1864 shield two cent piece with more zinc, and is a rotated die

If you will take a Scotch-Brite pad and put a little soap on it and "rub" the edge of the coin on it (one spot) and if it doesn't look like copper afterwards, then maybe you have something but I'd be willing to bet it will be a pretty copper color. :whistle: If it isn't, it won't do enough damage to matter, since the coin isn't in great shape.

Ribbit

Ps: There's also the possibility it's an electrotype counterfeit, which could be worth something to a counterfeit collector. :thumb:

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

Thanks again for your input and suggestions toadencil:/I will do that when i get some free time.
Jazzcoins Joe:whistle:

 

i've got one too

i'm pretty sure the coating is just oxidation again as mentioned from having been buried. i have many copper based coins from multiple ages and countries with the same oxidation and have seen many more. the oxidation will usualy drive down the price unless there is a bigger demand for the oxidized version than the original.(usualy not the case ;-). my personal advice would be not to attempt to clean the coin at all as almost always this will lower the value. the fact that the "we" on the ribbon in the motto is not worn off as is the case in a lot of this type of coin may show that the burial saved this coin from wear it may have otherwise have gotten and therefore the decrease in value due to oxidation could be made up more so in the fact of low wear.....as long as it is not damaged by cleaning. the rule of thumb is that a patina, no matter how bad, is always better than a cleaned coin. i myself just found a '64 2 cent with rotation today and it is most definatly copper. i was wondering were you found the r1 rarity listing? r1 is the most common in the sheldon's system with the scale acending to r6 which is most rare. as i have just found my coin i would be interested in any other information you may have found since the last post and i will pass any more info i have on if i find it.

good luck!:thumb:,
mosiah

 

Welcome to Coin Talk!

 

Looks like a dug coin from what I can see here just like Frank said. I have seen many of them like that in the LHC series. I also agree with Condor on the rotated die, I know that I would pay no premium for such a coin in the two cent series and I do have a collection of them. Matter of fact I will have to go and see if any of them are rotated dies and let you know.

 

more info

i have more basic info. yes rotation is common on this date and coin. any premium for rotation on this coin would vary depending on how far the rotation is, how many of that degree of rotation there are as opposed to other rotation degrees of the same coin, and most important, how many people want that type.
for example:
1. usualy the closer the rotation is to 180 degrees (perfect back to front alignment when the coin flipped side to side, medallion style) the higher the premium.
2. if a particular rotation is common as compared to others in the series, even if it is the full 180 degrees, the premium will be less.
3. and finaly, the demand rules all. if everyone wants it, its premium is large; if no one wants it, then the premium will be small to none. and everything in between.

as you may have noticed, those who frequent this site are not impressed with this error. a good indication of the demand as usualy more serious collectors use sites like this and again the most knowledgeable answer most coherently with the best detail. therefore the demand seems to be low. also it seems the most common rotation of this coin is 90 degrees or very close to it (pointing directly sideward when flipped side to side.) if this is the rotation on your coin the premium would be lower also.

for further reffrence if you check e-bay there is only one of these listed with rotation and still the bid is no more than $10 as of last night.

so with all that my best suggestion would be to find someone local who is qualified to grade american coins and if possible trained in 1800's grading at a coin store near you. then ask them what they would pay for it. they will probably then give you the wholesale value as well an average grade. if you can find more than one qualified store, 2-3 offers will give you the best grade approximation and wholesale value of the coin outside of sending it to get slabbed. (the grade is the most important info. needed.) a coin show can make it easy to find those you need to do this. then you can make the best informed decision on what to do with it next.


again, good luck:thumb:, and let me know how it goes!
mosiah

 

Hi,
I agree,

There are several of us here who are avid metal detectorists.

This coin was buried and is the victim of what we call environmental damage. Any discoloration is a result of having been in the ground.

The rotated die issue is also minor. many Indian head cents and two-cent pieces have been struck with rotated dies.

I've seen coins like this for under $10.00 in dealer's "junk boxes".

Thanks,
Bill