Does an Off-Center Colonial Copper command any premium?
RLSnapper
Posts: 582 ✭✭✭✭✭
Wandering around Ebay and stumbled upon this Connecticut Copper struck off-center. I remember having a couple Large Cents 20 years ago that commanded just $200 in similar condition that now would be worth substantially more. Any help would be appreciated!
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Yes
I would think so... I am sure some copper guys will be along shortly. Cheers, RickO
Yes... but I'm not sure how much how much of a premium given the overall porosity of your coin. It's a Colonial issue though... so these are definitely sought after. Perhaps one of our resident Colonial gurus can chime in...
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It’s been my experience that errors on older coins can lower the value of the piece, but an off-center might be an exception. I know that having a planchet clip noted on the holder for a high grade 1795 half cent decreases the value. High end collectors want the coin to be as normal as possible.
It really depends on the buyer. The state coinages have enough quality control issues that it is not that uncommon. Off center, planchet clips, planchet voids and the like are often more of minus than a plus. I collect Connecticut coppers and would prefer one with better centering. The only errors that I see in the state coinages that command a premium are multiple struck pieces.
looks more mad than o/c imo
Off-center, mis-struck and unevenly struck colonial state coins are not unusual and are generally worth less than well made specimens.
Double-strikes, brockages, overstrikes and the like - particularly when extremely dramatic - can be worth significant premiums.
Coin Rarities Online
I'm no expert but in general most colonials are off-center to some degree, more rare is one that is actually centered properly, and in my limited experience those tend to go for more.
Interesting... I mostly collect Middle and Late date Large Cents and off-center strikes command a bit of a premium. I guess by 1816 steam presses were more accurately indexed and off-center strikes were a more rare occurrence.
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Agree. I have some off center colonials but there seem to be a lot of them.
A well-centered coin may sometimes be more rare!
I thought the US didn't get its first steam press until 1836?
I believe it was Stscks that had an auction with a large number of error colonials. All sold for a premium. We're not talking about planchet defects and the like that are common. Slightly off center strikes are also common. This coin is, I think, far enough off center and cleanly struck and would likely command a small premium. Imho
I don't want to hijack this thread, but I was going off this information:
The 19th century ushered in the use of steam power, and big changes in coin production. In 1816, rollers and cutting presses were the first machines powered by a steam engine. Then in 1833, the Mint hired Franklin Peale to travel to mints in Europe to observe their processes. He brought back many ideas for advancements to the Mint and its equipment.
So it appears steam was starting to replace horse powered presses in 1816 to produce planchets (rollers and cutting presses) but coining presses didn't start until 1836 or so? I had always assumed steam covered the entire process... I don't see too many Middle Dates that are struck off-center and when I do they typically fetch a premium. Did some other invention make the coining process more accurate?
https://www.usmint.gov/learn/history/historic-coin-production
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