Guess the Grade - Early Copper eBay Gamble Edition!!!! 1814 Large Cent (GRADE REVEALED)

illini420 · July 25, 2008 3:03PM

Hi everyone, this is my first "Guess the Grade" post so I thought I'd try to do a fun one. As some of you may know, I've been working on a Dansco 7070 and have been buying many certified coins to somewhat offset my inexperience in grading the many different varieties. Anyway, in my hunt for a Classic Head Large Cent I came across the following eBay seller with the following 1814 "Plain 4" Large Cent:

Well, given grade on the slab, the Buy it Now was not bad. But I sent a lowball offer to the seller based on the pictures, and after a few back and forth, the coin was mine. Here's the best I could do w/o breaking it out of the slab (not sure whether I'm going to just yet):

Did my eBay gamble pay off????? Play "Guess the Grade" and let's find out!!!!

P.S. no cheating by searching past eBay auctions!!!!

Edited to change title.

DUIGUY · July 25, 2008 3:08PM

High VF/ Low XF.

Houd I do?

SirAnthonyAC · July 25, 2008 3:10PM

Extra Fine 40... very, very nice coin! Congrats!

coolest · July 25, 2008 3:16PM

I'm thinking AU.
Nice!

adamlaneus · July 25, 2008 3:17PM

I'll say 53.

123cents · July 25, 2008 3:27PM

Very nice! I'll guess AU-55.

coinbuf · July 25, 2008 3:29PM

Good looking coin, cannot tell for sure but seems to be some luster left so I'll say AU55

illini420 · July 25, 2008 3:30PM

Hmmmm... Let's see, so far we have guesses from VF all the way to AU55. I think that at least one of you is close so far!!!! LOL. This is fun

Will post the grade tomorrow. Thanks for the comments so far

commoncents05 · July 25, 2008 3:58PM

Beautiful coin. I say AU50.

-Paul

STONE · July 25, 2008 9:34PM

I was thinking 40 at first. Then I said, WOW, this is a very well struck coin for the date, plus the color is awesome.

I'm with the 50 crowd, and anything less would be disappointing.

EagleEye · July 25, 2008 9:55PM

I think it's AU-55, but I'd guess NGC called it AU-58. It looks like it has laquer on it, although since it is not in hand I could be wrong.

Connecticoin · July 25, 2008 10:01PM

AU 53 -- looks like a nice chocolate brown coin.

rays · July 25, 2008 10:02PM

AU55

291fifth · July 25, 2008 11:08PM

AU50. Looks like a very nice type coin. Don't crack it out.

The age of collecting raw coins is over.

tjkillian · July 25, 2008 11:16PM

AU-53 and a very nice one.

Polarbeer · July 25, 2008 11:39PM

<< I think it's AU-55, but I'd guess NGC called it AU-58. It looks like it has laquer on it, although since it is not in hand I could be wrong. >>

I have the same opinion.

coinpictures · July 26, 2008 12:25AM

I would guess 53-55. Excellent eye appeal.

Raybo · July 26, 2008 12:36AM

AU all the way!!

I'm guessing...........................55? and it's

Ray

PTVETTER · July 26, 2008 1:34AM

I'm guessing ..AU 53. the wear is clear therefore the highest grade could be AU55, but I thing there is just too much showing for a 55

illini420 · July 26, 2008 1:47AM

Thanks for all of the replies. Here's the seller's pic of the slab w/ the grade: NGC AU 55 BN

<< " was thinking 40 at first. Then I said, WOW, this is a very well struck coin for the date, plus the color is awesome. " >>

Yes, I have been trying to find an example of this coin in AU for awhile, but they were either going for moon money, or just couldn't be found. That is why I was willing to take an "eBay gamble" on this with given the seller's pics. Of course the seller had a return policy as well if I didn't like it in hand

<< " I think it's AU-55, but I'd guess NGC called it AU-58. It looks like it has laquer on it, although since it is not in hand I could be wrong." >>

The actual color is a little darker than my pictures in the first post. Not much though, but I had a halogen light bearing down pretty hard to get the picture I got. I too thought it might be laquered when I first received it in hand, based on pictures I've seen of other laquered coins. Just not sure though since I'm no expert. I'm definitely going to keep it slabbed until I have some w/ more experience see it in hand to weigh in whether it's a keeper or a flipper. Thanks.

<< "AU50. Looks like a very nice type coin. Don't crack it out.

The age of collecting raw coins is over. " >>

Well, my goal was to do a Dansco 7070 in all AU53/55 and above. Of course, this coin and the earlier large cent are by far the biggest hurdles to that. Now that I have a decent example in hand. I'm a little nervous about cracking it and sticking it in an album given the value. Still thinking about it since if I ever wanted to sell it, it should find its way back into a slab theoretically. At first I was also concerned that some of those spots around the "one cent" on the reverse might be the beginnings of corrosion and not sure whether cracking the slab would speed that process, but I'm not sure that it really is corrosion.

Thanks again for all the guesses and comments!!!!

