Which 1857 large cent would y'all pick?

ElmerFusterpuck

First one is in an NGC AU-58 holder. The cent is nice but IMHO is overgraded; I'd give maybe a 50.






The second one is a PCGS AU-55 example. One of the few I've seen with decent luster. Not sure what the stain is composed of, but to me it's not awful.

Cocoinut

There's no question about it - the PCGS AU55 is the better coin.

Jim

TPRC

I don't love the stain, but I'd pick the second one.

EricSan

I like the PCGS AU55 better, but find the stain on the obv a bit distracting. The 55 still has lots of mint luster to it and the crud in the lettering on the rev indicates that the stain is likely not from being dipped or cleaned in the past.

GoldClause

Honestly, don't like either of them.

golden

<< <i>Honestly, don't like either of them. >>

BigNateBoy

I like them both

agentjim007

#2 in a heartbeat. #1 is shiny, been worked on.

TAMU15

neither but if they were free and i got to pick one i would choose number 2

shorecoll

I agree with TAMU. I wouldn't pay full retail for either, from those pics.

DorkGirl

I'd keep looking.

OldEastside

Between the two I'd pick 2, don't like the stain though

Steve

Broadstruck

Number 2 is the better cent, but I wouldn't purchase either.

renomedphys

Honestly, I think you should go for the proof

LindeDad

I'm with keep looking crowd both have that uneven enough appearances to say pass.

illini420

I'd probably keep looking, but I couldn't live with that stain on the PCGS coin. I don't like it now and I know I wouldn't like it if I owned it for awhile. The NGC looks ok to me, even if a bit overgraded and I can live with that if the coin were priced accordingly.

tightbudget

2 is slightly better, but I'd keep looking if possible

messydesk

<< <i>Honestly, don't like either of them. >>


This.

tydye

I agree - pass on both

lkenefic

The color on the first one looks off to me and I don't like the stain on the second (although I do like the details)... since 1857 isn't that difficult of a date to find nice, I'd pass...

roadrunner

The AU58 looks like an XF45 compared to the AU55. I too would suggest waiting for a better specimen.

roadrunner

ElmerFusterpuck

Thanks for the input everyone, I can take the bad with the good! For some reason, 1857 has been a jinx year for me. Most examples I run across seem to have some sort of problems. I do own the 2 coins pictured and also have a 3rd one (small date) that looks nice but resides in an EF-45 ANACS Cleaned holder (bought it raw for $30 ages ago). Even the ones that haven't been cleaned have had very mediocre strikes (even the 45 to 58 examples), or just lack the look I liked. Even though the PCGS example has the stain, i bought it for the sharpness of the strike and the luster, which to me outweigh the negatives. I'm sure another nice one will rear its head in the future, but for now I'll sit on the PCGS AU-55 and keep the others for trade or future sales.

Now I'm waiting for a PCGS VF-35 CAC 1848 seated half to come in the mail! That's a date I never see anywhere.

IrishMikey

Copper is so much fun! I owned a really nice AU-58 1857 Large Date many years ago that I think I bought
from Tom Reynolds. It was very sharply struck, with beautiful chocolate brown color and no staining or
discolorations. I made the mistake of showing it to another copper collector, who managed to talk me out
of it a few months later. One of those coins that I really regret selling, as I have never found a decent
replacement.

GoldenEyeNumismatics

The PCGS AU55 is an Unc that was net graded due to the stain.

Unknown

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HoledandCreative

<< <i>The PCGS AU55 is an Unc that was net graded due to the stain. >>

atarian

Id pass on both . In a free market #2. Id look for a coin in the AU to low MS grade with a nice rich chocolate color with minimum color tone green blue color. Deep chocolate color speaks more to me.

Trime

EF,
People collect with equal enthusiasm atdifferentprice levels and thus grades.
Nether coin suits my eyes,
The AU 58 is overgraded in my opinion and the AU55 coin with stainis are very unattrctive but preferred if I were to make a choice
Both can be replaced with better examples possibly at a similar price.
Happy Hunting

BillJones

I'd keep looking. You can find this coin without the stain. It's not an impossible date by any means. It's just tougher than other dates in the 1850.

Here's mine, and it's raw. My grade is MS-64, Brown




And here's one that was in my collection for many years. My grade was EF-40. The sharpness grade was EF-45, but it had some marks on the edge that you can't see in the picture. They didn't amount to much and would have been hidden in a non-prong slab.

MikeInFL

While this date is harder than the other 1850's, it's not so tough as I would accept either one of the two coins posted by the OP -- I would wait for a better specimen.

Here's a coin I used to own (PCGS 64 RB):



While technically (and IMO) a very high end RB coin, I could never get past the obverse discoloration.

Here's a PCGS 58, for comparison sake:



p.s. Bill, I really like that small date.

agentjim007

I like the AU55 and would buy if priced right. That picture is huge, bet the stain is not that bad.

Walkerguy21D

Leave it to Bill to post a couple of monsters!
The date is low mintage and popular, but they are around.
I would agree that I don't see a plethora of primo examples around though.
Keep the one you like the best for now, sell the others, and when that super choice one comes up, jump on it.

291fifth

Avoid the coin with the stain ... period!

Buy the NGC coin, but only if it is priced right ... it is not 58 by my standards.

joecopper

I would keep looking for a nice problem free coin.