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Very Weird Large Cent

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RoyCoinBoy's Avatar
United States
1609 Posts
 Posted 11/16/2016  9:27 pm Show Profile   Bookmark this topic Add RoyCoinBoy to your friends list Get a Link to this Message Number of Subscribers
Alright, so, before y'all flip your brains, I'll try to get pics later. But for now, descriptions may have to be it. While my dad and I searched through an inherited coin collection, we found this wired large cent. The "large" cent was about G4 condition, but the weird thing about it is that it isn't large at all. It is the exact same diameter of a Flying Eagle cent, and shows no signs of being ground down. I know there are high suspicions of it being ground down, but my reasoning is this: Back in the 1860s, when these were still commonly used, a cent was worth a lot more than today. Furthermore, power tools were very limited or non existent back then. Even if they were widely available, who in the world would grind down their paycheck? Fast forward a hundred years, when power tools are more common, these coins would be worth at least $5 apiece, and a rare find. If someone were determined enough to grind down a large cent in the 60's, surely there'd still be marks on the edge of the coin. I know this didn't happen though, because my grandpa (the original owner of the coins) worked as a bank teller, which is where he picked these out of circulation (this was in the 1940's). Surely he wouldn't have picked them out of circulation only to damage them afterwards. The only possible thing I can think of that would have caused this is this: My grandpa was going through coins at the bank, picking out the interesting ones here and there. He may have then saw this, assumed it was a small cent that looked weird, and picked it out. But, back to the previously mentioned problem: power tools were not common back then. I gladly accept all opinions. Thanks.
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aristarchus123's Avatar
United States
1695 Posts
 Posted 11/16/2016  9:31 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add aristarchus123 to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply

Quote:
I'll try to get pics later.


I think it is later now.

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Spence's Avatar
United States
34441 Posts
 Posted 11/16/2016  9:54 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Spence to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Sounds interesting. While we are waiting for pics, can you describe whether the whole design is just smaller to fit on the small planchet or whether only some of the design elemnts are actually there (with the remaining ones on the part of the planchet that is no longer there?
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TomSwift's Avatar
China
171 Posts
 Posted 11/16/2016  10:00 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add TomSwift to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
I don't collect US coins and I am curious. Subscribed to this topic.
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GR58's Avatar
United States
11951 Posts
 Posted 11/16/2016  10:08 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add GR58 to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Try to imagine how someone could give a opinion .. with out pictures.
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BStrauss3's Avatar
United States
4596 Posts
 Posted 11/17/2016  12:03 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add BStrauss3 to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply


However, questions - weight (accurate to 0.1g or better) and does it have denticles?
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moxking's Avatar
United States
17900 Posts
 Posted 11/17/2016  12:27 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add moxking to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Can't say much without pictures. Pray for a pattern.
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Fuzzy317's Avatar
United States
14463 Posts
 Posted 11/17/2016  12:32 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Fuzzy317 to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Why do you think its a large cent? Does it have a date? Could it possibly be a Civil War Token?

EDIT - Are the obverse and reverse blank? if not, can you describe what is there?
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moxking's Avatar
United States
17900 Posts
 Posted 11/17/2016  12:36 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add moxking to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Ah, Fuzzy - you might be right. Is their an 1863 date on it? That's the most common date on a CWT.
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biokemist6's Avatar
United States
12437 Posts
 Posted 11/17/2016  01:52 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add biokemist6 to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
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 Posted 11/17/2016  05:03 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add lcutler to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Hard to say without pictures. Even without power tools, people still had files. At a time when a cent could still purchase something, perhaps someone filed an obsolete large cent down to the size of a small cent so they could spend it? People have been doing strange things to coins as long as there have been coins so anything is possible.
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amida17's Avatar
United States
4897 Posts
 Posted 11/17/2016  06:38 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add amida17 to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply

Quote:
Could it possibly be a Civil War Token?


My first thought also....or perhaps a Spiel Marke?

But, yeah.....all is conjecture without pics!!
Edited by amida17
11/17/2016 06:38 am
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RoyCoinBoy's Avatar
United States
1609 Posts
 Posted 11/17/2016  07:51 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add RoyCoinBoy to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
There is a partial Coronet Liberty Head Large cent face on the front, which further supports my theory of it being struck on the wrong planchet. So, in simplest terms, it was not fit to the planchet. A large cent on a small cent planchet. I'll get some pictures after school today. I appreciate all of your interest!
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RoyCoinBoy's Avatar
United States
1609 Posts
 Posted 11/17/2016  07:53 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add RoyCoinBoy to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
I doubt it's a CWT. It wouldn't be a very effective propaganda token, considering less than half of the image is present.
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RoyCoinBoy's Avatar
United States
1609 Posts
 Posted 11/17/2016  07:55 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add RoyCoinBoy to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
@BStrauss3
I can't be that precise with the equipment I have. The equipment I have:
A kitchen scale, (an old one at that)
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RoyCoinBoy's Avatar
United States
1609 Posts
 Posted 11/17/2016  07:56 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add RoyCoinBoy to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Completely off topic, this post got me to 100 posts! :D
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