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Opinions on this 1794 Large Cent?

ashelandasheland Posts: 23,198 ✭✭✭✭✭

I’m considering this one. It’s PCGS graded, I’m curious what you guys think it’s graded at...

And what do you think about surfaces and eye appeal?

It’s a four figure coin and I don’t do copper, I’m not that experienced with the early Copper...

Comments

  • SmudgeSmudge Posts: 9,531 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Don’t know enough about old copper to say more than that I like it.

  • amwldcoinamwldcoin Posts: 11,269 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I like the details in the 25-30 range. I can also live with the surfaces but depending on the grader it could get the classic Env. Damage.

  • CatbertCatbert Posts: 7,190 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Too dark for my tastes, otherwise a nice example.

    Seated Half Society member #38
    "Got a flaming heart, can't get my fill"
  • coinbufcoinbuf Posts: 11,339 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Not really all that up on copper this old, some rim dings rather dark with porous surfaces which is not all that unusual but slightly less desirable/appealing. Details are nice but maybe the surfaces brought it down to 10 or 12. If the price is right I would not kick it out of bed, however not one that I'd be inclined to pay a premium price.

    My Lincoln Registry
    My Collection of Old Holders

    Never a slave to one plastic brand will I ever be.
  • JBKJBK Posts: 15,655 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I'd be happy to own that coin, but price would be a factor, of course.

  • EddiEddi Posts: 506 ✭✭✭✭✭

    It is a Sheldon S-70 variety which is rated at low rarity 2. This fairly low rarity will factor into the price.
    It is a very early die state, before the characteristic die crack between T and Y developed.
    It appears to have smooth but quite dark surfaces, and no major damage. Considering this I would grade it at F12-F15.

  • grote15grote15 Posts: 29,703 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Dark but nice amount of detail. I would guess grade at VF-20.



    Collecting 1970s Topps baseball wax, rack and cello packs, as well as PCGS graded Half Cents, Large Cents, Two Cent pieces and Three Cent Silver pieces.
  • markelman1125markelman1125 Posts: 1,851 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Well that’s one hell of a nice cent 👍👍👍

  • mannie graymannie gray Posts: 7,259 ✭✭✭✭✭

    15+/20

  • BigMooseBigMoose Posts: 1,469 ✭✭✭

    Head of 1795, Sheldon 70. VF 30 or so details but corroded. Would be very surprised if it straight graded.

    TomT-1794

    Check out some of my 1794 Large Cents on www.coingallery.org
  • rickoricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Nice old copper cent.... Not a copper expert, so will take the opinions above on grade. Any U.S. coin date beginning with '17' is amazing to me.... Cheers, RickO

  • BillJonesBillJones Posts: 34,018 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I detect mildly glandular, dark surfaces, which means that the coin will not get a straight grade if you send it to PCGS. Given the Chinese counterfeit problem, authentication is highly desirable these days, but the question is, will it be cost effective for this coin? With a sharpness grade in the VF area and a probable net grade of VG to Fine, it’s marginal.

    Retired dealer and avid collector of U.S. type coins, 19th century presidential campaign medalets and selected medals. In recent years I have been working on a set of British coins - at least one coin from each king or queen who issued pieces that are collectible. I am also collecting at least one coin for each Roman emperor from Julius Caesar to ... ?
  • ajaanajaan Posts: 17,388 ✭✭✭✭✭

    You say it's PCGS graded. Is it 'details' graded or straight graded?


    DPOTD-3
    'Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery'

    CU #3245 B.N.A. #428


    Don
  • 291fifth291fifth Posts: 24,359 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Pass. It is a problem coin.

    All glory is fleeting.
  • ashelandasheland Posts: 23,198 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @ajaan said:
    You say it's PCGS graded. Is it 'details' graded or straight graded?

    It’s a straight graded F12

  • ashelandasheland Posts: 23,198 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I like the range of opinions, especially when it’s an area I’m not that familiar with.

    Thanks everybody! 👍

  • ashelandasheland Posts: 23,198 ✭✭✭✭✭

    (I still haven’t made a decision). I’ll update the thread when I do.

  • ashelandasheland Posts: 23,198 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I’m just now checking it out in person. Here’s a slab shot:

  • ajaanajaan Posts: 17,388 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited May 20, 2021 5:39AM

    @asheland said:
    I’m just now checking it out in person. Here’s a slab shot:

    at the shop? The slab image makes it look better IMO.


    DPOTD-3
    'Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery'

    CU #3245 B.N.A. #428


    Don
  • ashelandasheland Posts: 23,198 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @ajaan Yeah, it's Michael's.

  • ashelandasheland Posts: 23,198 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @Walkerguy21D said:
    The slab image makes it look better IMO.

    Agreed! Looks smoother and lighter than the original pictures, and more desirable.
    So which is truer? If the coin really looks like the first photos, I'm surprised it straight graded.
    I'm guessing it's somewhere in between, a fairly meaty '94, that I'm also guessing was netted down a bit for surface issues.
    I'd also advise the OP, that if he doesn't have much experience with copper as he said, and this coin is >$1000, that you look at more coins, auction records, etc. before spending that much money, to ensure the value is there. Without knowing the price or the real appearance, my gut reaction is that you can probably do better, and with a $1000+ budget, look for one with lighter, smoother surfaces.

