Braided LC 1847/47 Large/Small 47

sly · May 31, 2007 6:55AM

Just wondered if anyone knew how difficult it was to see the large/small on this coin. I took mine to a dealer today who thought it might be a 1847/47 Large/Small 47 but only after he looked at it with a magnifying eye glass. Here's a picture of the coin, but I can't see it. Any one know?

sly · May 31, 2007 6:55AM

EvilMCT · May 31, 2007 7:24AM

N-2 and N-31 are known as the Large 7 over Small 7 varities with N-31 being a later die marriage. The 7 should look fatter than a normal 7 and you should be able to discern the smaller 7 under the larger by looking at the top of the 7. There are some other diagnostics for these that aren't coming to mind at the moment. When I get home, I'll pull out Grellman's Die Varieties of U.S. Large Cents 1940-1957 to refresh my memory. If you can get a copy, I highly recommend it. Also, if you can, post a larger image and an image of the reverse. I recall there being some die breaks that show up on the reverse that can help determine which variety you have. Lastly, I only know these specifics because I was searching for one myself last year. I've yet to find one however.

sly · May 31, 2007 7:27AM

I'm unable to take a closer picture b/c my camera is not good enough to zoom in that far and still focus, any suggestions?

sly · May 31, 2007 8:21AM

Anyone else know anything about this coin? any help would be great.

Writersblock · May 31, 2007 10:37AM

The picture isn't really good enough to do a proper attribution, but I really don't see any way this could be a N-2 7/small 7. The left edge of the bust is way too far right compared to the 1 and the 1 is way too high, embedded in the bust. On N-2 the 1 does not touch the bust. I think it looks like it might be a N-22.

sly · May 31, 2007 11:35AM

thanks

rhedden · May 31, 2007 11:36AM

I have finished a complete set of Braided Hair cents 1839-1857 by Red Book variety, and the 1847/7 was by far the hardest one to find, much worse than the 1839/6, and the last variety I needed to complete the set. It took me 3 years to find a commercial EF-40 at a price I was willing to pay. Here's my example (seller's photo).

sly · May 31, 2007 12:00PM

First thing is that it appears to me that mine is that same coin. Which is funny b/c I didn't realize it when I bought it for $15.00 on ebay. Second is how do you guys get pictures that are so zoomed in? I'm sure that everyone doesnt have a camera that can zoom in that far do they?

EvilMCT · May 31, 2007 8:52PM

Nice pics of the date rhedden. Here are the diagnostics per Grellman:

N-2 Rarity 3
Obv: The repunching is visible under the peak of the 1 and over the tops of the 4 & 7, and weakly on the 8 on early strikes. The 7 is strongly punched into the die and appears unusually fat. Lump in the field below star 13.
Rev: Cracks develop first at MER and later at ED. Often seen with strike doubling on right side of reverse.

N-31 Rarity 5
Obv: The repunching is weaker than in the earlier marriage (N-2) but the repunching over the top of the 7 is clear and still appears fat. The lump under star 13 is gone.
Rev: Point up from inside bottom of O in ONE. Other points up from NE and CE. Cracks develop early, frirst from dentils through MER. Later cracks form from dentils through UNITED and TES, and the last one is from the dentils through ST, strongest at S.

I omitted the die polishing lines, etc due to these wearing away with circulation.

Writersblock · June 1, 2007 1:23AM

<< <i>First thing is that it appears to me that mine is that same coin. >>

Definitely not the same coin.

On Rhedden's coin the left edge of the bust is above about the mid point of the flag of the 1. On yoursit is above the mid point of the curve from the flag to the top of the 1.

On Rhedden's coin the top right corner of the 1 just touches the bust. On yours the top of the 1 is imbedded in the bust.

On Rhedden's coin the point of the curl is over the inner right curve of the 8 and there is clear separation between the point and the 8. On your coin the point is between the inner and outer curves and it looks like the point makes contact with the 8.

On Rhedden's coin the top left corner of the underdigit 4 makes contact with the curl but the main 4 does not touch it. On your both the left and right top of the main digit 4 are solidly touching the curl.

Look on the reverse of you coin and check for a die line running from the rim, down to the left through the left serif of the I in AMERICA.

Is that line on your photo from the A to the top of the foot of the F a scratch or a die crack?

Longacre · June 1, 2007 2:07PM

Nice coin rhedden!

Braided LC 1847/47 Large/Small 47

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