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 Replies: 19 / Views: 2,689 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1372 Posts |
I've been looking at an awful lot of Large Cents of late, and I am really considering putting a date set together. I'm not talking about high end stuff....but mid grade, natural colored coins. I've never seen so many available, and the prices just seem so reasonable to me.
I did notice that the natural colored cents with nice patina are decidedly scarce. But gutery brown ones ... seem plentiful.
Any collectors have any insight? Any advice to somebody considering a set?
Chance
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Valued Member
United States
424 Posts |
I think that a date set shouldn't be too difficult. I've been looking for my 7070, and there are a lot to choose from, so you can be choosy. It also depends what year you decide to begin...I imagine it would be the draped bust. It does have an 1804 key date however...Good Luck!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2596 Posts |
I look for nice surfaced(no pitting or corrosion) XF chocolate brown large cents and seem to be finding alot that match this description. As with all sets I like the XF grade because they are usually more affordable nice coins. good luck on your set they can be lots of fun to build. its fun looking
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Valued Member
United States
438 Posts |
I say go for it! The coins are old, attractive, and very impressive to look at as a set. I would say Fine to VF is a good grade range to shoot for on the 1816-1857 coins. Only the 1821 and 1823 will be a bit expensive. Prior to 1814, maybe look at VG or so unless your budget permits a higher grade.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2596 Posts |
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Valued Member
United States
438 Posts |
If you do go for the set, remember the most important part - - and that is keeping us all updated with your progress here in the classic coins section of the forum! Ideally throw in a picture or two along the way...
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Moderator
 United States
16679 Posts |
Great! Old copper is so classic!
This is the next one I will work on. I already have a few Draped Bust Large Cents. The 1799 will be tough.
swcoin.ecrater.com
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
2362 Posts |
The large cents are great and I have all starting at 1794 except the 1799 and 1804. My goal was fine or better but I settled for vga on a couple of the pre 1800's. The 1808 -1814 group is tough as the copper was soft so I settled for vg a couple of times.
Member ANA and EAC "You got to lose to know how to win". Dream On by Aerosmith |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
9792 Posts |
Old copper is so much more interesting to me than new copper, I love the Half cent/large cent series, 2 cent (I know mostly bronze) and the FE/IHC series the most of all the coin series. I went with a 2¢ set to start since it was easy (not a lot of coins) and not too expensive. (Still don't have an 1873 proof yet, and there are two varieties dang it! The varieties I was able to pick the 1867 DDO but had to pay for the 1864 SM, I did cherry a G-4 1872 out of a junk coin box at a show once. :-) I think a date set of large cents in XF would make for a super exhibt project too. "Buy the Book Before You Buy the Coin" - Aaron R. Feldman - "And read it" - Me 2013! ANA Life Member #3288 in good standing since 1981, ANS, Early American Coppers Member (EAC), Colonial Coin Collectors Club member (C4), Conder Token Collector Club member (CTCC), Civil War Token Society (CWTS) member, Liberty Seated Collectors Club (LSCC) & Numismatic Bibliomania Society member (NBS), USMex, Member in good standing, 2¢ variety collector. See my want page: http://goccf.com/t/140440 |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
1372 Posts |
I thought of starting with the middle dates first, 1816 to 1839, watching all the while naturally, for draped bust or braided hair specimens at the right price, at the same time. That way, you could feel like you were making some progress, assembling the middle dates, then adding to either end of the set. Here's what I think they should ultimately look like, aside from the spot on her neck. These are the ones I am talking about being scarce. You can just tell this one's never been messed with. Chance  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
531 Posts |
I was advised by a major national large cent dealer that a date set is the way to go. Just too many well funded collectors are chasing varieties that you will never be able to compete against them. First I would recommend you get some education, the ole buy the book line. Recomemdations would include:
Walter Breen's Encyclopedia of Early United States Cents 1793-1814 by Walter Breen
United States Large Cents 1793-1814 by William C. Noyes
United States Large Cents 1816-1839 by William C. Noyes
The Cent Book 1816-1839 by John D. Wright
The Die Varieties of United States Large Cents 1840-1857 by John R. Grellman, Jr.
Copper Quotes By Robinson by Jack H. Robinson (to assist with values)
Lastly I'll include a plug for joining Early American Coppers (eacs.org) You will get access to the most knowledgeable group of people regarding large cents as well as discounts on the books you need.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2044 Posts |
I've always liked large and Half Cents. Right now, fine to extra fine could be out of my budget range at the current time. |
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Moderator
United States
16679 Posts |
EAC is a great organization. So is C4, the Colonial Coin Collectors Club....I'm trying to get more collectors into Colonials  swcoin.ecrater.com
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Rest in Peace
United States
10625 Posts |
I agree with joining EAC if you are going to collect large cents. This is the go to organization for information. Look for coins with Grellman cards. You can't go wrong. Good luck and have fun!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1372 Posts |
Don't know what a Grellman card is ... but I don't even look at slabbed coins, so if it has anything to do with a 3rd party, it'll likely not apply in my case. I've been looking for specimens for the Dansco, and I blow past the slabbed stuff like I do "pizza man's" listings. I'm not going to cut a coin from a slab, and I prefer to assess the coin myself...and probably am better able to do so without the coin being in a plastic tomb.
My entire collection is raw. I sent an 1822 half to be graded, and have since cut it free from it's prison. DGS went out of business anyway, so the numbers on the slab were meaningless, and the online pics were "no more" so I felt no remorse over freeing it.
Chance
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
17884 Posts |
Quote:
Don't know what a Grellman card is . Bob Grellman is a collector/dealer and is the expert on the late dates. The wrote what is now the standard reference for the late dates. Bob offers an attribution service where he will attribute your large cents for you and give then a sharpness and EAC net grade. The coin comes back to you in a 2X2 safeflip with his card in the other pocket with the attribution and grade. He charges a dollar per coin for this service. |
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Replies: 19 / Views: 2,689 |
Posted 11/01/2011 5:26 pm
