Large cent collection
pab1969
Posts: 1,204 ✭✭✭✭✭
Hello. I usually post on the trading card forum, and this is my first post on the coin forum. I purchased this book of large cents at a private sale. My son is telling me to join PCGS and send them in to get them graded. I tried to look up some of the values but with all of the variations and rarities, and having no knowledge in coins, it was overwhelming for me. I am reaching out to the members here looking for some advice on which coins I should send in and which I should not. Thank you in advance and enjoy the photos. If additional photos on a specific coin is needed, please let me know.
4
Comments
Sit tight and the large cent folks will descend upon your post and help you out.
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
Personally, I don't think grading will add much value. Maybe for a few of the early dates, but not likely for any after the 1811.
The best thing would be to take close ups of the 1795-1811 and see if anyone can tell you if you have a scarce Sheldon variety.
People on the BST would probably be interested in buying them.
The 1795 and 1798 along with the 1811 and 1814 deserve a second look and possibly pcgs grading.
From the pictures, I don't think that any of those coins were benefit from certification. Given the cost of the slab and the shipping, a coin needs to be valuable these days to justify the expense.
The early dates look interesting. They appear to be very nice "album coins."
To give you a couple of examples, this 1800 large cent was certified as a Fine-15 at one point, but it was cracked out. It would be marginal call now.
Here is an example of 1801 Three Errors variety. ("U" in United punched upside down, one stem on the wreath and the fraction is "1/000) It's been cleaned at one point and would not get a straight grade, but it's a nice coin for an album.
Take closer, sharper pics of the coins from 1814 and earlier and post them.
In general, I would defer to what Bill Jones has said, but better pics will definitely garner some valuable opinions for you.
I knew it would happen.
Before you spend a lot of money on grading you might want to see if anyone on the BST (buy sell trade) section of the coin forum is interested. Could save you some time and money, I agree that only the early dates might be worth the costs.
My Collection of Old Holders
Never a slave to one plastic brand will I ever be.
I’d leave them in the book and work on adding to it. Good start to a collection.
Thank you for all the comments so far. Here are close ups of the fronts from 1795 to 1808. Note the shine on the coin is the glare from my overhead lamp and not on the coin surface.
Here are the backs of the coins in the same order as shown in the photos above.
Interesting set, but as others have said, I don’t see anything slab-worthy from the photos provided.
The 1795 appears to be the S-78, an R1 (common) variety.
Also note, yes it’s exciting to think about lucking into a rare variety, but the odds are very small, and the market demand for many is way down, unless in choice condition. Lower grade R4/5 coins are going for little more than common type pieces, at least among the EAC dealers.
The 1798 is the S-186, an R2 semi common variety, die state VIII
1805 is likely the S267, R1
All 1806 cents are S270
The 1807 is the S276, R1
A couple other observations…..it’s ironic the album doesn’t have the generally ubiquitous 1802 and 1803 cents, but does have the tougher 1805/6/7 coins, and in respectable condition.
And the 1796 Bust is a real surprise.
My 10,000 ft off the cuff observation is that is likely the most valuable coin in the album.
@Steven59
Disclaimer: I'm not a dealer, trader, grader, investor or professional numismatist. I'm just a hobbyist. (To protect me but mostly you! 🤣 )
That's an interesting reverse none the less.
Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value. Zero. Voltaire. Ebay coinbowlllc
You did not mention what you paid for it. At your level of collecting, buying coins in albums is very difficult work to come out ahead on. That old Copper sure is fun to own, just hard to buy right raw.
That’s what made the attribution so easy on that one!
I second the notion of filling out the rest of the album. Work on that endeavor with your son and make some more memories out of it.
Custom album maker and numismatic photographer.
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https://www.donahuenumismatics.com/.
Thank you all again for your comments and helpful advice.
I paid $300 for a coin collection which included this book, a book of Lincoln cents (same style of book as the large cents) 1909-1940, $15 dollars (30 rolls) in wrapped Lincoln cents (all dates earlier than 1940), 13 walking liberty half dollars, 3 morgan dollars, 4 barber dimes, proof sets in original envelopes years 1958 through 1962, and 1987 US constitution two-coin set.
You got a deal for sure. The 1796 alone is worth more than $300.
I'm jealous. 😉
Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value. Zero. Voltaire. Ebay coinbowlllc
I wasn't even at the sale to buy coins. Like I said earlier, I have no knowledge of coins and made an offer that the owner accepted. The owner did not care for the coins because they were her deceased boyfriend's collection. I originally thought I overpaid until I showed my son the purchase.
Just jumping in to say that the album by itself has a value in the $30-40 range. There are many people (myself included) who collect the early Whitman Bookshelf albums. Yours looks to be in pretty decent shape with good foil retention on the cover and an intact binding.
Sean Reynolds
"Keep in mind that most of what passes as numismatic information is no more than tested opinion at best, and marketing blather at worst. However, I try to choose my words carefully, since I know that you guys are always watching." - Joe O'Connor
Still pales in comparison to the zeplin set you got when buying some stamp albums pab (I think that was you.) Very cool purchase and finds -- nothing over the moon like the varieties of 1793, 1799 etc. but very cool indeed!
Nice score! As others have already said... nothing really slabworthy but the 1796 Draped Bust is a surprise. The 1807 looks a little dark but I like the details.
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.
Yes it was me and thank you. Stamps I have some knowledge on. Like I mentioned in that post, I go to many sales (estate and garage) and have been very fortunate on the stuff people are willing to part with.
If you're not in a hurry to sell, I'd run them through PCGS economy or Anacs with their conservation option in case the numismatists there need to remove verdigris, pvc, etc. before grading. Last week I was at a shop where the guy whipped out a conservation fluid popular with some for large cents that has a non-damaging effect with some type of "coin care" product as well.
Sheldon 93:
On the reverse it has a very long left stem, almost touching the U in UNITED.
It’s a low R3, so relatively common for a 1796 Bust cent, which are all scarce!
I also think it has decent shot at straight grading, as it has above average surfaces for the type, probably getting a G6.
She might straight grade... I'd have reservations about the color breaks on the obverse in front of Ms. Liberty and what looks like the remnants of a fingerprint. I've basically given up trying to figure out what the TPGs want for early copper. Given some of the recent submissions I've seen that HAVEN'T been slabbed, I'm a bit apprehensive about sending some of my raw LCs in for grading... even some of the coins I bought from Tom...
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.
You made out like a bandit.
I'd say you have a good future as a numismatist.
"“Those who sacrifice liberty for security/safety deserve neither.“(Benjamin Franklin)
"I only golf on days that end in 'Y'" (DE59)
Thanks for the tag in. Same album I have. Took over a year to put it together while still missing 1793, 1799, and the 1804. I put the album aside after getting "Large Cent Burnout" and still have never picked it up again/yet.
"When they can't find anything wrong with you, they create it!"
EAC slick minus three
Well just as I said then, just make sure the same fate doesn't await your collectibles (unloved and unnoticed at a garage sale one day without you around to say "don't sell that cheap!") -- but hopefully that day is far, far-flung in the future; enjoy your neat finds in the present!
OP, I specialize in large cent varieties, and could help you out provided that you were to post the high (or higher) quality pics of the obverse/reverse of each one side by side (it's too much mental gymnastics to scroll up and down to match them up, sorry). For starters though, the 1795 is a common S-78 and the 1798 is a common S-186. I could even make an offer for you if you need to sell them some day. Generally speaking, lower grade LC's such as these aren't worth slabbing unless it's very rare.
Early American Copper, Bust and Seated.