291fifth · July 26, 2008 2:00AM

If you have it in a major brand holder as a 55, which you do, leave it there. Don't crack it out.

The moment it is raw people are going to start wondering why a coin like that isn't slabbed.

Also, when it comes time so sell, as a raw coin you may find it has suddenly become a 45 in the eyes of buyers.

As I said before, the age of raw coins is over.

EagleEye · July 26, 2008 3:13AM

Large cent collectors look at the coin and don't give a hoot about the slab. If you paid over $5K keep it in the holder. IMO.

illini420 · July 26, 2008 3:18AM

<< Large cent collectors look at the coin and don't give a hoot about the slab. If you paid over $5K keep it in the holder. IMO. >>

Thanks, I've heard that the early copper collectors have that sort of opinion about the third party graders. Didn't even pay half of that $5k. I'm still leaning towards keeping it in the holder though.

Raybo · July 26, 2008 4:53AM

illini420,

Ummmmm........... not to be rude but could you give a hint as to what you paid?

Ray

Raybo · July 26, 2008 4:55AM

$2000-$2500

Looks like you got one heck of a deal!

Ray

notwilight · July 26, 2008 4:57AM

That coin rocks. I missed the original thread (busy day yesterday) and don't know what you paid for it but I wish I'd seen it. --Jerry

bidask · July 26, 2008 5:01AM

nice coin I'll say 55

illini420 · July 26, 2008 6:38AM

<< illini420,

Ummmmm........... not to be rude but could you give a hint as to what you paid?

Ray >>

Don't mind at all, here's exactly what I paid. eBay Link

Buy it now was $3150. I threw out $2000 in a best offer. Went back and forth and settled at $2200 via Cashier's check inclusive of shipping and insurance. I imagine I could flip this for a profit on eBay or even in a Heritage/Teletrade sale, but these are hard to find in AU so I'll keep it for now.

STONE · July 26, 2008 6:44AM

Great deal on a great looking coin for the grade illini!!!

291fifth · July 26, 2008 7:10AM

The age of raw coins is over.

Wait until high quality Asian fakes of early large cents start coming to market (or maybe they already are.)

Keep it in the slab.

joecopper · July 26, 2008 11:11AM

A Nice Classice head but looks worked on to me -- maybe it is the pics - too much stuff in the reverse devices

Raybo · July 26, 2008 4:31PM

<< 

<< illini420,

Ummmmm........... not to be rude but could you give a hint as to what you paid?

Ray >>

Don't mind at all, here's exactly what I paid. eBay Link

Buy it now was $3150. I threw out $2000 in a best offer. Went back and forth and settled at $2200 via Cashier's check inclusive of shipping and insurance. I imagine I could flip this for a profit on eBay or even in a Heritage/Teletrade sale, but these are hard to find in AU so I'll keep it for now. >>

WOW!

$2180.01!

I REALLY LOVE IT, I mean I really LOVE IT!

The coin is a beauty....................................no words................

I'm done thinking of expilitives.........................is "WOW" good enough?

Ray

Raybo · July 26, 2008 4:40PM

<< A Nice Classice head but looks worked on to me -- maybe it is the pics - too much stuff in the reverse devices >>

AHEMMM.............Are you kidding?

Okee dokee I better shut up.

I likes it!

Ray

Robb · July 26, 2008 4:41PM

Nothing to add here... but... Raybo has the best avatar ever. That is all.

marz · August 12, 2008 3:17AM

XF-45 ?

ColonialCoinUnion · August 12, 2008 4:03AM

<< The age of raw coins is over.

Wait until high quality Asian fakes of early large cents start coming to market (or maybe they already are.)

Keep it in the slab. >>

I'm not sure I'm following you - are you saying to keep it in the slab?

Tvac897 · August 12, 2008 4:50AM

AU54

illini420 · August 12, 2008 5:34PM

<< 

<< 

<< illini420,

Ummmmm........... not to be rude but could you give a hint as to what you paid?

Ray >>

Don't mind at all, here's exactly what I paid. eBay Link

Buy it now was $3150. I threw out $2000 in a best offer. Went back and forth and settled at $2200 via Cashier's check inclusive of shipping and insurance. I imagine I could flip this for a profit on eBay or even in a Heritage/Teletrade sale, but these are hard to find in AU so I'll keep it for now. >>

WOW!

$2180.01!

I REALLY LOVE IT, I mean I really LOVE IT!

The coin is a beauty....................................no words................

I'm done thinking of expilitives.........................is "WOW" good enough?

Ray >>

Thanks for the comments. Everytime I look at the coin (still in its plastic and will stay there for awhile) I think "WOW" as well.

Was told by another forum member that this one is the S-295 Die state XI--so-called beard variety. Thought that was pretty cool too

<< AU54 >>

That's probably right since we all know NGC sometimes grades a point high

Frankcoins · August 12, 2008 6:09PM

AU55

Guess the Grade - Early Copper eBay Gamble Edition!!!! 1814 Large Cent (GRADE REVEALED)

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