I got a 1796 Liberty Cap Large Cent for $50...
Omegaraptor
Posts: 541 ✭✭✭✭✭
...and it's not even a bad one.
A Liberty Cap cent has been a bucket list type for me for a long time now, and I finally got to fill that hole.
Was browsing Ebay about a week back and looking through newly posted Large Cent listings. I saw a 1796 Liberty Cap cent posted for a eye-openingly cheap $48 + shipping. Opened that listing up real quick. The pictures weren’t great, but the coin was correctly attributed as S-88 (an R-4 variety) and the pictures showed a worn coin but no evidence of corrosion or damage. Snapped it up before someone else did.
Just arrived in hand, and here it is -
A clean, honest Fair-2 with no corrosion, damage, or cleaning except for a couple small obverse digs consistent with the grade. The weak reverse is typical of Liberty Cap Cents in low grade. Most of these early coppers have some sort of issue, and this one is a smooth brown planchet, which early copper collectors love. A PCGS FR02 of this variety sold for $168 in 2020 - but I’m definitely keeping this one raw! This is my new oldest US mint product (by a few months), my first Liberty Cap, and my second R-4 large cent. And the price was more than right! Now to find a 1794 and 1795.
"You can't get just one gun." "You can't get just one tattoo." "You can't get just one 1796 Draped Bust Large Cent."
Comments
Great price if you intend to keep it raw as otherwise you might end up at $168 too.
Lol... yup grading is pricey. No need to send one like this in IMO. Think most early copper collectors would say the same.
Even if I had a more valuable early silver piece like a 1795 half dollar or 1796 dime in low grade, I'd still keep it raw. Being able to hold these pieces of American history in your hands is part of the allure of early coinage. Last show I was at, an early coin dealer had several pieces like that, all of which were raw.
"You can't get just one gun." "You can't get just one tattoo." "You can't get just one 1796 Draped Bust Large Cent."
It's very wholesome and for roughly the price of 2 pizzas of which you have nothing the day after I'm actually a bit envious!
I love my raw coins!
I've cracked a good number out for my cabinet including a few I maybe shouldn't have...
🥴
Well done, nice addition to your collection!
Very nice pickup. Good job. Hard to find good, honestly worn 18th century copper!
BHNC #248 … 130 and counting.
I could see that coin slabbing at either Fr2 or Pr1. Not much left of the reverse. Great for a lowball set, especially since the date is easily readable.
Awesome coin! If only it could speak and tell us all of the places/people/deals/ it was witness to…
That is a great deal!
Young Numismatist. Over 20 successful transactions including happy BST transactions with @CoinHoarder, @Namvet69, @Bruce7789, @TeacherCollector, @JWP, @CuKevin, @CoinsExplorer, @greencopper, @PapiNE and @privatecoin
"Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing" -Benjamin Franklin
A date I will probably never have. Nice, collectable copper!
I knew it would happen.
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i could live with myself easily with a full early date set virtually just like this. i'd enjoy sharing it at shows as well.
building it affordably would be the challenge as i'm sure the coins exist but most are gobbled up pretty quick.
I saw that one... nice pick up fir lower grade copper. Decent surfaces and the color looks good. Having a readable date is a definite plus!
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.
Solid pick up, can't beat it for $48.
Very nice
Nice old copper and the magical '1796' date.... Coins from that period are super special. Cheers, RickO
Wholesome find at $50 bucks!