1838 Large cent question...

InfiniteZero

Hello, just a quick question on a new purchace. Just got this in today from ebay, and I wanted to make sure it was not a fake. the reason I ask is because it is a little smaller than the only other large cent I have of this variety. It weighs the same, just a little smaller. I picked it up because I liked the toning even though the date is pretty worn, just making sure it is okay.

gus

dorkkarl

REAL

if it were fake, it'd be more valuable than a real 1

K S

InfiniteZero

cool, but another question. Why does it not fit in my danso type set. It is too small...

gus

sumnom

That's a nice looking coin, zero. I may be in the minority here but I really like circulated coins.

InfiniteZero

thanks, I really love those red "hilights". Yea, I love coins, but when it comes to the oldies, I can only afford circualted, non graded. but you know, i like the character they have, too.

just don't know why it wont fit in its slot...

gus

earlwbollinger

If I remember right, they had some batches of coins that used a thicker planchette, thus the coin had a smaller diameter in order to
weigh the same in order to pass inspection.
The pic seems to show a bit thicker coin than normal.

InfiniteZero

wow, that's really interesting. thanks for the info.

RBB617

Gus - Another possibility is that the edges have been hammered. This isn't very common, but I have seen some Large Cents that have been.

Conder101

By 1838 they were using a steam press and close collar for the cents so they should all be uniform size. If this is smaller then something has ben done to it.

AuldFartte

<< <i>cool, but another question. Why does it not fit in my danso type set. It is too small...

gus >>



Dansco seems to have messed up slightly on the newer Type Set Albums with several slots. Some of mine are too large, some too small.

Nice Large Cent

wbp1028

I've got a Dansco type set and large cent album - in both of them, the holes are too big for the coins and they tend to rotate over time.

Baley

I've got a Dansco type set and large cent album - in both of them, the holes are too big for the coins and they tend to rotate over time.

that is your answer... the coin is the right size, and the hole in your album is a little too big.

in fact, the hole for my 1838 cent is also too large; I "shimmed" it in there with a narrow strip of clear safeflip.



edited to add: I think the earlier cents of this type are slightly larger in diameter, as the 1817 I had in there before fit a lot better.
perhaps Dansco chose to make the hole large enough to accommodate the large ones, and the smaller ones fit a little loosely.

Although, for the Bust half, I had the opposite problem: hole a little too small, tough to get the coin in.

Conder101

Before 1836 the cents were struck with an open collar that did not restrain the expantion of the coin. The final diameter of the coin was therefor a function of the strength of the strike. If the dies hit harder the coin was bigger and if it was weak the coin would be smaller. The difference can vary by a mm or more. The album maker tries to use a hole that will fit the average diameter coin so most will fit, but some will bee too large and some will be loose in the hole.

They probably also use the same size hole for all of the openings. This creates a problem after 1836 because the hole used for the open collar coins would be a little too large for the close collar coins.