Definitive Guide to Liberty Head Large Cents (1816-1839)

Discussion in 'Coin Chat' started by kanga, Mar 11, 2020.

  1. kanga

    kanga 65 Year Collector

    I'm trying to find the definitive die variety guide to Liberty Head Large Cents (1816-1839).
    I've got Grellman's book for 1840-1857.
    From what little I've found it appears that the Newcomb varieties extend back into the 1816-1839 range.
    But I haven't found a guide that covers that time period.

    Is there such a guide AND if so, what's the title/author?
     
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  3. Coinsandmedals

    Coinsandmedals Well-Known Member

    I would recommend "The Cent Book" by John D. Wright. I forget the publication date, but I remember this book being about as old as I am, so maybe 1992ish? I have a copy that I use often, but I am not near it at the moment.
     
  4. Coinsandmedals

    Coinsandmedals Well-Known Member

  5. gronnh20

    gronnh20 Well-Known Member

    United States Copper Cents 1816-1857; Howard R. Newcomb, 1986 Reprint

    That is the book I have.
     
    Lawtoad likes this.
  6. LRC-Tom

    LRC-Tom Been around the block...

    I have the Newcomb book. I'll lend it to you.
     
    Dougmeister likes this.
  7. kanga

    kanga 65 Year Collector

    @Coinsandmedals, thanks for the link.


    I have that one too.
    I was trying to see if there are others.

    If you look at the Grellman book you'll see that it disagrees with the Newcomb in quite a few places.
    Grellman indicated that some of the varieties in Newcomb's book were not distinct varieties but just die states of existing varieties.

    I'm fishing around for possibly a new area of collecting interest.
    I seem to have become interested in EAC coins since my Classic Head half cent set is treading water while a search for a few of the keys.

     
  8. halfcent1793

    halfcent1793 Well-Known Member

    Wright's book is definitive, though there are a few things that need to be updated.

    Newcomb is very out of date.
     
  9. John Wright

    John Wright Well-Known Member

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  10. John Wright

    John Wright Well-Known Member

    I include seven pages of Addenda/Errata and two 'Update' pages.
    Last update was 16Dec 2019.
     
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  11. Conder101

    Conder101 Numismatist

    There you go, right from the author. Just be warned specialized references are not cheap. But they are worth every penny.

    (I have two copies of Johns book. And they aren't for sale.)
     
  12. Publius2

    Publius2 Well-Known Member

    John, I have your 1992 edition. How can I obtain the addenda/errata and update pages. More than willing to purchase them and pay postage.
     
  13. kanga

    kanga 65 Year Collector

    Thanks, all.
    Wright's book has been ordered.
    I have a number of the better/best guides:
    -- Half Cent Die States by Manley
    -- U. S. Cents 1840-1857 by Grellman
    -- Flying Eagles & Indian Cents by Snow
    -- Federal Half Dimes 1792-1837 by Logan/McCluskey
    -- Early United States Dimes 1796-1837 by Logan/Lovejoy/McCluskey/Subjack
    -- Early United States Quarters 1796-1838 by Tompkins
    -- Early Quarter Dollars of the United States Mint by Rea/Peterson/Karoleff/Kovach
    -- United States Early Half Dollar Die Varieties 1794-1836 by Parsley

    You're right, they DO get expensive.
     
    halfcent1793 likes this.
  14. John Wright

    John Wright Well-Known Member

     
  15. John Wright

    John Wright Well-Known Member

    The update pages were sent out in Penny-Wise as they became needed
    (1839 N-5/10 and 1825 N-5). I got extras when they were printed for
    P-W, but not even enough for my unsold books, so I put one of each in
    each book as I sell them until they run out -- no extras for those who
    did not pull it out of their P-W. The 'Errata' I can attach as a .doc file to
    my email reply to your email to me. Email me at theJohn@sbcglobal.net .
     
  16. John Wright

    John Wright Well-Known Member

     
  17. John Wright

    John Wright Well-Known Member

    So do you want a 'CENT Book' or not? Email me if you do.
     
  18. John Wright

    John Wright Well-Known Member

  19. Oldhoopster

    Oldhoopster Member of the ANA since 1982

    I purchased John's book when it was first published and felt it was a big upgrade over Newcomb.
     
  20. kanga

    kanga 65 Year Collector

    A quick look at the Newcomb book (reprint) shows me that it would quickly drive me crazy.
     
  21. Conder101

    Conder101 Numismatist

    Newcomb was OK for it's time, and the reprints after I think 1982 are better (there were earlier reprints) because the earlier editions didn't have plates.
     
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