1798 Draped Bust Large Cent Grading

F Details, environmental damage imho

Well, it matters to me. That is why I asked. You do realize that this is not an American Silver Eagle where numerous MS70 examples exist of each and every year of the coin's existence? This is a Draped Bust Large Cent where no known MS70 examples exist. Every specimen is flawed. Why? Because the coin is over 200 years old and the production methods were not of the high quality and standards of today's US Mint. Also, time has taken its toll of most of these coins. Very few decent versions exist.

I don't really care as much if the coin was cleaned. These are all circulated coins, so, someone over the past 200 years has cleaned these coins at one time or another.

Scratches matter but not as much because of the fact that all the coins I saw had some scratches on its surface.

What I liked about this coin were the details. Most of the coins online at the hundred dollar price range were so corroded and worn that very few details of the coin were clear to the naked eye. That is why I asked the community for a grade. I wanted their opinion on what they think of the details of this coin. The details of this coin are very appealing to the eye compared to other samples at the hundred dollar price range.

I thought the details were XF for this coin, based on the grading standards listed on this site, but I am new to grading. That is why I posted this coin. It is to see how my grading compares with the more polished veterans of this site.

Thank you for your contribution.

coin did have a lot of detail remaining on it. Corrosion and scratches but the price was not horrible either. VF detail I would think.

its not an EF coin, check the coin itself against problem free and even problem riddled coins off HA archived pics as there are plenty of examples to compare agianst from F to VF to EF.

Personally, I would have saved $130 a month for 4 months and gone for a coin that will have value to an advanced collector.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1798-S-172-...AOSwawpXwLS7

You actually can send this one back and you'll have like the linked or close to it in a problem free F12/15 by New Years if you like.

It is a porous, scratched, but still quite collectible VF 1798 Large Cent. The market is strong enough that you could always trade it in later on a better example, although there is a higher risk that you might need some time to find a buyer at the same price level. I am not sure I would consider it a good buy at $130, I think $50-$60 would be the upper end for me.

This is Sheldon's S-166 (R1) "Whisker" - 2nd hair style, tall serif on the L in liberty, and large 8 are unique to this obverse, although you can see the die "whisker" under the chin in the first picture too. This is the common state with the arcing die crack from E in UNITED through the last 0 in 100. An equally common (S-167, R1) variety exists with the same obverse, but cracked through the 8 in the date up through the bust drapery. The relatively crack-free reverse variety with the same obverse (S-165) is much scarcer, a high R4, and it happens to be the first listed, although not necessarily first-in-sequence, die pair featuring the "Style 2" hair with the extra curl behind the neck.

I'd rather have a slightly less detailed example with fewer problems, all else being equal.

Thanks for the comments paralyse. Your insight is very helpful. I think it is a good coin for $130.00 looking back at it. No coin from that year is problem free in my opinion. Many are worn, cleaned and, I think, standards have to be lowered for coins which were minted over 200 years ago.

I love the eye appeal of this coin. It's funny, I was reading one of your old posts last night. You had bought a similar year large cent and people did not like the coin. They were very critical of it. I did not understand why.

I place more of a premium on the details. That is why I was wondering if it was fake at the price range. I saw ones that ran thousands of dollars, but they looked horrible to me.

If I was selling it, (I did not win the auction) it would not be for awhile. You are correct that I would have to find buyers who think like me.

Whoever got this coin, knowing what the awesome CCF community stated, I think got a fairly decent deal.

Thank you again for your great commentary.

I'll never discourage anyone from buying what they like -- my own collection runs the gamut from culls, ugly dogs, and outright disasters to four-figure gems. Don't take what I said as criticism, just as constructive feedback based on experience with both the subject and the market.

One thing you will find about early copper is that it has its own standards not shared with any other specialty except perhaps colonials. Grading, valuation, and other things are not approached in the same manner that they are for, say, Morgan dollars, one of my other favorite series.

That being said, know that problem-free early copper is out there, even as far back as the Chain cents, but choice examples of Half Cents and large cents are avidly collected, often held, and heavily in demand by a group of buyers whose passion ranges from obsession to fanaticism, and you can expect ask and sale prices to reflect that passion when those choice coins do finally get ready to be "re-homed."

moderate corrosion, scratches & cleaned. VF details. if you are collecting it for the purpose of collecting it and not reselling down the road then you did ok. a nice clean example of a VF20 can go for as high as $1000