My First Purchase of 2023 - 1794 C5a (R.4) Half Cent

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I do not have a large coin collection. Still, I made a promise to myself that I was not going to buy coins that did not align with my collecting goals. Despite seeing many beauties at several local/regional shows this year, I walked out empty handed. This was very challenging for me, because I can be easily seduced by the neat, cool, or just beautiful coins. The money starts to burn a hole in my pocket, and I can get impulsive and start to rationalize buying coins without purpose. However, I know that even smaller purchases can push my coin goals beyond reach... so, I successfully resisted and I am glad I did.

I was able to recently purchase this 1794 C5a Half Cent (PGCS XF40/EAC VF30). I do not have it in hand yet, but I am thrilled that I was able to strike a deal on this coin. This coin came from the Jim McGuigan collection, and was preceded in ownership by Michael Demling and Gene Braig. I love the clash under the chin that identifies this coin as a rare late die state (Manley 2.0) example also.


I am a newer collector (started April 2020), and I primarily focus on U.S. Half Cents and Type Coins. Early copper is my favorite.

Comments

  • Jimnight
    Jimnight Posts: 10,846 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Nice one!

  • Nysoto
    Nysoto Posts: 3,833 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Awesome coin.

    Robert Scot: Engraving Liberty - biography of US Mint's first chief engraver
  • Catbert
    Catbert Posts: 8,258 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Very nice!

    Seated Half Society member #38

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  • Omegaraptor
    Omegaraptor Posts: 541 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Congratulations! That is a truly amazing coin. It is nice to see someone who loves the Liberty Cap Half Cents - they are one of the more overlooked early types along with the very early half dimes and dimes.

    "You can't get just one gun." "You can't get just one tattoo." "You can't get just one 1796 Draped Bust Large Cent."

  • NeophyteNumismatist
    NeophyteNumismatist Posts: 1,117 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Thanks all - I am very excited. I can't really believe I got it.... Here are the sellers pics:


    I am a newer collector (started April 2020), and I primarily focus on U.S. Half Cents and Type Coins. Early copper is my favorite.

  • BryceM
    BryceM Posts: 11,940 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Fantastic coin. Enjoy it!

  • coinbuf
    coinbuf Posts: 12,577 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Are you sure you can handle the truth. ;):D In all seriousness that looks like a wonderful coin congrats!

    My Lincoln Registry
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    Never a slave to one plastic brand will I ever be.
  • NeophyteNumismatist
    NeophyteNumismatist Posts: 1,117 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @coinbuf said:
    Are you sure you can handle the truth. ;):D In all seriousness that looks like a wonderful coin congrats!

    Thanks. Once she is in my hands with her new friends, I will be a true believer. :D

    I am a newer collector (started April 2020), and I primarily focus on U.S. Half Cents and Type Coins. Early copper is my favorite.

  • PeakRarities
    PeakRarities Posts: 4,858 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    That looks like a wholesome coin with honest wear, nice color, and pleasing surfaces. I really like it, congrats brotha!

    Founder- Peak Rarities
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  • dsessom
    dsessom Posts: 2,481 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    That is one of the better examples that I have seen recently in the EF/XF range, and it's beautiful. Congratulations on that score!

    Best regards,
    Dwayne F. Sessom
    Ebay ID: V-Nickel-Coins
    My V Nickel Registry Set - https://pcgs.com/setregistry/alltimeset/71874
  • pursuitofliberty
    pursuitofliberty Posts: 7,927 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    What a fantastic example! Congratulations!!

    Your patience and persistence paid off, for sure!


    “We are only their care-takers,” he posed, “if we take good care of them, then centuries from now they may still be here … ”

    Todd - BHNC #242
  • NeophyteNumismatist
    NeophyteNumismatist Posts: 1,117 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @dsessom and @DeplorableDan - Thanks. Collecting early copper is tricky, because there are so many problem coins in straight graded XF holders. So many coins that exhibit granularity/porosity in grades including AU. Recoloring becomes the main problem in MS grades. Also, the series is chronically over graded IMO. It's been a great series for my numismatic education, and I really love it.

    I am a newer collector (started April 2020), and I primarily focus on U.S. Half Cents and Type Coins. Early copper is my favorite.

  • dsessom
    dsessom Posts: 2,481 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    So many coins that exhibit granularity/porosity in grades including AU.

    I noticed that as well. A very high number of early copper coins have porosity, so I guess that a lot of them are found with metal detectors and dug up? It's pretty rare to see clean, problem free examples.

    Best regards,
    Dwayne F. Sessom
    Ebay ID: V-Nickel-Coins
    My V Nickel Registry Set - https://pcgs.com/setregistry/alltimeset/71874
  • PeakRarities
    PeakRarities Posts: 4,858 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @NeophyteNumismatist said:
    @dsessom and @DeplorableDan - Thanks. Collecting early copper is tricky, because there are so many problem coins in straight graded XF holders. So many coins that exhibit granularity/porosity in grades including AU. Recoloring becomes the main problem in MS grades. Also, the series is chronically over graded IMO. It's been a great series for my numismatic education, and I really love it.

    Yup, I’ve heard the same thing. Frequently, I’ve seen @Walkerguy21D refer to the “EAC guys”. I messaged him directly to ask what the deal was, and he graciously informed me of how the they assign their own net grade in addition to a coins tpg grade dependent on porosity, spots and whatnot. I was quite confused, and I know very little about copper coinage. I wish I had more time to study different series, but the gold keeps me plenty busy as it is. When I have more free time in the future I wouldn’t mind playing in the early copper sandbox.

