Delete I mis-remembered a S-217 that went crazy a couple of weeks ago. The S-217 is the rarer variety using this obverse at R6+ while the S-218 is the rarer three errors reverse at R5. Still a great find!
Hey @Marshall, what’s your opinion on late dates (1840-1857)? A lot of people say they’re a pain to attribute but I don’t have a problem with them. I think it’s great that you can get a nice example for a low price, unlike earlier types (want an affordable Liberty Cap? You’re getting an example that has Miss Liberty and maybe a few letters on it) I like all the dates from 1793 to 1857, but there is something magical about a coin in the 1700s that says “United States of America” on it. And nice NCs!
I'm just now trying to check the late dates. I haven't had a good reference until my Noyes set came in which includes middle dates and late dates. Before that, I had Wrights The Cent Book for middle dates and nothing for late dates.
I chose this picture for the joke because it had no prongs and the grade was low enough to be believable.
Back to the S-215 research, I've only found one with a complete bottom left ribbon loop and I think it is a misattributed S-214. https://coins.ha.com/itm/large-cent...8-5041.s?ic4=ListView-ShortDescription-071515
I think this is an additional piece of evidence that this is Sheldon/Noyes 1801 Obverse 3. The subject in an earlier die state showing the beginnings of the die break or gouge between the point of the 1 and the curl that shows more clearly in the comp.
Please don't laugh, but I've found a candidate for the reverse. The fraction bar is short, only reaching the 1 in the denominator, even though the 1 is well right of the left ribbon. The right side of the fraction bar extends to just over the left side of the second 0. The fraction bar is a little closer to the numerator than the denominator. The left side sort of comes to a point rather than squared as is the left wreath stem. The right wreath stem looks short and kinds of fades away rather than a sharp end. I wish I could find a better comp, but this is the best NC-5 Reverse there is. Please give me honest opinions on this unlikely pairing and tell me where I'm just seeing things or missing something I shouldn't. It would have to be an earlier die state before the huge cuds form.
Guys I need some help. I picked this 1800 normal date up on ebay and got it home today. If you look closely, there is a perfect "s" hanging under the s on "states". I can't find any like this one. Any help is greatly appreciated
My first thought is that you had an 1802 S-241 which has the ghost S under the final S in STATES. The top of the 2 often confuses generalists on worn specimens where the bottoms aren't visible. But that isn't the case here. My second thought is PMD. I'll try to attribute it, but all the 1800s used a master die punch for the major detail so the differences are difficult to impossible to see on low grade specimens. No luck. Perhaps you can post the full Reverse so we can see the fraction where some of the differences can be seen.
No luck. I see contra indications for everything right now. The S-215 has got me cross-eyed looking at 1800 and 1801 Reverses,