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1796 Cap Cent Help

PROMETHIUS88PROMETHIUS88 Posts: 3,025 ✭✭✭✭✭
in U.S. Coin Forum

I received an amazing Christmas gift from a friend and this will be a coin that gets locked away in the PC. Before it does, I will have it slabbed but would like to have the variety noted. With the 11 die marriages, it shouldn't be difficult but it's not my area of expertise by any stretch of the imagination.
Can anyone help?

Comments

  • Walkerguy21DWalkerguy21D Posts: 11,970 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited January 13, 2026 7:11AM

    Sheldon 88, R4, is my guess.
    The S89 is VERY similar, so it might be that one, listed as R3.

    Neat coin, but will likely get a Details grade when you submit it.

    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
  • johnny9434johnny9434 Posts: 30,870 ✭✭✭✭✭

    You have a good friend there 🙂

  • PROMETHIUS88PROMETHIUS88 Posts: 3,025 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @Walkerguy21D said:
    Sheldon 88, R4, is my guess.
    The S89 is VERY similar, so it might be that one, listed as R3.

    Neat coin, but will likely get a Details grade when you submit it.

    Thank you!
    Yes, I expect a details grade. My main concern will be that the corrosion has been stopped so that it can be around another 230 years!

  • PROMETHIUS88PROMETHIUS88 Posts: 3,025 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @johnny9434 said:
    You have a good friend there 🙂

    indeed I do! We traded some early American coinage this year. They received an 1807 Draped Bust half in return. I really like the early stuff!

  • AotearoaAotearoa Posts: 1,609 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @Walkerguy21D said:
    Sheldon 88, R4, is my guess.
    The S89 is VERY similar, so it might be that one, listed as R3.

    Neat coin, but will likely get a Details grade when you submit it.

    The 6 is too high for the S-88. Has to be the S-89. Agree with the Details. Cheers.

    Smitten with DBLCs.

  • BillJonesBillJones Posts: 35,496 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @PROMETHIUS88 said:

    @Walkerguy21D said:
    Sheldon 88, R4, is my guess.
    The S89 is VERY similar, so it might be that one, listed as R3.

    Neat coin, but will likely get a Details grade when you submit it.

    Thank you!
    Yes, I expect a details grade. My main concern will be that the corrosion has been stopped so that it can be around another 230 years!

    The corrosion has stopped if you don't see any bright green patches AND you store it properly. Forget about your attic or garage. I know that sounds elementary, but I’ve seen collections which were stored in those places, and the results have sometimes not been pretty.

    Retired dealer and avid collector of U.S. type coins, 19th century presidential campaign medalets and selected medals. In recent years I have been working on a set of British coins - at least one coin from each king or queen who issued pieces that are collectible. I am also collecting at least one coin for each Roman emperor from Julius Caesar to ... ?
  • lkeneficlkenefic Posts: 9,171 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I can only speculate on Sheldon number so I'll leave that to the experts. The coin has a lot of detail left... I'm thinking F to VF Details with Environmental Damage. ...and you have a real "keeper" of a friend!!

    Collecting: Dansco 7070; Middle Date Large Cents (VF-AU); Box of 20;

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  • TPringTPring Posts: 240 ✭✭✭
    edited January 13, 2026 12:24PM

    Sorry, I cannot help with your request for info -- Congrats on the addition.

    Am curious to know [from anyone] -- What is the significance of the cap falling off the head? LOL, I used to think it was a very large bow.

    Just remember...the advice you receive on the site is worth every bit of what you paid for it.

  • jesbrokenjesbroken Posts: 11,059 ✭✭✭✭✭

    S-89 my opinion. As to a details grade, I cannot imagine a 230 yr old coin without a little damage. I and not alone, have always considered pre 1850 coins as being quite collectible in details grade. Unless damage occurs to hide important features, but good grief we didn't have albums and protective containers for coins then and only until recently. I like the coin and congratulations.
    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
  • Walkerguy21DWalkerguy21D Posts: 11,970 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @Aotearoa said:

    @Walkerguy21D said:
    Sheldon 88, R4, is my guess.
    The S89 is VERY similar, so it might be that one, listed as R3.

