First Liberty Cap Large Cent - just acquired!

A Liberty Cap cent has been a bucket list type for me for a long time now, and I finally got to fill that hole.

Was browsing Ebay about a week back and looking through newly posted Large Cent listings. I saw a 1796 Liberty Cap cent posted for a eye-openingly cheap $48 + shipping (shipping just barely put it over the under $50 thread). Opened that listing up real quick. The pictures weren’t great, but the coin was correctly attributed as S-88 (an R-4 variety) and the pictures showed a worn coin but no evidence of corrosion or damage. Snapped it up before someone else did.

Just arrived in hand, and here it is -


Yes I know what you’re thinking on the reverse. Nearly all Liberty Cap cents in lower grades have a weak reverse. This is because of the way the coins were made on a hand-operated screw press with the obverse being the hammer die.

A clean, honest Fair-2 with no corrosion, damage, or cleaning. Most of these early coppers have some sort of issue, and this one is a smooth brown planchet, which early copper collectors love. A PCGS FR02 of this variety sold for $168 in 2020 - but I’m definitely keeping this one raw! This is my new oldest US mint product (by a few months), my first Liberty Cap, and my second R-4 large cent. And the price was more than right! Now to find a 1794 and 1795.

 

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Nice for $48!
It's on my bucket list too

 

very nice looking large cent My only early one is a 1794 with granular surfaces.

 

Nice one. Plenty of honest wear but no problems. Mine is an xf detail with some but not horrible porosity and good eye appeal. I’d have grabbed that girl for $50 in a hurry too

 

Would like to spend a bit more when I get a 1794. Maybe $250 or so. At that price, you can get a smooth brown problem-free planchet, or you can get strong details. Unfortunately, you can’t get both on the same coin for that price. Tough choice.

On the other hand… maybe I should buy a Fugio.

 

That is amazingly cheap for a clean uncorroded planchet. I don’t normally go below G4 but that one is a definite exception.

 

Yeah. Both good. I spent about $1200 years ago for an eye appealing but details graded 94. A s-61. A fugio a fun coin. I’ve had a few. But never bought “the one” for me yet

 

Great to fill that hole! It’s worn but it clean. Very nice and one day I hope to have one.