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Half/Large Cents. Tuition or cherries?
Coinscratch
Posts: 9,832 ✭✭✭✭✭
I called one of my favorite antique dealers Yesterday and he said he had some really nice mint sets & raw coins...
For him to say "really nice" must mean something. So I feel asleep last night dreaming about @TomB 's awesome 54 Washy and how cool this day was gonna be. Couldn't wait to see those old mint sets.
When I arrived today he only had a few proof sets but plenty of old copper that I happen to know nothing about.
But I was too worked up at this point and so I picked what I thought were the best of the bunch.
Priced between 50 and 160 each I'm all in at 1050.00.
Was this another tuition payment or did I get lucky?
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I am inclined to say that it was tuition (and I really hope someone that knows more than I do will tell you differently) if the ones that you posted are for which you paid over $1,000.
100%. Please prove us wrong though as perhaps there is a scarce variety I am not seeing? Otherwise, cleaned mostly and damaged, some.
I just don't see 1K+ in value overall.
peacockcoins
I'm curious on the counter stamped one. Some are interesting, fwiw
a quick assessment for you against the price guide (one man's quick opinion)
1800 g4 120
1833 mounted 75 (net g4)
1835 30 160
40 190
1840 12 65
1847 30 70
40 130
1849 30 85
1850 30 75
1851 40 85
1853 40 100
1854 damaged 47 (net 12)
972 at higher values ... I have seen worse tuitions. If you like them for the price ... decent score.
Top 10 Cal Fractional Type Set
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OK, well if nothing else I can fill a couple holes on my new 7070.
Then possibly unload the rest for a minimal loss.
Many of these appear to have been cleaned and/or have other issues, so the prices at the low end of the ranges above, or perhaps even lower, are probably closer to the true values.
But I love early copper, so hang in there!
I love early copper too, but this looks like tuition to me too. They all look like Details coins.
Keep the Faith...
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Oh Yea, always Iken.
Thanks for the lesson guys.
Some of them look like the old "skunk piss" may darken them up a bit for selling...............
"When they can't find anything wrong with you, they create it!"
Lots of problem coins that are now your problem.
I like the overstamped one!
Problem coins, tuition.
They look to have environmental damage.
Bro thats unecessarily harsh.
God comes first in everything I do. I’m dedicated to serving Him with my whole life. Coin collecting is just a hobby—but even in that, I seek to honor Him. ✝️
I still have that stuff bro!
Same. And It's currently on sale for 45
40...
I plead the fifth
Here's the inside skinny. At the time I knew I was most likely buying problem coins but I liked them enough to take a chance. I didn't have nor did he the time to open each capsule and inspect or ridicule each coin. The money went to a good cause this guy is easily in his mid 80s, barely gets around yet opens and closes that store almost everyday not to mention he's a great guy. It was 10:30 am and I had to pick my son up at noon, early release day and he had to take his wife to the doctor after taking himself the day before.
So you see at the end of the day everybody won.
Unfortunately, it's a bit blunt but accurate. Almost all of them have problems. I would put the max value at $400 or so.
Faith, Hope & finally, Charity.
It’s the old gent who got Lucky
30+ years coin shop experience (ret.) Coins, bullion, currency, scrap & interesting folks. Loved every minute!
Can we all agree though your photography is top-notch.
I could only wish to shoot photos even close to yours.
peacockcoins
You spent the day looking at old coins and brought some home. Sounds like a win to me. James
No shame. Your honesty seals your credibility. When someone owns a mistake it makes my mistakes easier to accept. Thanks.
I lucked out with an antique dealer once - in 1958 sight-seen. Too much info readily available now.
Thanks! And if I could see as good as that camera we might not be having this conversation.
The N. J. Tracy countermark is pretty common, but adds a little bit of interest and maybe value. From Stack's-Bowers: "One of the great unsolved mysteries in counterstamps is the hallmark of N.J. TRACY, which exists in two forms, curved (rare) and in a straight line. Many dozens of specimens are known, indicating a large original production. Tracy probably worked in soft metal and was a silversmith, pewterer, or coppersmith, although no directory listings have been located thus far. The latest dated example is 1858, so he must have been active in the 1850s. Perhaps he worked in a smaller town rather than one of the major cities like Boston, Philadelphia or New York City and that is why he hasn't been discovered yet. Most examples appear on large cents."
Pacific Northwest Numismatic Association
I think the 1851 and 1853 Large Cents may straight grade. Both in the XF 40 range, and probably not worth sending in for grading. They are common coins. The others have environmental damage, have been cleaned, wiped, etc.
If you want to pick up old copper, a guy I believe named Pierre Frick was offering baskets of raw old coppers at some Long Beach shows. Prices ranged anywhere from $10 to $35 for circulated Coronet Head and Braided Hair Large Cents, and for Braided Hair Half Cents. Grades ranging anywhere from G 4 to XF 40. See if he's still around.
I think you paid tuition, but have some hole fillers for your album.
"Seu cabra da peste,
"Sou Mangueira......."
I do like the look of these series but would prefer one in mint state... going forward.
Someone here (recently) posted one that has a green color that really popped.
What a solid comeback, LOL.
Your demeanor and character is really making you so likeable here, wow.
Nice coins! I would much rather pay tuition on early copper than on overpriced modern crap from a home shopping channel or magazine ad.
Thank you sir! Apparently a little humility goes a long way. I have changed my approach over the 8 years being here and I attribute a lot of my new found wisdom to several very insightful people here on the forum. I won't mention any names but a couple of their initials are @jmlanzaf & @MFeld. And make no mistake I value @291fifth blunt and to the point no BS comments as well.
I don't buy any graded moderns either but I buy a ton of it raw to get graded.
I can understand why that elicited some LOL’s. But on a serious note, I sometimes see issues in images that either weren’t as conspicuous or, in some cases, apparent at all, with an in-hand inspection.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
I won’t mention any names, either. 😉But thank you - that was very nice of you and much appreciated.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
Case in point! Santa Claus dressed in a USPS outfit just left 😁
I will make time to inspect closely in the future. From this vantage point, I thought they looked pretty good.