Just picked up a 1798 Large Cent with a nice cud>> Lg Cent Attribution Question

I havent had too many 1798 large cents... Just got this one today, had to pick it up because im fascinated with cuds and die breaks, even though its got some problems.

I have a question and it might be obvious to some but here goes anyways,

What do you use to attribute your large cents? namely middle dates (1816-1830s) and also the older ones (Draped bust... Liberty Cap?) Like I said, I rarely get to hold a Draped Bust, but I am really liking them lately.
I'm on the verge of buying "The Cent Book 1816-1839" by John Wright , which i've heard great things about, but I wanted to ask people here first.
I know coinfacts is great, I used them a lot before they were bought by PCGS but I am wondering if maybe instead of the 99$ a year I can just get a few books.
Where is everyone is getting the "R-3, R-5" Rarity ratings from?

Thanks!
-Jesse

 

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Very cool S161, looks like state IX.

For middle dates I have both the Wright book and the Noyes book and I prefer the Wright book. For the early dates I still get good use out of penny whimsy although the rarity/census data in it are very out of date. I also have Breen's encyclopedia of early united states cents which is very useful and packed with info, like the die state on your coin.

As far as rarity ratings, I mostly go by what's in CQR, Copper quotes by Robbinson. It's the go too price guide for early copper, although the most recent edition will be the last, I would still recommend picking one up. But, all the reference books should have rarity ratings although their accuracy will diminish with age.

I also really recommend joining Early American Copper club if you think you might get interested, possible the best first step. As a member you get a dvd with the complete set of back issues of the magazine, which is a wonderful resource.

I would absolutely purchase books over coinfacts for this, the books and price guide will pay for themselves, I know mine did. Further, if you buy the books you can re-sell them for close to what you paid, so you will have 'spent' very little on them.

Brief overview

1) Copper quotes by Robinson (price guide, rarity ratings, quick lookup) - $50
2) EAC membership - $40 per year

Early dates
1) Penny whimsy - try for an earlier reprint the plates are better - ebay for around $20
2) Breen encyclopedia - no neccessary but nice to have, out of print but can be found

Middle dates
1) Wright The Cent Book - around $100 but can be found used
2) Noyes Middle dates - around $100 can be found used

Late dates
1) Grellman Die varieties of United States Cents 1840-1857 - must have for late dates, far far superior to Newcomb - $100

 

Really great response! Thank you it is much appreciated. I am going to take your advice and start working on acquiring all of these and becoming an EAC member! Thanks!

 

I also prefer the Wright book for middle dates and Penny Whimsy for early dates, though I wish it had a bit more than just vague descriptions of varieties.
Guy

 

I would also recommend copies of the Dan Holmes I and Dan Holmes II catalogs. They are not expensive (Less than the books will cost) and you won't regret getting them. If you do regret it let me know, I don't mind having back up copies of good reference sale catalogs. I'm on my second Robbie Brown sale catalog and my third copy of the Jack Robinson sale. Both by Superior Galleries. I already have two copies of all four Dan Holmes sales but I would not be adverse to having more back up copies. (It is that good, not ideal but GOOD. Ideal would be the Robbie Brown or Jack Robinson descriptions with the Dan Holmes pictures. The RSB and JR sales pictured every variety and gave the diagnostics for each one. They also listed what other varieties that did could be found on and in what sequence. But the pictures while being good for their day were actual size and and could not be enlarged. Fine grain half-tones. What can you say, we are talking mid 80's. The Dan Holmes pictures are enlarged, high quality and in color.)

p91, you should have a PM from me telling you where you might be able to pick up the catalogs. He has a copy of the Jack Robinson catalog too. They are a lot cheaper now. He has it estimated at $8, I used to buy them for $35.

Oh and if you like the large cents and half cents I DO recommend that EAC membership. The quarterly publication is excellent, and every two years (so far) the club provides each member with a free DVD of the complete set of back copies of Penny-Wise, the club journal. PDF format, searchable, over 13,000 pages of information on half cents, large cents, colonials, and the occasional Conder token, hard times tokens, or Civil War token.

 

Ack, I just bought a copy of Penny Whimsy for $35. I thought that was a decent price.
Can you really find copies at $20? I guess I'll have to chalk it up to another impulse
buy blunder!

 

I picked mine up for around $20, but it did not have a dust cover. $35 is not bad as long as it's not a quarterman reprint.

 

It's important to know which edition you got. 1976 editions tend to sell for more, 1990 editions for less. 1958, 65, and 81 editions about what you paid for yours. A real mistake would be paying the "cover price" for one of the 1990 edition printings (there are two different printings). The cover price is $50. I paid $20 for my second printing because the dealer wanted to get rid of it. The $20 I paid for the 1949 EAC was in my opinion a steal. I have two copies and I paid close to $100 for my first copy. (What can I say I likethe book and I have at least one copy of each printing.) And the 1990 printings did not have a dust cover, the rest do.