1881 Large Cent

Whoa whoa, who said anything about it being RARE? You're jumpin the gun here man, and who says it isn't a variety? It sure looks like one to me.

papeldog, Is that the "blundered N" listing? I have a book listing 38 varieties for 1881 cent, and it lists one as
"1881 H 1a/1 blundered "N"
Or
1881 H 1a/1 Dbl. N (REGUNA)/?

The "1a/1" refers to one of seven partial portraits, showing only the chin, and base of the bust, and denticles. there are four obverses listed, with differences in them.
OBV 1 The base of the OBV 1 is clearly pointed, and close to the beads, as compared to the 1a, which has a rounded base, but is farerther from the beads.
OBV 2 haas a dimple at the bottom of the chin, and the bust nearly touches the beads.
OBV 3 has a distinct double chin, and the base od the bust is thicker than the OBV 1, 1a, 1a/1, or OBV 2
OBV. Repl;aces the dopuble chin of an OBV 3 with a rounded chin found on the OBV 1, 1a, 1a/1, and 2/1a. Of all these OBNV's the 1a/1 is the most difficult to identify, since the differenciating feature is very slight. The 2/1a routinely gets called a 2, or a 1. But the absence of the dimple under the chin, diffeerenciates it from the 2, which has the dimple and the larger base of the portrait clwearly differenciates it fron a 1, or 1a.
If I could scan the images, I could make it much easier to vierw these differences.
Hope this helps.
This taken fron the Basic Edition of the "The Price Guide For Canadian coins,
2000 issue 5th Edition
by Michael K. blais
Dick

oklacda thank you on the very interesting info you just gave. I'll not use the book with the prices/values. It was just a whim, that I bought it in the first place. You confirm a lot of what I suspected be the case in many of the descriptions, ( which are very vague at best0, so that book will collect dust. I am a believer in a good reference library, because (my memory0 is not capable of recalling every detail of every coin. I doubt that there many who can. I would be interested in reading the "Bible" you refer to, and yes, I am caught up in the varieties! I have collected, off, and on for over 50 years, but never had any exposure to varieties, until I joined the Coppercoins.com forum. they deal primarily with varieties, and I found a whole new world to play in! It has extended to my Canadians, and As I find more of them, and books for research, my pleasure increases. You have helped immensely.
You mentioned 'getting a hundred, or so 1881's. That would be very nice, but not very likely, on a fixed income. I am, at present torn between the Canadian , varieties, and my IHC, varieties, RPD' MPD's etc. I spend at least 12 hours a day, or more, on my camera, and scopes, juist on the IHC's. With the new book on Canadian Varieties, I am sue I'll get even less sleep! Thanks again, for a very informative post.
Dick

I have never been to a coin show, for many reasons, but only a couple are qorth mentioning. I don't drive anymore, due to my vision. I have a condition known as "Macular Deterioration". I have 'holes in the images sent to the brain. My daughter does the driving for her mother's needs , shopping, etc, and my monthly visit to the band, to draw out 'grocery money" for my wife. She covers the household needs, and I cover all the monthly bills I usually manage to have a little left over each mi=onth, to spend on coins, or related itemsbooks, supplies, etc. I am a retired veteran of the US Navy. Twenty years was about all they could stand, so I retired in 1963, the first of May. the last time I worked was in '81. Spent 8 years in Mexico, and back to the USA. my coin collections have gone to feed the kids, when I was looking for work. World coins first,, but not very interesting. Then the coins of Mexico. Living there made it a bit easier to get them. Having a grocery store, helped get a few morwe. After Mom's estate was settled, we moved to CA. and bought a mobilehome, (coach, they call them here), in 2000. In 2005, my youingest step-son was selling on ebay, and being on the internet, contacted me, and said he had some Canadian cents, and wanted to know if I wanted them. "Sure, why not", so he sent me 2300 of them, (small cents, from '37-to date). They sat, and slowly a few more came in from the boxes of lincoln cents I was checking. A bit later, I was introduced to Coppercoins.com, and found out that varieties were the way to go! Since then I have bought several fairly large collections from those with problems with no work. I paid the price quoted, and said if they want them back, the price will be the same. Eventually I picked up several large "Vickeies", and began to look for other dates, more antique. About the same time I became interested in the FE/IHC coins, and have gotten pretty well involved.
I am on the lookout for the early small cents, (to fill some of my folders). nothing like the MS, mine run about VG=-VF+.. The lafrge cents are only back to 1901, 1903, and then 1909 thru the 1920. I believe I have spent more on books, than coins, (other than the Canadian sets). You mention the large cents being fairly available. That is nice, living in Canada, but here in California, they are as scarce as "hens teeth"! Any suggestions? I have about $200.00 a month that con go for coins, etc. I might mention that there are no collectors in my family, so I don't hqave to decide who gets what, when the time comes. I'm only 84, so they will have to puut up with me, while I wartch my brand-spanking new Great-great-grand-son grows up. maybe HE will become a coin collector. He was born in August. This was not intended to be an autobiography, but I never learned to use a few words, to say a lot. I was lucky enough to get thru school. I also have another ptoblem that makes me lose contact with the subject at hand, ( especially when talking). I forget what was being said. I think it is ADS. I can't keek my mind on things very long, before it wanders. Writing, no problem, because I read what was typed, or written, and get reminded. The site I mentioned has a huge amount of varities, and pertenant info, so I can look up the variety I am trying to identify. I cam't remember all of them. Odly enough, I have a photographic memory, but it is for things I have seen, or places I have been. Faces, etc, but don't ask me to tell you what name you said, because it didn't register.
I better quit, while I'm ahead....
Dick

Yes your correct Dan both of the one's I have are like you say with the open O in Victoria. I also find the 1881 Micro D very hard to find as well I'm still on the hunt for one of those.

Anyone have an idea of population of Micro D in Mint State? I have chance to acquire one and do not want to overpay so what would be fair offer for say MS62-MS63?

Now here we see the "spur" heading in one direction towards the interior of the "N"..

.....now how rare is it when the "spur" also heads both ways and by that I mean that it also heads from the "N" into the space towards the "I" in REGINA ?

Okiecoiner...Thanks for that info on the supposed 2 sided spur..