Looking for a book on Large Cent and Half Cent die marriages and varieties ...but everything is out

Tookybandit

So what do I do? Does anyone know where I can find copies of helpful text.

BillJones

Try Charles Davis if he is on the web.

So far half cents are concerned, I'd go with the second edition of Roger Cohen's "Little Half Sisters" book with the yellow cover. It is smaller and easier to use than Breen. It's also easier to carry to a show.

For large cents there have several editions of Sheldon's book which is a classic. The Breen large cent book is good, but it is big and heavy.

If you want spend the bucks you can buy both of each book. I'm just giving you my choices if I was going to only own one of each. I have all of them.

Tookybandit

Awesome, thank you Bill!

Walkerguy21D

I love the Breen/Borchardt book for the early date large cents.....I have Noyes for the middle dates, which is Ok for attributing, but
lacking other info. I also have the Lapp book, which is quite old, but has a lot of interesting info in it.

To add - keep an eye out for auction catalogs too - some of the major complete LC collections (Dan Holmes, among others) have been on the market in recent years, and the catalogs have photos and info of all the varieties.

indeetlib

My references of choice for Large Cents are the Noyes volumes for early and middle dates (1793-1814 and 1816-1839). They are pricy, but well worth it if you are into the series. You can purchase them here among other places. For late date Large Cents (1840-1857), you'll need a copy of Grellman which you should be able to get from Tom Deck here and probably other places as well.

For Half Cents, I use both the Cohen book mentioned by BillJones and Breen's encyclopedia.

Also check out the Dan Holmes Large Cent catalogs on Goldberg's site for early, middle, and late dates. They are superb and I reference them just as often as I do the books. And the best part is they're free.

RichieURich

<< <i>My references of choice for Large Cents are the Noyes volumes for early and middle dates (1793-1814 and 1816-1839). They are pricy, but well worth it if you are into the series. You can purchase them here among other places. For late date Large Cents (1840-1857), you'll need a copy of Grellman which you should be able to get from Tom Deck here and probably other places as well.

For Half Cents, I use both the Cohen book mentioned by BillJones and Breen's encyclopedia.

Also check out the Dan Holmes Large Cent catalogs on Goldberg's site for early, middle, and late dates. They are superb and I reference them just as often as I do the books. And the best part is they're free. >>



I agree with the above except I use Noyes for the late dates instead of Grellman. Reason is that Noyes has photos of the varieties and Grellman has drawings, and the drawings only show certain parts of the coin (many of the drawings don't show the date, for example). I also use the Breen Half Cent Encyclopedia as I find it to be a bit better for me than Cohen. You might also get a catalog of the Missouri Collection sold by Goldberg earlier this year, as that collection was complete and the catalog is well-photographed (as is the case for every Goldberg catalog) and the coins and the pics are awesome.

Tookybandit

Sa'weet! this is super helpful!

DeliaBug

In addition to everything mentioned there are also a few other works to consider:

Sheldon's book is called Early American Cents, the second edition is called Penny Whimsy.
Manley's Half Cent Die State Book
Wright's CENT Book on middle dates

Superior's Cohen catalogue (his reference collection)
Heritage's Wes Rassmussen catalogue
Superior's Robinson Brown catalogue
Bowers & Ruddy John Adams FPL for 1794 large cents
Kagin's Van Cleave catalogue
Superior's Naftzger sales

If you want to get into earlier material there are works by Andrews, Newcomb, Clapp, Frossard, Maris, Gilbert, Doughty, etc. Most have been superseded and all are pricey.

Purfrock

<< <i>

<< <i>I agree with the above except I use Noyes for the late dates instead of Grellman. Reason is that Noyes has photos of the varieties and Grellman has drawings, and the drawings only show certain parts of the coin (many of the drawings don't show the date, for example). I also use the Breen Half Cent Encyclopedia as I find it to be a bit better for me than Cohen. You might also get a catalog of the Missouri Collection sold by Goldberg earlier this year, as that collection was complete and the catalog is well-photographed (as is the case for every Goldberg catalog) and the coins and the pics are awesome. >>



I understand your point on the pictures versus drawings, but I'm a big fan of Grellman's reference. His drawings are clear and his explanations concise for the late date large cents. I use this along with the Dan Holmes (and other) photographs, as noted by Indeetlib.

Cocoinut

Before the Cohen book on half cents was first published in January 1982, I used a reprint of a 1916 booklet by Ebenezer Gilbert. The photo plates are not of very good quality, but I paid just 50 cents for it back in the '70's, and the verbal descriptions are helpful. The Cohen book, however, is my first choice.

Jim

Barndog

Noyes two volume set is my choice too.

Coinosaurus

I like Noyes for large cents. Large color pictures, you just find the right one and match it up. I watched a 12-year old use it (OK, he was a really smart 12-year old, but you get the idea).