Where are some good places online to buy early copper?

airplanenut

I'm thinking of getting a half/large cent in MS/Brown (maybe around 63)--I really like those coins, and they're not too expensive in the later years. Does anyone have any recommendations of where I could go online to look for them? eBay doesn't have a ton--I'd like PCGS/NGC/ANACS, and would love a place that can also take nice pictures--I want a chocolate, glossy one

If anyone knows where I should look, I'd appreciate it

Thanks!

Jeremy

Barry

Most of the copper guys sell mostly raw stuff. I'd suggest a Heritage Internet sale.

nwcs

Sounds like something jade coin can do.

RYK

Agree with nwcs, but I think this type of coin is easy to find at most decent-sized shows and best purchased in person.

Robert

OKbustchaser

Try here Chris is one of the most knowledgable early copper guys I know.

Jim

rhedden

I agree, CVM is your best bet, unless you want to risk paying an unwarranted premium. If you buy from Heritage, you will get an NGC MS-50. Um, I mean MS-63 BN.

DAM

There are a number of large cents coming up for auction in August. Heritage and ANR have a bunch.

Be very selective.

Edited to add:



<< <i>--I want a chocolate, glossy one >>



Here's some chocolate for you...

ursabear

Very nice cent! Makes me want to look into it further.

Although I'm an absolute novice with the series, I'd say that cent is very high grade, mid MS, Yes?

airplanenut

<< <i>Try here Chris is one of the most knowledgable early copper guys I know.

Jim >>

Unfortunately, he doesn't really have anything in my price range ... the problem (IMO) with buying a type coin from a specialist is they know all the varieties--I could care less, but to a specialist, the price goes up

Jeremy

DAM

MS 65BN, per PCGS. I imagine EAC would knock 2 points off, but that's a WAG. I haven't studied their standards. But in person it is a nice coin. I use a scanner so the image isn't as nice as it could be.

I've loved large cents since I was a boy, and finally decided to put set together starting with this one.

ursabear

Whew, those are nice.

Do the RB ones always take on the red-brick color like that?

OnlyBuffalos

Keep in mind that CVM's coins are graded to Early American Coppers (EAC) standards. I acquired several dozen half cents from Chris around twenty years ago when I was active in EAC, that ranged in grade from AU50 to AU58. All the AU58 coins are now in PCGS holders with at least a grade of MS63. The others all were graded considerably higher by PCGS. From a financial viewpoint, I should have ignored Buffalo nickels and purchased half cents exclusively as they have increased significantly in value.

When you compare Chris' prices with like coins, they compare quite well. His descriptions are also very comprehensive. All things considered, I don't know a better place to acquire early copper.

airplanenut

Thanks for the comments, OB! Maybe I should check them out again... basically, you're saying that an EAC 50 is similar to a current market-graded MS piece?

Jeremy

OnlyBuffalos

Jeremy,

One of guides to copper prices is published by Bill Noyes. Called Penny Prices, it lists on the back cover the general rules of conversion between PCGS/NGC and EAC as follows:

Slab grade MS65 or MS64 = MS60 or AU55
Slab grade MS63 = AU50
Slab grade MS62 or MS61 = XF45
Slab grade MS60 = XF40

I haven't paurchased anything from Chris for quite sometime, but the above is consistent with my experiences when I did.

Hope you find what you are looking for. Might suggest you give Chris a call, he is always willing to talk copper.

airplanenut

Thanks, OB! That's some great advice!

Jeremy

OKbustchaser

<< <i>Thanks for the comments, OB! Maybe I should check them out again... basically, you're saying that an EAC 50 is similar to a current market-graded MS piece?

Jeremy >>



In general, easily.

Jim

Baley

question:
Given a certain old large cent, say eac calls it a 50 and pcgs or ngc calls it a 62. if they're priced the same, what does it matter if we call it 66 or 99 or 'beelzebub'

I guess what I'm asking, is why the difference between "EAC" and PCGS grading? what's the benefit?

and to whom?

OKbustchaser

The difference is that if you are looking to spend X dollars then you can look at properly graded coins in the AU+ range as well as slabbed 62-63's. It is a matter of comparing apples to apples rather than apples to oranges.

Just old fogies who refuse to join the 21st century and actually still believe that if a coin has rub (wear) on the high points that it isn't an unc. I feel the same way about my bust halves.



Jim