I purchased two large cents yesterday for my type set. They are both very low grade, maybe FR2 or even PO1. The date on the classic head is mostly readable and appears to be 1813. The date on the draped bust is much more difficult to read. The dealer and myself both guessed that it is probably a 1798. I am interested in attempting to attribute which variety each coin might be and was hoping there was a member here who could point me to the best website/s for doing so? Thanks for the help! I will post my photos of the coins once I have made my guess as to the variety. P.S. The dealer sold the classic head as a coronet and he thought it was dated 1816. I knew it was a classic head and not coronet, but I didn’t know the date runs for each type. I had no clue at the time and only realized it was an 1813 when I got home. I checked the value of my coin and found that it’s pretty much worth what I paid with the dealer thinking it was an 1816.
I have looked at largecents.net and found that there are over 40 Sheldon varieties for the 1798 alone. I couldn’t find any descriptions on what made each variety unique and my coin is far too worn for my untrained eyes to discern any unique variations in the details. I also found there are only two varieties for the 1813. The difference being the distance of the 3 from the closest star. The distant variety being 2.5 mm. I don’t have a mm ruler so I can’t tell which variety mine is. So I will just post my photos and anyone who wants to take a stab at guessing I would appreciate it.
Look at other threads in CoinTalk. Here are a few Large Cent Die Varieties | Coin Talk www.cointalk.com › Forums › Coin Forums › Coin Chat Aug 23, 2009 · Once again almost every large cent variety, every lot plated, and the diagnostics for every variety listed. (There is also a 1996 Robinson S Brown Sale from Superior that is also very good and which has even more of the NC varieties. A Guide to 1982 Lincoln Cent Identification | Coin Talk Mar 03, 2016 1843 LARGE CENT VARIETIES | Coin Talk Jan 14, 2014 Large Cent - Sheldon Varieties prices | Coin Talk May 29, 2013 1834 LARGE CENT Variety help?? | Coin Talk
There is a easy way to identify the 1813. Look at the Leaf below the last S in States. On S-292 the leaf point is below the right edge of the S, on S-293 it is well past the S. The draped bust is a 1798, type II hair, small 8 and looks like type II letters on the reverse. Problem is it is from the group that had all the reverse dies from the same hub. I can tell imediately severaly varieties that it is NOT, and it is not one of the varieties that has a "jump right out at you" diagnostic. With some time I could probably work it out but I don't have the time right now. I believe it is in the S173 to 187 range and I can tell it isn't 175, 180, 181, 182 183, 183, 184, 186, or 187.