How exactly does the sheldon scale for cents work.

PutTogether · February 19, 2004 3:08PM

For instance sheldon #X Rarity Y

What does that all mean?

ccr · February 19, 2004 3:36PM

There isn`t anything here worth noting. Take a look at the link in my second post if you want to be reaffirmed of the Sheldon rarity scale.

agentjim007 · February 19, 2004 3:43PM

Your link is not the rarity scale used for large cents . It's actually the opposite and only to 9. 1 is the most common and 9 is unique. The Sheldon number refers to that exact variety for the year. I could be a little off on the rarity scale (might only go to 8) someone will correct me.

ccr · February 19, 2004 3:48PM

Thanks agentjim007.

I was having second thoughts if that was the correct scale for the Sheldon numbers.

edit to add that here`s the correct rarity scale: http://www.stanford.edu/~clint/coinacro.htm It`s listed under " R# "

coppercoins · February 19, 2004 5:51PM

If I'm not mistaken (which I could easily be), I believe the scale linked above that starts at 1 for "unique" and goes up is called the Universal Rarity Scale and was at least written about if not created by Q. David Bowers.

ccex · February 19, 2004 6:19PM

Nonsense!
Despite the links posted above, my copy of Dr. Sheldon's "Penny Whimsy" includes Sheldon numbers for all varieties of 1793-1814 cents with rariry ratings as (page 44) as follows:

R-1 Common
R-2 Not so common
R-3 Scarce
R-4 Very Scarce (population estimated at 76-200)
R-5 Rare (31-75)
R-6 Very Rare (13-30)
R-7 Extremely Rare (4-12)
R-8 Unique or Nearly Unique (1-3 reported to date)

David Lawrence gave this useful interpretation of Sheldon's rarity ratings in his "Complete Guide to Barber Halves":

R1 Common
R2 A better date. Available at most shows, but in limited quantity.
R3 A tough date. Only a few likely to be found at larger shows.
R4 Scarce. May or may not be available at larger shows.
R5 Very Scarce. Only a few will appear at large shows or auctions in
in a year's time.
R6 Extremely scarce. Almost never available
R7 Rare. Only a few exist.
R8 Unique or almost so.

ccr · February 19, 2004 8:21PM

In the second post of mine, the link does say this:

R# (R1-R8)
Rarity scale. R1 most common; R8 least common. The often used Sheldon scale is:
R8 = 1-3 known (estimated), "Unique or Nearly Unique"
R7 = 4-12 known, "Extremely Rare"
R6 = 13-30 known, "Very Rare"
R5 = 31-75 known, "Rare"
R4 = 76-200 known, "Very Scarce"
R3 = 201-500 known, "Scarce"
R2 = 501-1250 known, "Uncommon"
R1 = over 1251 known, "Common"

Geez, I thought I made that perfectly clear.

Conder101 · February 19, 2004 10:28PM

OK by now you understand the rarity scale. The first part Sheldon #X referes to the number assigned to that partcular die variety in his book Early American Cents that listed all of the known varieties of large cents produced from 1793 to 1814. The were numbered sequentually starting with 1793 S-1 and ending with 1814 S-295. The book listed 295 numbered varieties plus some 40 NC or Non-Collectible varieties. (A variety was listed as NC if there were three or fewer examples known to exist.) and four subvarieties.

dorkkarl · February 19, 2004 10:45PM

here's how i'd disseminate 30+ years experience into practical guidelines for you - this leans more toward bust material than copper, copper is a bit tougher than i describe below, but close:

R1 common, no premium
R2 common, no premium
R3 common, but you might have to look thru a few coins, no premium unless it's a redbook variety.
R4 not so common. you'll probably cherry-pick most of 'em, but it's gonna take time. if your in a hurry, you might end up paying say 25-50% premium
R5 TOUGH to VERY TOUGH. this is on par w/ what most people call "key dates" (key varieties). you'll pay a premium, say 2x or 3x, maybe 4-5x. you'll only cherry pick 1, MAYBE 2 in a year's time. R5 is where most collectors realize the series suddenly gets difficult
R6 extremely tough, but doable, this would be like a 1901-s quarter in comparison to other barber quarters. you ain't gonna cherry pick it. seldom in dealers "stock", unless he's a specialist, but they'll show up at auction when a collection is dispersed.
R7 not generically available, will only show up at a specialty auction or show. if you want 1, you better get it when you can
R8 locked away in an old collection, you can probably forget about it.

for what it's worth

K S

Conder101 · February 19, 2004 11:02PM

I'd agree with Karl. One thing, with the exception of some of the NC's none of the early large cents rate higher than R-6 anymore and there are only a few that are still R-6.

agentjim007 · February 20, 2004 12:50AM

I like Karl's interpretation. ccr thanks for that link. It also links me to auction result search that I lost and couldn't remember the website. I just noticed you removed the link but it got me back to here
This site is having some problems, coins I've looked up in the past now have no results showing??????

ccr · February 20, 2004 2:26AM

dorkkarl provides some good pratical rules of thumb on the Sheldon rarity scale.

I nuked the first post out of frustration ( I think justified ). So enough of my nervous breakdown.

Here`s the original link I provided in my first post and this rarity scale was created some years after the Sheldon rarity scale. I`m sure coppercoins is right as he is one of the forums resident experts on lincoln cent varieties.

Sheldon and his initial is used because he was one of the first well known people to catalage the large cents.

Universal Rarity Scale

How exactly does the sheldon scale for cents work.

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