1785 Nova Constellatio

AU Details. More than likely a dug coin.
Here is some helpful information on your coin :-)

http://www.coins.nd.edu/ColCoin/Col...a.intro.html

Thanks Philadephian! My mom (Nannie) and I (her son) are trying to go through everything. There is lots of old currency and coinage from the basement of my great grandfather's house.

We are thankful to have found this site and appreciate your advice.

I can't even guess as to a grade, as this is one area I am sorely lacking in my numismatic knowledge, but I love looking at them.

I'm working through Crosby's "Early Coins of America" book, so I can gain more knowledge in the colonial issues. How are most colonial pieces graded? Along the lines of the EAC club standards?

@ westcoin

Several factors must be taken into account when it comes to grading Colonials. The number of dies involved was immense. These would account for the many different varieties that exist. Then, one must take into account the actual wear versus the strike. Many of the engravers would actually hand cut all the details thus, many of the working dies were actually lacking details until the engraver went back to correct the problem.There is also the case of the copper used to strike these coins. Many planchets were flawed to begin with so many coins were struck either lacking details, through cracks, through rough planchets (which many people mistake for corrosion)etc.Only through experience and seeing many different examples will you begin to understand the grading process of Colonial coins.