    Great advice!
    I'm thinking I will wait for another example that talks to me more than this one...

  • ashelandasheland Posts: 23,198 ✭✭✭✭✭

    It's awfully cool, no doubt about it, and the slab shot makes it look a lot nicer than the true view, which is not normally the case. But indeed the surfaces look grainy and slightly like a dug up coin.. It still a terrific coin, but I think that the issues mentioned will bother me in time if I end up getting it.

  • retirednowretirednow Posts: 542 ✭✭✭✭✭


    Here is the true view ..

    OMG ... My Mother was Right about Everything!
    I wake up with a Good Attitude Every Day. Then … Idiots Happen!

  • lkeneficlkenefic Posts: 8,160 ✭✭✭✭✭

    FWIW... I'd be on the fence on this one... I'm seeing VF details with uniform fine granularity on the OP. It looked a little better in the slab image, but the corrosion is still there. IMHO, I think that issue along with the light scratches and tick marks on the reverse (through "OF" down to the leaves, and hits above "N" in ONE) got it into a straight graded F12 holder... ie. it was "net-graded". EAC graders do this all the time. I've lost count on the number of Middle Date and Late Date LC's with Grellman cards I've owned over the years that give the "details" grade/net graded for (insert problem descriptor here). That said, EAC grades are not TPG grades... so it depends on how you want to enjoy your 1794 LC and if you can live with the problems at that price point.

    Trust me... if you're counting pennies, expect to spend twice what's on this coin for a "problem free" VF... and just because it's in a straight-graded holder doesn't mean that there aren't any issues. They're just not stated on the slab.

    ...something about "buying the coin and not the holder"... springs to mind. Lastly, if you're waiting for a truly "problem-free" example of a '94 Liberty Cap, you will be waiting a very long time.

    Collecting: Dansco 7070; Middle Date Large Cents (VF-AU); Box of 20;

    Successful BST transactions with: SilverEagles92; Ahrensdad; Smitty; GregHansen; Lablade; Mercury10c; copperflopper; whatsup; KISHU1; scrapman1077, crispy, canadanz, smallchange, robkool, Mission16, ranshdow, ibzman350, Fallguy, Collectorcoins, SurfinxHI, jwitten, Walkerguy21D, dsessom.
  • lkeneficlkenefic Posts: 8,160 ✭✭✭✭✭

    ... My Gawd... those are gorgeous!! grader was having a bad day that day???

    Collecting: Dansco 7070; Middle Date Large Cents (VF-AU); Box of 20;

    Successful BST transactions with: SilverEagles92; Ahrensdad; Smitty; GregHansen; Lablade; Mercury10c; copperflopper; whatsup; KISHU1; scrapman1077, crispy, canadanz, smallchange, robkool, Mission16, ranshdow, ibzman350, Fallguy, Collectorcoins, SurfinxHI, jwitten, Walkerguy21D, dsessom.
  • ashelandasheland Posts: 23,198 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @BillJones Those are nice!

  • ChrisH821ChrisH821 Posts: 6,515 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @Catbert said:
    Bill. I’d be happy to take those body bag coins off your hands!

    So would I, although I do see why the first two were given the BB.

    Collector, occasional seller

  • Walkerguy21DWalkerguy21D Posts: 11,455 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I was perusing large cents on eBay and at several big dealerships last week, and I was very surprised at what I was seeing in straight grade holders. @lkenefic gave advice that should be heeded.

    Successful BST transactions with 171 members. Ebeneezer, Tonedeaf, Shane6596, Piano1, Ikenefic, RG, PCGSPhoto, stman, Don'tTelltheWife, Boosibri, Ron1968, snowequities, VTchaser, jrt103, SurfinxHI, 78saen, bp777, FHC, RYK, JTHawaii, Opportunity, Kliao, bigtime36, skanderbeg, split37, thebigeng, acloco, Toninginthblood, OKCC, braddick, Coinflip, robcool, fastfreddie, tightbudget, DBSTrader2, nickelsciolist, relaxn, Eagle eye, soldi, silverman68, ElKevvo, sawyerjosh, Schmitz7, talkingwalnut2, konsole, sharkman987, sniocsu, comma, jesbroken, David1234, biosolar, Sullykerry, Moldnut, erwindoc, MichaelDixon, GotTheBug
  • ChrisH821ChrisH821 Posts: 6,515 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Here are the slab shots posted above, but cropped.

    Collector, occasional seller

  • lkeneficlkenefic Posts: 8,160 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @Walkerguy21D said:
    I was perusing large cents on eBay and at several big dealerships last week, and I was very surprised at what I was seeing in straight grade holders. @lkenefic gave advice that should be heeded.

    I think we were looking at a lot of the same coins!

    Collecting: Dansco 7070; Middle Date Large Cents (VF-AU); Box of 20;

    Successful BST transactions with: SilverEagles92; Ahrensdad; Smitty; GregHansen; Lablade; Mercury10c; copperflopper; whatsup; KISHU1; scrapman1077, crispy, canadanz, smallchange, robkool, Mission16, ranshdow, ibzman350, Fallguy, Collectorcoins, SurfinxHI, jwitten, Walkerguy21D, dsessom.

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