    Founder- Peak Rarities
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  • NeophyteNumismatist
    NeophyteNumismatist Posts: 1,117 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    We are opposites. I would love to dabble in gold, but... every time I can afford a gold piece I buy a copper coin. You are the inverse... That's fun!

    I am a newer collector (started April 2020), and I primarily focus on U.S. Half Cents and Type Coins. Early copper is my favorite.

  • burfle23
    burfle23 Posts: 2,674 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @NeophyteNumismatist said:
    Thanks all - I am very excited. I can't really believe I got it.... Here are the sellers pics:

    Shawn is an awesome Dealer and friend.

  • Tremendous coin!
    Your patients and self control is definitely something I admire.
    Congratulations

  • kaz
    kaz Posts: 9,378 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Beautiful coin! I really like the smooth, hard surfaces.

  • golden
    golden Posts: 10,538 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Nice coin!

  • NeophyteNumismatist
    NeophyteNumismatist Posts: 1,117 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Thanks all.

    @burfle23, I don't know Shawn, but he was great to deal with. I look forward to the coin. Glad to know I am dealing with good people, but I had that feeling anyway.

    I am a newer collector (started April 2020), and I primarily focus on U.S. Half Cents and Type Coins. Early copper is my favorite.

  • Omegaraptor
    Omegaraptor Posts: 541 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @dsessom said:

    So many coins that exhibit granularity/porosity in grades including AU.

    I noticed that as well. A very high number of early copper coins have porosity, so I guess that a lot of them are found with metal detectors and dug up? It's pretty rare to see clean, problem free examples.

    This is true. My only Liberty Cap Half Cent, a 1797, has the sharpness of a VF but is heavily corroded. I believe it was almost certainly dropped in the ground in the early 1800s and found by a detectorist fairly recently.

    "You can't get just one gun." "You can't get just one tattoo." "You can't get just one 1796 Draped Bust Large Cent."

  • jesbroken
    jesbroken Posts: 11,253 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    My what a most beautiful coin. I love the half cents and have many but no Liberty Caps, yet. That would be a stellar piece in most collections. Congrats. My 1802 Large Cent has a quite similar die clash which is a key diagnostic for it also. Thanks for sharing.
    Jim


    When a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, he will either quit being mistaken or cease to be honest....Abraham Lincoln

    Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.....Mark Twain
  • keyman64
    keyman64 Posts: 15,650 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Nice one, congrats!

    "If it's not fun, it's not worth it." - KeyMan64
    Not really looking for much these days but if I were, it might be a toner. :smile:
  • Walkerguy21D
    Walkerguy21D Posts: 12,165 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    That is a very choice early half cent!

    Successful BST transactions with 177 members. breakdown, scotty1419, mattniss, bigjpst, onlyroosies, Manorcourtman, guitarwes, Ebeneezer, Tonedeaf, Shane6596, Piano1, Ikenefic, RG, PCGSPhoto, stman, Don'tTelltheWife, Boosibri, Ron1968, snowequities, VTchaser, jrt103, SurfinxHI, 78saen, bp777, FHC, RYK, JTHawaii, Opportunity, Kliao, bigtime36, skanderbeg, split37, thebigeng, acloco, Toninginthblood, OKCC, braddick, Coinflip, robcool, fastfreddie, tightbudget, DBSTrader2, nickelsciolist, relaxn, Eagle eye, soldi, silverman68, ElKevvo, sawyerjosh, Schmitz7, talkingwalnut2, konsole, sharkman987, sniocsu, comma, jesbroken, David1234, biosolar, Sullykerry, Moldnut, erwindoc, MichaelDixon, GotTheBug
  • oih82w8
    oih82w8 Posts: 13,212 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Amazing piece of history!

    oih82w8 = Oh I Hate To Wait _defectus patientia_aka...Dr. Defecto - Curator of RMO's

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  • cheezhed
    cheezhed Posts: 6,409 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Waiting certainly paid off. Lovely coin.

    Many happy BST transactions
  • Eddi
    Eddi Posts: 633 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    A beautiful (and scarce!) 1794 half cent. Congratulations.

    My own example of a 1794 half cent is the more common C-9.

  • JimTyler
    JimTyler Posts: 4,101 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Over 200 years old and no one broke out the Brillo pad, amazing.

  • TennesseeDave
    TennesseeDave Posts: 4,916 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Very nice example. Thanks for sharing her with us.

    Trade $'s
  • ricko
    ricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @NeophyteNumismatist ... That is a very nice early copper coin... with the magical date that starts with 17..... Cheers, RickO

  • NeophyteNumismatist
    NeophyteNumismatist Posts: 1,117 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited February 4, 2023 11:36AM
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    Thanks all. The coin arrived today, and I have bee waiting for the mailman like a puppy. I opened it right away, and I am thrilled with it. The pics are good in representing the wear, but the color is very even and smooth. It is obvious that this coin has been loved throughout its life, and has been brushed when it needed it. It's better than I thought it would be. <3

    I am a newer collector (started April 2020), and I primarily focus on U.S. Half Cents and Type Coins. Early copper is my favorite.

  • baseballjeff
    baseballjeff Posts: 1,085 ✭✭✭
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    Wow! Nice coin! Patience sure paid off for you on that one!!! Nice!

  • asheland
    asheland Posts: 24,548 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Congratulations! That’s a great coin!

  • Mr_Spud
    Mr_Spud Posts: 7,277 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Very nice!

    Mr_Spud

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