Hey Everyone! This is my first post here, I got this coin in a cull lot I purchased for 10$, had a seated liberty dime, and a shield nickel and this. It was claimed to be a draped bust half cent. However, the more I looked at it I noticed some strange things, first the bust is way to big. Second its 24 mm wide, not 23.5mm, though dies were iffy back then. Third it appears to say one and 1/100 on the reverse, and also has these Reeding or gripped edge marks along the edge. Making for a very confusing coin. Whats your opinions on this? My friend thinks its the highly prized 1797 Half cent Gripped edge, I disagree, one of the LCS's near me thinks its a 1797 Draped bust Gripped Edge on a half cent planchet which is unheard of...another LCS Thinks its a 1797 Gripped edge large cent. Theres so many questions. Here is two links to the coin. https://imgur.com/gallery/04Wr2ml https://imgur.com/gallery/pcEXRhz The coin is just about the size of a half cent, but theres a lot of strange things going on. It weighs what a half would too...Thanks for your opinions and time! My best guess is someone a long time ago took the edges down, and damaged the edge. My best hope is obviously a rare reeded edge, or gripped edge coin or possibly a planchet error?
I like gambling on "cull lots" myself. I know next to nothing about early copper, but I'll be interested to hear what others have to say about it. Can you post photos of the reverse and the edge? Welcome to CoinTalk!
The imgur links have all the pictures, of the full edge and reverse with some other angles! Thanks for the welcome! And yeah, I wanted the cull lot because of the seated liberty 1872, it had salt water corrosion which was nice it has a good eye appeal to me and I needed a shield nickel (just has a scratch on the obverse) so for 10$ I was already making my money back Imo. This was there too and I took the lot because of it, at first I thought it was a liberty cap, but I do not think so now.
I hesitated to look at the photos. So many times we see those here that turn out to be common damaged coins..... I am glad I clicked on yours. It does intrigue me. I am confident that is a large cent. The fraction is absolutely 1/100..... Certainly the piece has been abused over the course of 220 years. Due to the damage and condition I have a hard time being able to tell if the edges have been milled by somebody. And I fear given the condition, it may be a mystery forever. Looking forward to some of the early copper experts take on it. Certainly is interesting.
It is interesting for sure! I appreciate your input! All of the people who have seen it first hand in person have said that the edge seems genuine, or at the least was altered a long long time ago. It is a tough one indeed haha
The reverse says ONE CENT on it, in the wreath. In addition, we can tell that it is not a Flowing Hair type large cent due to the ribbon type indicating a reverse type used only on 1796-1807 pieces. It is not a naturally gripped edge, as the 1797 Gripped Edge pieces are reverse of 1795 and thus have the "flat ribbon". To show you what I mean, here is my own 1797 Gripped Edge S-121b: Notice the reverse type of 1795, different leaf shape, flat ribbon. Your coin is a grinded down Draped Bust LC probably dated 1798-1807. I'd wager 1802 or 1803, but there's no way to tell now, unfortunately. Unless someone seriously wants to go and attribute the variety on this thing, which I'm not sure is even possible.
Appreciate the apt response and example! I can definitely tell your Gripped edge is much more even and spaced. Mine is erratic and uneven. Thanks for your input! Do you think someone tried to imitate a gripped/reeded edge? Or was this just vandalized a long time ago.
May have been someone playing around with the edge years ago. It sure saw a lot of wear from the obverse I wondered if it was even an American coin but the reverse is the tell
