My Adversary....the Large Cent

23Pairer

I want to expand my small collection of Large Cents, and in order to do this, I want to study my adversary first. If there are any knowledgeable LC Collectors reading the boards now, could you recommend must reading/research/links for a student of the game? Thank you in advance, as I am always impressed with the wealth of knowledge on this forum. PM's are always welcome as well. Bob

sumnom

ttt

Let's hear about the best large cent references!

cmerlo1

I'm certainly not a knowledgeable LC collector, but I own and have read 'Penny Whimsy' by Sheldon- I think it's a must-have...

pb2y

Not much reading needed. A total year set of 42 coins from 1816 to 1857
can be easily had for about 300 to 600 bucks in lower grade.
Warning---these old copper cents in any grade are charming. They are frought
with human error of the engravers and span some of the best years of American History.
Many who started a simple year set in this way were hooked on collecting hundreds
die vaieties in high grade at a cost of tens of thousands dollars.

Reference books for beginners and advanced collectors:

United States Copper Cents
Howard Newcomb, 1944
The best reference for nearly 50 years

The Cent Book
John Wright, 1992
Continues from Newcomb with corrections and additions

DUIGUY

Start with the tuff dates.

PrivateCoinCollector

STOP! Don't do it, just say no. Just slowly step away from the Large Cent thang. Those things are as bad a heroin. You could get me to sell just about anything in my collection, but the four large cents I own that start with 17, are going with me!

Amazon has a couple of books you might check out. I would also call the librarian at the ANA (assuming your a member) and ask them to check you out a few they have on the shelfs. When you find one you like. Buy it.

DUIGUY

<< <i>STOP! Don't do it, just say no. Just slowly step away from the Large Cent thang. Those things are as bad a heroin. You could get me to sell just about anything in my collection, but the four large cents I own that start with 17, are going with me! >>






The retired collector that I picked this 99 up from said giving it up was just like having his testicles removed !

1798CentCollector

Suggestions really will depend on your level of involvement and collecting of early coppers. There are several levels of collecting - by date; Red Book variety; Sheldon and Newcomb variety; and other levels in between and beyond. Learning how to properly attribute, grade, and evaluate early coppers is important if you intend to pursue down-home serious copper collecting, e.g., intend to collect raw, by varieties, die states, etc. If so, I'd suggest becoming familiar with EAC standards and grading. Learn the differences in TPG grading and EAC grading. A combination of well written books and landmark auction catalogs is good way to begin. Depending on your interest and focus, you may want to include or exclude some of the following suggestions. Illustrated auction catalogs written by some of the most knowledgeable copper specialists are invaluable for honing grading, and attribution skills, learning about varieties and die states, and evaluating/understanding surface condition and net grading.

Some text suggestions:

The Red Book
The Official A.N.A. Grading Guide
Penny Whimsy - William Sheldon
Walter Breen's Encyclopedia of Early United States Cents 1793-1814
United States Large Cents 1793-1814 and 1816-1839 - Bill Noyes. 2 volumes. Great attribution guides.
The Cent Book - John Wright (Middle Dates) More information than Noyes. I like Noyes better for attribution.
Attribution Guide for United States Large Cents - Bob Grellman (Late Dates)


Auction Catalogs

Herman Halpern. Stacks 1988
Robbie Brown I (1986); II (1996); and III (2002). Superior
Jack Robinson Superior 1989
Wes Rasumssen. Superior 1998 (Late Dates)
Wes Rasmussen. Heritage 2005 (Early and Middle dates)
Wally Lee. Superior 2003
J.R. Frankenfield. Superior 2001
Jules Reiver. Heritage 2006
EAC convention sale catalogs years 2001-2007. These catalogs are illustrated and well written.

The auction catalogs above are some of my favorites. There are several other important catalogs published, but these collections in particular, are cataloged by noted copper experts, are comprehensive in description, are illustrated, and provide a wealth of information on varieties, die states, provenance, etc. You will find these landmark catalogs wonderful reference and attribution supplements to the texts above.

Spend as much time as you can time looking at raw and slabbed coppers at shows and talking to copper specialist dealers and collector experts. There is no better way to begin to understand early copper grading and attribution, problems, surface condition and desirability than holding coppers in your hand and discussing them.


Edited to add....I did not include the Newcomb reference work above as it it's a very hard read for anyone to start off with and Noyes and Wright serve as much better reference works. Newcomb is a great book for a serious collector to have on the shelf.

sumnom

Perhaps you should consider the large cent your muse rather than your adversary. I started collecting coins with a large cent. They will always have a certain something that reminds me of the original mystique that caught my imagination as a child.

notwilight

Perhaps you can follow 1798's lead and focus on one year (although reading his posts it is clear he collects, or at least is knowledgeable on, many other vintages). If you choose 1794 I have a couple of duplicate Sheldon varieties I could be talked into selling. Note that I said duplicate varieties within the year, not duplicates of the year...so you can see what you're getting yourself into. Walter Husak is selling his finest know sheldon collection (1793 to 1814). IIRC, he is the only guy to put together a complete sheldon set--twice. --Jerry

Here is one of my favorite newer cents: