Diagnostics for a 1799 Large Cent.

keets

I have a Large Cent with a VG-F reverse but an unfortunately AG obverse which renders the date only about half legible, had the coin since way back in 1970 when I did a swap with a classmate. The date is clearly 1798 or 1799 but the last numeral is a bit too indistinct to know for sure if it's an eight or the hoped for nine. Can someone point me to some obverse/reverse diagnostics which can help solve the mystery?? I intend to take it to Michigan this weekend so the fine folks at ANACS can give it a look, but I've intended to do that before; CRS always sets in!!! Thanks in advance for any help.

Al H.

LanLord

From Breen:

Reverse, Rim break in the dentils above oF America preceeded the die chip between (ON)E and (CEN)T.

Obverse (might not be of use in your case): Most have weak date and strong Liberty; a minority vice versa; very few have both strong.


edited to correct spelling error

Conder101

A bit difficult considering there are three varieties. On of the first things I look for is whether or not the highest wave of the hair is below the center or slightly right of the center of the R. There are only about 15 obverse dies in the entire draped bust series that have the hair wave that far to the right. And only 7 of them appear on 1798's and 99's. (Most of the others are 1796's but they would all be type one hair) If the R is that far right see how far away from the head it is. What you want is for it to be almost half a letters height away from the head. If this is true then it is one of the following 1798 S-180, 181, 182, 186, 187 or 1799 NC-1, 188, or 189.


look for the following to eliminate these possibilities.

S-180 horizontal crack rim to curl just below ribbons, almost ALWAYS has cud aove ATE on rev. (This is a R-5+ variety!)
S-181 Same bv die crack heavier, Nocud on rev. (Scarce variety)
S-182 Die cut joins ribbon and A of AMERICA (rare variety)
S-186 Rev cracked from fraction to E in AMERICA. Usually with cud below 00. (NOTE: this rev also used on 1799 S-188 but there it is either uncracked or cracked but no cud.) (common variety)
S-187 Obv lightly cracked TY - rim at 3:00. Second crack develops rim at 2:15 to rim at 4:30. Cud develops where cracks overlap. (common)

If it is none of those then it is probably a 1799.I can't tell yo a simple diagnostic for the NC-1 or S-188, but the S189 almost always has a clear die chip centered between the E in ONE and the T in Cent.