1804 large cent on ebay

Hey, a neat aspect of numismatics is that you can have fun on a budget or spend big buck$. Buy what you like, but like what you buy.

This coin screams of warnings--raw, commonly counterfeited, and "off condition" at best. If you like it, buy it. I would rather buy a nice top-tier TPG indian cent for the same money any day of the week.

 

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Important to note there are some really solid people on E-Bay, including a few serious copperheads of strong repute. I have not seen the auction itself, so I don't know the seller. I will say what I have seen on this thread indicates this coin might be a great fit for someone.

There are some green lights on this one; just be careful and know your seller.

 

I understand your concern. In the sense that "gem" commonly means MS65 or better, than yes it's silly.

However...

...taken in the context of early American copper, this isn't a bad coin. Personally, I wouldn't call it a gem, but it's certainly not a "junk box special" either. Both terms are extreme. I say we choose a reasonable middle ground. For the right buyer, this coin will be a pride and joy. It's a tough date, and higher grade specimens are too pricey for many folks.

 

Yes, that's a very reasonable concern. It's very true in many areas of numismatics.

However...

Early American copper is unique. Many specimens are desirable and yet TPGs will body bag 'em for sure; this coin is a perfect case in point. For that reason (and others), EAC guys often prefer their coins raw - even coins well into the five-figure range.

If EAC coins were held to the same standard as other areas, there would be very, very few coins to collect. EAC guys simply can't insist on slabbed coins all the time, and the TPGs are forced to give a little more leaway when choosing whether or not to bodybag.

For the reasons MBT mentioned, be very careful with early copper.

 

Amazon is your friend...

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_1_5?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=breen%27s+encyclopedia&sprefix=breen

This particular book is loaded with all sorts of interesting stuff. Very, very educational - way beyond simple attribution. Highly recommended.

Also... shop e-bay for books.

 

For a few dollars more find a nice ag or good for the money you will like the coin and so will others when you decide to sell or upgrade:thumb: That way there will be no disapointment or regrets.

 

welll...it ended at 522.88+10 shipping with 5 different bidders in the last minute...thats 200%+ anything i had in mind of paying.

 

Yep - hard to tell sometimes what will happen on ebay. Here lately it seems like the large cents are doing pretty good.

 

That happens to nearly every coin I bid on and has been happening most of the time since I joined eBay in 2001.

 

Yeah - but the last two I wanted I won cheaper than I thought. I know I got 1 of them cheaper than the last time it auctioned on heritage. I was very happy. I went 2 for 3 that weekend. The only coins I have bid on (other than a BIN for a silver eagle) in a month.

 

That's about what I expected.

BTW... copperflopper's advice is rock-solid. Better to have a problem-free coin with less detail than a corroded coin with more meat.

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/1804-Draped-Bus...mQQptZCoins_US_Individual?hash=item4a9d38e99f this is already around $260. id rather have a few problems just so i knew what kind of coin i was looking at by the end of the day.

 

I'm surprised it went that cheap. For an 1804 that was actually a very desirable coin. 1804 large cents are seldom found nice and for all practical purposes do not come better than VF.

And you can do that because the nice top-tier TPG indians are available by the bucket load every day of the week. Not so 1804 large cents.

Quite a few dollars more. It's usually hard to touch an AG-G for less than $1200. I had a snipe bid in around the $500 level and I didn't expect to really be anywhere close to the final bid. As I said I'm surprised it went that cheap.

 

Be glad you didn't win it. I've dealt with that seller in the past and he's awful as far as customer service goes. He doesn't want to accept any returns, charges excessively for shipping/handling/Paypal fees, and requests that any buyer desiring to return a coin pay a 20% restocking and leave postive feedback. I would never do business with him again as he doesn't stand behind what he sells.

 

didnt know he was that bad an ebayer. i have noticed with all these additional ratings that people sometimes just want their 5 stars or dont want you to bid at all.

 

That's ok, I wouldn't have wanted to return it. The coin IS genuine and it is better than the one already in my collection.

 

How do you know the coin is genuine? Did you buy it?

 

Why did you have to pay PayPal fees?

I thought that was the seller's problem!

 

Jeez, that sounds like a dreaded violation of sacred Ebay rules.

Where are the Ebay cops when we need them??

 

ebay cops

You rang?:kewl: