See this thread here. Lots of books mentioned, and most cover just certain type. So which are you most interested in: Liberty caps, draped bust, matron, braided hair? What are you interested in - attributing or just general learning. Most in that thread help you attribute the coins.
The best FIRST reference on Large cents? The Redbook. If you decide you want to go deeper but still stay general, the early material in Penny Whimsy up to the point where they actually start describing the varieties. Dr Sheldon had a great writing style and it will really create a desire in you to enjoy the coins and possibly even go deeper and "try to make out the big pennies". John Wright's The Cent Book is also a good choice because at the start of the chapter for each year he gives you historical information about what was happening in the world that year. The cents are not just a coin or a collectible item, but were apart of society and that history and are a link between the people and that world and time. My third choic would probably be Breens Encyclopedia of United States Large Cents 1793 - 1814. because you will not find anywhere so much information of how the mint functioned and how the cents were made from sources of supply, the machinery ,to problems of manufacture, to political headaches, designers, methods etc etc etc. It can give you a great education about the mint and the early coinage with out even having to get into the different varieties, but if you want that, that information is there as well. After thinking about it I would probably move the Breen book up to my second choice after the Redbook. It's cheaper than Wright but more expensive than Sheldon, but so much more extensive it's worth it. The only problem is it is out of print and getting harder to find.
