Hey, I just found this in a relative's box of WWII type items. It's really worn, but is there any way this may be a rarer type or variety? Sorry for the amateur Photoshop job, I didn't want to mess up the edges (the strange color near some edges is the background).
Wow that is pretty bad! Looks to be a Braided hair cent minted from 1840-1857. Dateless and in that condition I don't think there is any way to tell a variety and even if it was the rarest of the rare couldn't be worth more then a few bucks.
I think it's a 1839 Booby Head, based on the shoulder point at about 5 o'clock on the head. Keep in mind that this coin is quite common, although there is one rare variety (which I don't think this is). In any event, IMO the coin is way too blasted to be worth more than just a few bucks. Details grade is Fair (Poor obverse, AG reverse), and there's clearly plenty of damage and probably some corrosion as well. Keep in mind that I don't exactly attribute coins every day, and they rarely pay me to do so.
With a coin this worn, you may have some luck wetting the date area. A little bit of water will sometimes help the date stand out. I wouldn't do that with anything in better shape, but it looks like this coin has taken worse in the past.
I think you nailed it. I think the head alone puts it late 1830's - matron head modified, but that looks clearly like the shoulder and not hair - so that leaves 1839 booby head.
