What do you think of this 1853 large cent?

oreville · May 23, 2005 10:51AM

What do you think of this 1853 large cent? I purchased it for $399. I have not received it yet so was wondering if I should look for anything on this coin in particular. I am not looking for any "make me feel good postsings." I do not mind harsh, cold, reality posts. Thanks for your help.

airplanenut · May 23, 2005 11:00AM

I really like it... it looks like it should have some nice lustre, and it's got a great looking color... no spots, either

oreville · May 23, 2005 11:03AM

Sorry, I could not get a bigger picture of this coin as it seemed a bit small to me as well.

LanLord · May 23, 2005 11:05AM

I like it, but in this image, the high areas of the coin seem to be darker than I would expect.

I don't know if that's actually how the coin looks or an artifact of the digital image. If it's really there, I would wonder why.

If it's not there. Nice coin.

Elcontador · May 23, 2005 11:13AM

Oreville, the image is too small for me to give you the sort of feedback you would find useful. The strike is typical, as you have many flat stars and are missing a number of the denticles, with strong center detail. Surfaces seem to look good.

If the coin doesn't have some minor surface problems which should be obvious to you once you have the coin in hand, then it's in a 4 holder because its luster is insufficient for PCGS to deem it acceptable for a 5 holder. BTW, speaking of holders, you paid a premium for the coin due to its 1st generation holder. 4 BN type coins of this series usually go for noticeably less than this coin.

Nic · May 23, 2005 11:18AM

I like it ... as far as one can tell from the pics. K

nwcs · May 23, 2005 11:27AM

It's a nice color but would only be appealing to me if there was some good luster with it. Hard to tell with the pics. The stars don't appear to have the sharp strike I heard was common for the 53.

oreville · May 23, 2005 11:41AM

I was wondering if the denticles appear to be missing due to the shadow that seems to be present on each side of the coin or perhaps that is no shadow at all. Notice how the light reflects off one side of the rim on the opposite side of where the denticles appears to be missing.

<< <i>The stars don't appear to have the sharp strike I heard was common for the 53. >>

What stars? Those are stars????

<< <i>BTW, speaking of holders, you paid a premium for the coin due to its 1st generation holder. 4 BN type coins of this series usually go for noticeably less than this coin. >>

Could you quantify? We all can learn.

coinkat · May 23, 2005 11:51AM

GREAT EXAMPLE... and I am not saying that to make you feel good.

stev32k · May 23, 2005 11:54AM

I'm no expert but that looks like a heck of a good large cent. I can't see anything that looks like a problem. You did good!

roadrunner · May 23, 2005 12:01PM

PCGS was ridiculously brutal on large copper back in the 1986-1990 era. I made quite a few upgrades on large cents and 2 centers going from PCGS to NGC. Your 64 coin could be clean as a whistle and still have gotten a 64 grade back then, even for striking issues.
As long as you didn't get this from one of the major retailer retreaders on ebay I'd say you have a good chance of getting a 65 on the coin. I dont' see anything grossly wrong in the photos.
And unlike the anti-strike crowd, I'd much rather have nice surfaces and luster than a dullish but fully struck coin. PCGS is a lot easier today and NGC even more so on copper. I wouldn't be surprised if some of the PCGS 64BN's upgraded to NGC 66's over the past few years.

A 20% premium over CDN ask for a first gen coin seems like a very reasonable price. I often pay a lot more than that sight unseen for seated and barber coins from non-major retailers.

roadrunner

291fifth · May 23, 2005 12:09PM

The coin will probably look much better in hand than in the photo. It probably has nice underlying luster. Unfortunately, I think you overpaid for it as 1853 is a very common date and the later large cents haven't shown much strength in the market recently.

mgoodm3 · May 23, 2005 12:14PM

Looks like nice surfaces and color.

oreville · May 23, 2005 12:27PM

Yes, I agree price is stiff. I saw some $300 to $330 PCGS, NGC and ICG as well as raw MS-64BN 1853 cents and simply did not like them. The price jumped too much in my opinion to go to MS-65 for a common date.

The RB versions in MS-64 seemed awfully splotchy.

morganbarber · May 23, 2005 2:09PM

I can not think of a single thing not to like about that coin.

oreville · May 24, 2005 3:18PM

I have found out from the seller that the coin is 3% off center which explains the weak denticles on one side of the coin which I was not sure of.

To me, this is a positive attribute at this grade level. Sure, I would not want a 3% off center coin in MS-66 or MS-67 but at MS-64 grade, a great thing to behold!

fullerfun4 · May 24, 2005 3:29PM

Nice looking coin. Nice early copper is hard to find these days.
Gary

Elcontador · May 24, 2005 5:13PM

Oreville, 1850s Large Cents often have weak stars / denticles and strong centers. Roadrunner is right in that PCGS was very tough on these coins, and consequently, PCGS material in Unc. trades at a substantial premium over like-graded NGC material.

I got a really nice 4 BN about six years ago for just under $300 and I don't think they've moved up in price much since then. I'll bet either your coin has a few contact marks / imperfections that you can see with the naked eye, or else it just doesn't have enough eye appeal to be put into a 5 holder. If I am not correct, you have an upgrade candidate.

I think you can get a nice PC BN 5 for around $650-700. I know you can get a nice one in RB for $850-$900. Yes, you'll have to look for them, but they are out there. It took me 3 years to find a nice PC RB 5. It's 70% RD, has even color & is fully struck.

291fifth is right; these coins have been pretty stagnant in price over the last 5 years, unlike earlier date Large Cents.

Coppernicus · May 24, 2005 5:21PM

oreville - From what I can see in the pics, I like it! If it has some luster (it should, in-hand) and it's properly graded, then I don't think you overpaid at all. I'd easily go $400ish for a nice one.

I have a raw '48 in my type-set that still has some red and shows decent luster. It's probably an AU58/borderline UNC (very, very slight rub) and I love it! I'll bet yours will be great in-hand.

Post a good pic when you get it?

Mike

coinlieutenant · May 24, 2005 8:51PM

I think you did fine. The coin is a beautiful piece of Americana.

What do you think of this 1853 large cent?

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