Who Here Is The Classic Head Half Cent Expert?
smokincoin
Posts: 2,636 ✭✭✭
smokincoin
Posts: 2,636 ✭✭✭
smokincoin
Posts: 2,636 ✭✭✭
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What's your question?
There probably aren't that many deceptive fakes out there. Sure, there may be some, but that is not a series I would worry much about fakes. Contemporary fakes aren't that plentiful because it was, after all, the smallest denomination struck by the US mint, and modern fakers tend to spend their energies more on gold coins or key date Morgan dollars or other more widely-collected things.
The Chinese are getting scary with their counterfeiting skills, and have been known to fake anything and everything, but even they tend towards the larger silver coins.
I wouldn't worry too much about it. I would, however, concentrate on picking a nice original coin with natural color and good eye appeal.
You like the design?
It's OK, but like the Draped Bust design much better, from a pure artistic standpoint.
Of course, I like all half cents, regardless of the design.
The Classic Head half cents (unlike their larger Classic Head large cent big sisters) are readily obtainable in nice grades. You should be able to get an XF or AU coin if you do not desire Mint State. The proof restrikes are bloody expensive, of course.
Didn't wanna get me no trade
Never want to be like papa
Working for the boss every night and day
--"Happy", by the Rolling Stones (1972)
Tom Reynolds
Chris McCawley
<< <i>These dealers are at the top of the pile for expertise and having quality half cents:
Tom Reynolds
Chris McCawley >>
I second those recommendations! Great guys.
The only Classic Head Half Cent that I've heard of being counterfeited is the 1811, but I've never seen one. I collect Half Cents by date for now.
My OmniCoin Collection
My BankNoteBank Collection
Tom, formerly in Albuquerque, NM.
The most common early date is the 1809. There are 6 varieties. One is quite scarce. The most common one is the "overdate" 9 over 6, which actually a normal 9 over an upside down 9. The "circle inside of the zero" variety is not rare, but hard to find in high grade. Check you Red Book to see these varieties.
The 1810 is scarcer than people think. The two 1811 varieties are both scarce and very hard to find in VF or better with smooth surfaces. For once the excuse “struck on a porous planchet” might apply because the mint was using the dregs of what was left over just to get rid of them.
Among the later dates (1825 to 1835), the 1828 is the most common. The 12 star 1828 is not rare. It's a blundered die where the die sinker forgot to take an accurate count of the stars. There are a fair number of Mint State 1828 coins around from a hoard that cropped up over a century ago.
The 1835 is also common in Mint state once more from a hoard. There are two varieties of 1835. The 1829 is slightly scarce.
It's rare to find any of the dates from 1825 to 1836 in less than Choice VF. These coins were not popular and did not circulate well.
Counterfeits have not been a big problem with these coins. The most commonly seen counterfeits were altered dates when they tried to change the date to 1831 or 1836. Usually these things are pretty obvious. I did once see one on ebay years ago. When I told the seller, he responded that he had "a liberal return policy," as if that helps.
There’s a start. Please post any more questions you might have. I’m doing this all from memory because I’m away from home and don’t have any access to my library.
This 1826 has a corrected date. The die sinker started it too far to the right and then scratched it out. That's why you see the marks in that spot. It's mint caused. This variety is always very sharply struck with lots of great detail. This coin is in an NGC MS-64, Brown holder. I believe that this is an 1826 Cohen 1, but I could be wrong on that. (No book with me and it's been more than 10 years since I've been die variety collector.)
This 1835 is the most common variety of all in Mint State. This coin is in an NGC MS-63, brown holder. I got hosed. This coin is a solid MS-64, Brown and really PQ for the grade.
<< <i>Wow! Thanks so much! I just returned from my local B&M, Ken Jones to be exact, and he had none, zero, nada. No classic head half or large cents at all. Looking at the coins provided by DoctorPaper, thank you, I want a large cent as well. Looks like a show's happening here in Jan. If any of you guys are coming please bring me those classic head half & large cents.
The Classic Head large cent is MANY TIMES harder to find nice than the half cent. Here are two pieces, both are dated 1814, from my collection:
I actually like this one better, but it won't grade because they claim it has been re-colored: