1809 large cent
Matthew21
Posts: 136 ✭✭✭
Wanted to see what y’all thought about this large cent looks vg details. They are asking $295. 
1
Matthew21
Posts: 136 ✭✭✭
Comments
It looks like it has porous surfaces. I know the series has a lot of problem planchets, but at $295, not for me.
After a quick ebay comparison, it's roughly in line with what these go for. I personally would save up another 2-300 for a nice surface coin.
This date is probably the worst in the classic head series, with dark rough planchets and weakly struck obverses being the norm. The tpg’s are very forgiving with this date.
1809 and 1811 have to be the most difficult dates to find "nice" in one of the more difficult series to collect. I agree with VG details/corroded.
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.
VG with surface issues.... Your call as to price.... If not an immediate need, one could save a bit more and get a better one. Cheers, RickO
Interesting that the combined mintage of these two dates is lower than the mintage of the vaunted 1909Svdb cent, of which most probably are still around, where these large cents suffered from heavy attrition. Of course you have to keep in mind the mintage records in the early 1800's are suspect, as the number of coins struck in a given year may have different dates. But given the genuine scarcity, they're probably pretty close. And if you want "nice" ones, you better be patient and be willing to pay the price. It looks like even the junkers are bringing $200-500 these days.
Tough date.
@Walkerguy21D ... spot on! I can go to virtually any big show and easily find a dozen or more 1909-S VDB's in the VF+ to AU range at competitive prices. These aren't really scarce. Finding similar 1809 LC? yeah... not so much... Many of these coins (the entire series, for that matter) were struck on questionable planchets and were heavily used in commerce. This, coupled with late 18th Century minting techniques on screw presses lead to a truly unique (and scarce) area of numismatics. When you find one (they do exist... in at least one or two person's inventories) you WILL pay!
To the OP... your call on the price. I don't know how long you've been looking, or your level of patience in finding one... happy hunting!
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.
Here’s mine, I was thrilled to find this at a FUN show some years ago, and even more thrilled when the dealer pulled out the greysheet to price it.
Later die state with a ‘comet’ off star 13, exceptionally smooth planchet and color for the issue. But still has the big discrepancy in details between the obverse and reverse.
It's an acceptable coin for a budget collection. There are still plenty of budget collectors around so early coins like this still have demand in spite of problems. Just make sure you are not buried in it.