Was told this coin was 130 years off the market…
renomedphys
Posts: 3,760 ✭✭✭✭✭
… until today! Man, I love a story like that. But you know what? I love the coin even more!
So this beauty will for now represent the plain edge Lib Cap type in my collection, as well as a rep for the 1796 date which for almost all US coins, is tough.
Any thoughts on grade? Without looking it up I mean. How about EAC grade?
53
Comments
AU55? wag
Really nice… congrats
Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.
So what is the story?
Holy Cow! Is that some mint red faded around the lettering on the reverse?
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
61
God bless all who believe in him. Do unto others what you expect to be done to you. Dubbed a "Committee Secret Agent" by @mr1931S on 7/23/24. Founding member of CU Anti-Troll League since 9/24/24.
NICE Matt! AU55?
“The thrill of the hunt never gets old”
PCGS Registry: Screaming Eagles
Copperindian
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That’s a moose of a ‘96!
Very nice!
Damn, Congrats!
"When they can't find anything wrong with you, they create it!"
I did look it up. That is an impressive example for the grade. I believe EAC would go EF45. You should be very proud to add that to your collection.
The title brought me here, but the coin is keeping me here. Wow that’s excellent. My guess is worthless in this type but I’ll go 58 to 63.
I grade it “Glorious!”
Screw the numbers.
AU55
EAC 45
Mike
My Indians
Dansco Set
MS63
EAC 55
11.5$ Southern Dollars, The little “Big Easy” set
Y’all’s is close! Its grades AU58+/CAC and Tom Reynolds and I agree it’s an EAC 55!
I need to do some legwork on the back story. I kinda took the well known and reputable dealer’s word and plan to follow up. More on that when I know particulars.
All’s I can say is I didn’t need the story when I saw the coin. It’s the real deal. I’m stoked.
Empty Nest Collection
if it didn't have that touch of wear, what MS grade would you give it?
Yes! And on the obverse above the hair!
62+/63 by PCGS standards. Maybe call it an EAC 60? It could have been brushed and a probably layer of light oil added to the surface at some time in the past.
Empty Nest Collection
Impressed. Wow!.
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
A dream coin indeed! Beautiful!
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That’s a great coin!
Mr_Spud
I'd like to know how it was stored all that time as well as how many people had actually seen it (I don't think it saw the light of day very often).
Fantastic coin!
I've been told I tolerate fools poorly...that may explain things if I have a problem with you. Current ebay items - Nothing at the moment
She is a thing of beauty congrats!!!
Wow!
I would 58 that.
EAC I don"t know how they grade, they play in a different ballpark with 500 ft fences.
That’s a beautiful large cent! Thanks for sharing.
1TwoBits
MS63, minimum. Amazing coin! Wow.
I knew it would happen.
Fabulous Large Cent. Not a copper guy, but I’d say she’s a solid AU55.
That’s a beautiful coin Matt. Congratulations!
Nice coin Matt. Congratulations!
Wow! That is a stunner. Never know what is still hiding out there.
Collector
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Judged by the cert number the coin should be graded 55.
"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety," --- Benjamin Franklin
Now, now! He said without looking it up.
outstanding ... congratulations !
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@CaptHenway, did you look at the cert number in the OP TrueView image --- 49855557!!
"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety," --- Benjamin Franklin
Ah! Gotcha!
Edited to add: Obviously they were grading both the front and the back, as everybody should do!
Amazing '96
A museum aquisition for sure
Congrats!
"Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working" Pablo Picasso
P 58 EAC 50?
Die state III?
Incredible. Thanks for sharing. Was this one of the Kosoff coins?
is there a sheldon number for this?
Sure is a beauty. Congratulations on your purchase!
Dead Cat Waltz Exonumia
"Coin collecting for outcasts..."
Okay so far what I have is this: the coin was owned by a well known magician named Foster Lardner. His family kept his collection after he died in 1934. He is mentioned here on NNP:
https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/PersonDetail/1197
And again here:
https://geniimagazine.com/wiki/index.php?title=Foster_Lardner
And here:
https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https://www.wildabouthoudini.com/2023/10/foster-lardner-man-on-platform.html?m=1&data=05|02||f85d037093c34b5d506108dd372b79c4|84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa|1|0|638727382059720344|Unknown|TWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ==|0|||&sdata=2lWObRqQib3zI1Ey/A2PdJfk/1+tY6U+DtTCsU05Lhs=&reserved=0
Sorry my linking skills could be brushed up. Anyways, that’s all I know so far. Apparently the coins were bought at a local auction in Manchester NH and sold to my dealer, and the accompanying documentation wasn’t taken at the original sale. I’m still totally in the dark as to what year and where this coin might have been acquired by Mr Lardner.
Empty Nest Collection
Sounds like an all-round decent fellow. Besides the nice little writeup on him in this month's The Numismatist, if you go to the ANA website archive pages for The Numismatist and do a search for "Lardner" you will get many pages of results, though many of them are just listings on the masthead as a member of the Board of Governors.
I love a background story when I buy a nice coins. I don’t even care if they lie 🤪
Dream piece…Congrats!!
Sometimes, it’s better to be LUCKY than good. 🍀 🍺👍
My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947):
https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive-sets/16292/
Wow, it's been a few months since I logged on... and what a special treat! Thanks for sharing...
As for grade... easy AU55 and low MS wouldn't shock me. Beautiful...
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My WAG without looking it up is MS 64 brown. GREAT looking coin. THANKS for sharing that beautiful piece of history!
Okay, as it turns out this coin was auctioned by Jones and Horan on October 10, 2024. Here’s the link:
https://www.archive.jones-horan.com/?auction=All&searchfor=1796+cent&sort_by=date&limitnbr=300&Submit=Search#top
We all got to see these coins at the ANA last August, and one of them in particular (a DCAM-looking half cent) caused a lot of hubbub on the bourse floor. I do recall seeing these coins and had even considered bidding on an 1814 plain 4 for my Classic Head set, but somehow this beauty didn’t end up on my list. To be sure, everyone there including myself couldn’t take their eyes off the proof half cent.
So I guess all of those coins from that collection were certainly “off the market” for at least 90 years and most likely more. And I’m still totally in the dark about how or from whom this coin was acquired by Lardner. For now it would seem the best bet for provenance would be Foster Lardner and maybe one day I will have it reholdered as such 👍🏻
Empty Nest Collection
Wow! What a great coin!! Congratulations.
My WAG on grades would be PCGS AU55 and EAC 45
“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
this is a beautiful cent.
Easy to covet. Hard to resist.
Wow, love it, congrats, looks 55 to me, post the slab when you get it, our hosts I assume?
FWIW, I would not be surprised at 58 , its just not MS.
(unsure on EAC)