

 

Reverse of 1796, Plain Edge
Sheldon 120a - Common
Sheldon 121a - Sheldon NC-1 - 7 known

Reverse of 1796, Gripped Edge
Sheldon 120b - Very Scarce
Sheldon 121b -

Reverse of 1797, Stems
Sheldon 122 - Rare
Sheldon 123 - Very Scarce
Sheldon 124 - Rare
Sheldon 125 - Rare
Sheldon 126 - Scarce
Sheldon 127 - Rare
Sheldon 128 - Scarce
Sheldon 129 - Very Rare
Sheldon 130 - Common
Sheldon 134 - Very Scarce
Sheldon 135 - Very Scarce
Sheldon 136 - Scarce
Sheldon 137 - Scarce
Sheldon 138 - Common
Sheldon 139 - Common
Sheldon 140 - Common
Sheldon 141 - Rare
Sheldon 142 - Rare
Sheldon NC-2 - Very Rare
Sheldon NC-3 - Very Rare
Sheldon NC-4 - 3 known
Sheldon NC-5 - Very Rare
Sheldon NC-6 - 2 known
Sheldon NC-7 - Unique
Sheldon NC-8 - Unique

Reverse of 1797, StemlessSheldon 131 - Scarce
Sheldon 132 - Rare
Sheldon 133 - Rare
Sheldon 143 - Rare


DID I WIN?

 

There are only two possibilities and the most likely is S-121. The subvariety would require examination of the edge. The other possibility, though remote, is the 1797 NC-1. I think I see obverse die cracks indicating the S-121 though. A better image or examination in the copper should confirm it. It would also indicate a later die state.

ps The cradled E (HWH right of E and SHWH left of E) always jumps out to me as a 1797. Probably not universally true, but I haven't checked.

ps I have an advantage looking at the images on my 52" TV screen. I can't imaging seeing anything on a typical screen.

 

Note. NC-8 is also stemless.

 

You are correct! It is an S-121. Will the edge be plain or gripped? We’ll find out soon!

 

Just following up. The 1798 Style 1 hair Cents also have several cradled hair varieties. I guess I didn't notice since I'm always looking at the date first on these for narrow/wide and large/small 8s.

 

More like 25 now.

 

Wow. When @TypeCoin971793 discovered one in 2014, there were around 15 known to exist. Since then that number has increased to about 25, and there’s a chance that I’ll increase that number by one.

 

I'll go AG-3.

 

It arrived!

Aaand...

It’s a gripped edge.

Not that I’m complaining. 1797 is still a better date for large cents. S-121b is still an R-3 - an NGC AG-3 sold at auction in 2015 for $142.

Though it’s interesting how the seller thought the large cent was dateless without noticing the grip marks on the edge - seen on one and only one date.

Still a good find for only $28! This brings my EAC collection to two coins:



Maybe I’ll join the EAC club sometime. Even though it wasn’t the rarity it could have been, the thrill of cherrypicking was still exciting.

Not to mention this history behind this coin - the US mint in its infancy tried this as an experiment, didn't like it, and abandoned it. This is the remnant of that experiment.

 

If you can't read the date it doesn't get graded.
That aside, I'm very close to P-01.
The reverse is P-01 but the obverse is better, but only an FR-02.
So net grade is still P-01+

 

PCGS and NGC tend to be lenient on early coinage. I'd say it's a solid FR-02. There's two thin scratches on the obverse, but considering how old and worn this coin is, I don't think it's enough to details it. It looks a little better in hand.

 

Actually, since you brought up the gripped edge which is usually only associated with S-121 and S122, I'll share the possibility that I have a 1798 S-156 (with a Reverse of 95) which also appears to have a gripped edge.

 

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