Recent pick-ups, three cents and a Hard Times Token
BillJones
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It took a while, but I finally received the lots I won in a recent StacksBowers auction. Three of lots where cents, which furthered my "one cent per year collection, 1793 to 2025" and one was a upgrade for a fairly scarce Hard Times Token. I now have four large cent dates left to go.
This 1807 cent is supposed to be a common date among the early large cents, but for some reason, I have never owned one over 65 years as a collector. This one is graded EF-45.
The 1811 is a better date. I owned one in Poor when I was kid, which barely showed the date. This one is VF-25. You can spend on fortune on this date, and I didn't want to do that. This one, as well as the 1807 and the Hard Times Token were in the late Dick August's collection. I knew Dick when I lived in New England. He and I traded coins and tokens over the years.
Dick had a good eye for copper, and this piece is no exception. It has a fair amount of wear, but the surfaces are smooth and "hard" which means there is no corrosion.
The third piece completed my "album set" Flying Eagle and Indian Cents. It is an 1858 Large Letters Flying Eagle Cent in MS-64. I thought that I would fill this spot with ease at either the big September Tampa show or Winter FUN. I was wrong. I ran into a lot overgraded coins, and some pieces in MS-65 and 66 holders. The price goes way up in MS-65, and some of those coins didn't make the grade. The worst one I saw was graded MS-66. My grade was MS-64. This one turned out to be better than I thought it would be from the pictures on-line. It's got lots of luster with the usual marks one would expect for the MS-64 grade.
The last piece is a fairly scarce Hard Times Token, listed in Rulau as HT-14, A.K.A. Low-6. I had one that I had bought from Dick August over 30 years ago. At the time he sold it to me, he said that the one he was keeping was only "a little better." I think that this may have been that piece. This variety is rated as an R-5, 31 to 75 known.
I was only going to buy this "if the price was right," and oddly enough it was. I thought that it would sell for more. PCGS graded this AU-58.
And here is the piece I bought from Dick August many years ago.
Many collectors think of Hard Times tokens as pieces that are like large cents. This scarcer piece is smaller and lighter and made is made of brass, not pure copper.
Comments
Nice coins.
[edited since fixed]
Very handsome metal disks you acquired there!
And I love the strike and ‘look’ of your Flying Eagle
30+ years coin shop experience (ret.) Coins, bullion, currency, scrap & interesting folks. Loved every minute!
Nice copper as expected from you, Bill.
The 1805 is a good looking coin, but the 1811 is the one I’m really impressed with. The Classic heads in general are tough to find decent in the middle grades, but the ‘09 and ‘11 are exceptionally difficult.
I will have to change that.
FIXED!
Great purchases
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Yes, I would love to find an 1809 that looks the same as that 1811. Ditto for a choice VF 1806.
I had an 1806 in VF with a few marks people didn’t like when I was a dealer. I sold it for a loss. I wish I had kept it. The thought passed through my mind at the time.
Oh, that kind of three cents...
Young Numismatist • My Toned Coins
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Love the idea of "one cent per year collection" and love that Flying Eagle!!!!!!
Very nice group of additions to your coollection. NPI. Great Classic Head Cent. Hard to find in that grade, especially at a reasoable price. Congrats.
Jim
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The FE cent really has much better luster than is typically seen on this issue, in my opinion. The HTTs are terrific and I think it is wonderful that you might have found the companion piece from the late Dick August's collection.
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
Interesting that you mention the 1806…I’ve submitted a fair number of early and middle date cents, and one of only two that received details grades was an 1806, for what I assume was a couple of marks they didn’t like. Frustrating as it’s a tough coin in VF, and I’ve seen plenty of early large cents with worse issues in straight grade holders.
A number of nice acquisitions but that 1807 cent is a stand-out. Always appreciate that you share your collecting journey.
"Look up, old boy, and see what you get." -William Bonney.
Beautiful copper... as always! I especially like the 1811... super tough to find with a nice planchet and pleasing color.
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For those collectors who might be thinking about acquiring one or more Classic Head Cents (1808-14), these coins are hard to find in straight graded holders. Many of them get "details" grades with notes like "environmental damage."
It has long been said that the copper in these pieces is softer and more easily worn. I'm not sure that is totally true, but the overall mintage for the type is lower than it is for the Draped Bust Cents which preceded them. All of the planchets for these coins were imported from England.
This piece is graded AU-58, and it is the best Classic Head Cent I have. One might wish to get the whole set in this condition, but that would be very difficult and expensive. The 1812 and 1814 are the two most common dates.