My first Large Cent: 1795

kmcoin · January 23, 2007 3:32AM

Hey! Here is the first large cent I've bought..1795 liberty cap.

Old, corroded..but beautiful.

My question.....what exactly does "corroded" mean....don't most old coins like this have
some type of "issue"?

thanks
-K

AmericanCopper · January 23, 2007 3:55AM

It has been postulized that the wood and coal smoke and fumes had a pronounced effect on copper. Sulfer and tanins released by burning erroded away the copper surfaces. As this was the primary heating and cooking fuel for over 175 years in this country, copper is an issue that has suffered the most naturally occuring environmental damage. This is just theroy but makes a certain amount of sense.

seemyauction · January 23, 2007 4:43AM

I like your first Large cent.....

AL

kevinstang · January 23, 2007 4:48AM

Nice coin, I like the detail.

291fifth · January 23, 2007 4:57AM

The coin has nice detail but the corrosion will greatly detract from its value. I hope you got it at a sharp discount from the "details" grade for the coin.

Don't fall for romantic stories about how the corrosion might have occured. When it comes time to sell you will find that the romantic stories are worth nothing and the corrosion will look worse than ever.

NumisOxide · January 23, 2007 5:04AM

Nice details....

kmcoin · January 23, 2007 5:19AM

<< <i>The coin has nice detail but the corrosion will greatly detract from its value. I hope you got it at a sharp discount from the "details" grade for the coin. >>

Well....I paid $375 for the coin....I'm not sure..but I think I got a slight discount for the details grade (F12).
To be honest I didn't understand the "details" grade was different from the "normal" grade so when
I was comparing prices at this particular auction house (which "conveniently" provided the F12 comparisions
from PCGS and NGC for past sales) I thought was getting a good deal. Live and learn.

Alas..all is not lost...I like the coin alot..so..even if I take a hit on the sell side I do really
like it.

regards,
-K

DoctorPaper · January 23, 2007 5:39AM

I think that's a nice coin and the corrosion looks to be of the 'microscopic' type which does not detract much from the general appearance of a nice 18th century US coin. Looks like a Sheldon 76b to me which is a common variety (R1). However, you need to check the "third side" i.e. the edge for lettering. If there's lettering there, then you've got the rare S76a variety(R5), which, even in the present condition might be worth $1000-1500.

kmcoin · January 23, 2007 6:10AM

<< <i>I think that's a nice coin and the corrosion looks to be of the 'microscopic' type which does not detract much from the general appearance of a nice 18th century US coin. >>

thank you!

<< <i>Looks like a Sheldon 76b to me which is a common variety (R1). However, you need to check the "third side" i.e. the edge for lettering. If there's lettering there, then you've got the rare S76a variety(R5), which, even in the present condition might be worth $1000-1500. >>

Well..it's a Plain Edge..so it's the common variety.

JJM · January 23, 2007 6:20AM

good bit of meat still on that bone

itsnotjustme · January 23, 2007 6:25AM

Too bad that "Plain Edge" is plain old reeding!

The coin does have decent detail and the corrosion is not horribly. $375 does not seam like an unreasonable price for it. GS bid is $515 in Fine, and $350 in VG.

BillJones · January 23, 2007 6:33AM

<< <i>My question.....what exactly does "corroded" mean....don't most old coins like this have >>

Corrosion is the oxidation of the metal which damages the original surfaces. The most commonly seen color for copper corrosion is green, but black and less often dull red is also seen.

Isolated corrosion spots can be removed, but such operations leave a mark depending upon how extensive or deep the corroded spot is. These spots when the corrosion was lifted are often brighter than the rest of the coin. Over time the spots can tone over, but they are often covered over with some artificial toning.

Sometimes the removal of general overall corrosion leaves porosity behind. A microscopically porous copper coin is worth less than a piece with nicer surfaces, but the discount is not huge. If the porosity is really bad, the design becomes hard to see, and the discounts become very deep.

One does not go out one’s way to buy corroded coins, but sometimes that’s all there is available and sometimes that all one can afford. There are also some dates and varieties that often seen to come corroded. This is partly due to the fact the copper may have been corroded when the coins were struck. Dealers can overstate this, but it is a factor.

lkenefic · January 23, 2007 6:34AM

I've seen these described as "F12 details with uniform micro-porosity" as well. Regardless, it's still damage. I've seen these net graded down by as many as 10 points depending upon how invasive the corrosion was.

Personally, I like the coin.

I would also try to preserve the remaining surfaces by application of some oil containing commercially available product. There were some copper gurus lurking around at some point in the not too distant past...L

My first Large Cent: 1795

Comments

Leave a Comment