    Neat coin, but will likely get a Details grade when you submit it.

    The 6 is too high for the S-88. Has to be the S-89. Agree with the Details. Cheers.

    Hmm, I’m sticking with S88:

    S89:

    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
  • lermishlermish Posts: 4,446 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @TPring said:
    Sorry, I cannot help with your request for info -- Congrats on the addition.

    Am curious to know [from anyone] -- What is the significance of the cap falling off the head? LOL, I used to think it was a very large bow.

    It is on a pole, not hanging off Liberty's head.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phrygian_cap?wprov=sfla1

    chopmarkedtradedollars.com

  • AotearoaAotearoa Posts: 1,609 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @Walkerguy21D said:

    @Aotearoa said:

    @Walkerguy21D said:
    Sheldon 88, R4, is my guess.
    The S89 is VERY similar, so it might be that one, listed as R3.

    Neat coin, but will likely get a Details grade when you submit it.

    The 6 is too high for the S-88. Has to be the S-89. Agree with the Details. Cheers.

    Hmm, I’m sticking with S88:

    S89:

    Interesting. I came to my conclusion based on Noyes. See his pics below and how they don’t match Breen’s pics.


    Smitten with DBLCs.

  • Walkerguy21DWalkerguy21D Posts: 11,970 ✭✭✭✭✭

    So I checked other sources, and I now concur with S89; the photo in B/B for S88 is incorrect.

    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
  • BillJonesBillJones Posts: 35,496 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited January 14, 2026 8:14AM

    I bought this one as a filler for my one a year cent set. You can spend a fortune on one of these cents, and I did not want to do that.

    The Draped Bust and Liberty Cap 1796 cents are supposed to be about equal in overall rarity. The Draped Busts are easier to find in the better grades. This one is an S-81.

    Here is the Draped Bust 1796 cent. It is an S-102.

    Retired dealer and avid collector of U.S. type coins, 19th century presidential campaign medalets and selected medals. In recent years I have been working on a set of British coins - at least one coin from each king or queen who issued pieces that are collectible. I am also collecting at least one coin for each Roman emperor from Julius Caesar to ... ?
  • AotearoaAotearoa Posts: 1,609 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @Walkerguy21D said:
    So I checked other sources, and I now concur with S89; the photo in B/B for S88 is incorrect.

    Good sleuthing!

    Smitten with DBLCs.

  • jesbrokenjesbroken Posts: 11,059 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited January 14, 2026 9:56AM

    Don't have time to delve into this without benefit of books, but this is what concerns me on the S-88. The L in Liberty should be closer to the I akin to the OP's coin. While the S-89 is not as close either it is closer. Any chance it's a counterfeit? Just throwing that out there. The S-90 is closer even, but didn't see other attributions on the S-90.
    Jim



    S-88


    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
  • jesbrokenjesbroken Posts: 11,059 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Also the base of T is not correct for S-88. I'll be home later this evening and see what I can find. Sorry to be of no help.
    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
  • Walkerguy21DWalkerguy21D Posts: 11,970 ✭✭✭✭✭

    It can’t be the S90, Jim, because the reverse die is unique to the S88/89; significantly different than the S90 as well as most of the other lib cap 96’s.

    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
  • jesbrokenjesbroken Posts: 11,059 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Rat's, won't be home till tomorrow. Sorry but, I just felt it could not be the 88 for reasons specified. From what little photo evidence I see, I don't see any with the L(Liberty) close to the I. It's so hard on a cell phone to go back and forth between web sites. Not able to compare photos side by side, so back and forth. I'd give most anything to have my CS5 Photoshop back, but Adobe took it back and left me sitting in the dark. Creeps.
    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
  • EddiEddi Posts: 601 ✭✭✭✭✭

    After going back and forth between S-88 and S-89, I have her as S-89 as well.

    It is difficult to assess the surface from the pictures, but my rough guess would be F12 with rough or grainy surfaces.

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