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 Replies: 9 / Views: 3,450 |
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New Member
United States
19 Posts |
Hello, and help!
I just joined the forum a day ago, and this was going to be my first go at grading a coin, and getting some feedback on my attempts (in the appropriate forum). In the process of reading up about variations, and learning about double dies, and ribbons and lower curls from Snow's videos, I am now somewhat confused (!) and also wondering if this coin is a little more than your regular vanilla 1880 Indian Head cent (whatever that might mean!)
By way of background, after many years in America, I'm currently in a little town up at 6000 feet in the mountains of Southern India, spending some time with my folks and helping my stepfather value his different collections, from coins to stamps to pens. The goal is to fund a return vacation to Germany, where he used to live in the '60s.
Here are my observations on this coin. Would be great to know whether they are reasonable, and whether this coin is an oddity in any way. Pictures are uploaded into Photobucket, and I have included two of the obverse (a term I did not know until just a few days before!) with the light from different angles.
DESCRIPTION
1880 Indian Head. LIBERTY fully visible. Lower headband is distinct. Lower Curl seems reasonably separate from the ribbon. Two diamonds are visible. Diamonds are weak, but LIBERTY is fairly well defined, implying a weaker strike. A few nicks. A nice chocolate brown color. Very little trace of original mint luster.
The interesting bit: "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" seems to be doubled. And maybe the feathers also.
Tentative Grade: XF 40, or the next level below. Sound reasonable?
So is this a fairly normal 1880 Indian Head, or is there something else going on?
Thanks a lot!
Picture 1 - Obverse
Picture 2 - Obverse, light at different angle
Picture 3 - Reverse
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Moderator
 United States
56855 Posts |
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New Member
 United States
19 Posts |
Thanks John! I did look at that site before posting - it was referenced in the 3 other posts here about 1880 Indian Heads. Couldn't find a double-die image though. I did find an ebay listing that appears to resemble mine. http://www.ebay.com/itm/1880-DDO-Do...400723942228(I hope its acceptable to post an active ebay listing for informational purposes. If not, my apologies!) |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
8517 Posts |
Closest I could come on your cent...
S3e 1880, Broken 2nd 8.
Obv. 15: (RE) The base of the 8 is broken at the left side of the base. The 1 is slightly tilted to the left.
Rev. N: Olive leaf and shield point well away from the denticles.
Attributed to: Russel Doughty
Oregon coin geek.....*** GO BEAVS ! ! ! ***
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1021 Posts |
There is a known Doubled die for the date, but it has a very clear off-center clash mark on the reverse. Yours appears to be the variety that Raymo described. The doubling you see on the legend is known as "longacre doubling" and it is seen on most Indian Head cents dated before 1886. |
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New Member
United States
19 Posts |
I know, my hopes went up for a few milliseconds before noting the absence of the reverse clash mark! Good to know about "longacre doubling" in coins of that vintage.
Thanks a lot for that very detailed identification Raymo. I guess I did have a variant of sorts! By the way, was my assessment of XF40 realistic? Or more like a VF? And any rough ball-park estimates of what it might be worth? <5$? Or a little more?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
8517 Posts |
Your Snow variety gets....One star....Should get a slight premium, probably no more than 2X As for grade my guess is somewhere around EF45......30-35 bucks but probably will be worth more to somebody looking for that variety. You just never know on ebay if you get a couple bidders battling it out. Oregon coin geek.....*** GO BEAVS ! ! ! ***
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New Member
United States
19 Posts |
Cool, if I get around to listing it and making a sale, will owe you a drink for the identification assistance!
Although I can just see getting into trouble with the Indian government export controls - local items above 100 years vintage are restricted. I can just see the inspection official going "Whoa, who's trying to export a 125 year-old Indian head out of the country!"
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Pillar of the Community
United States
8517 Posts |
Good luck and welcome to the CCF ! Hang around and have fun.
Oregon coin geek.....*** GO BEAVS ! ! ! ***
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10045 Posts |
 that this is Longacre doubling--it's just a normal part of the coin for this period. Quote:
I can just see the inspection official going "Whoa, who's trying to export a 125 year-old Indian head out of the country!" Hopefully they would make the distinction between an Indian Head cent and a coin minted in India. But I don't even know the name India gives for herself--that's how ignorant I am. Nice coin and welcoome!  |
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Replies: 9 / Views: 3,450 |
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Posted 06/12/2014 11:51 am
