1799 Large Cent. Give Me Your Thoughts.

It looks good from here, but I'm no professional. Very tough date, I'm certain he's asking a pretty penny for it. I'd only purchase with the guarantee of a coin grading/authentication.

I have my doubts. My two greatest concerns are the fraction bar and the dark area running through the ribbons, numerator and then further right. That dark area is from a heavy die clash and is the top of Liberty's head. I have seen this on several varieties of draped bust cent, S-188 does have such a clashmark but it passes below the numerator not through it. As to the fraction bar, from the image the right end appear to end above the left edge of the 0. On the S-189 which this appears the most to be, it ends above the left INNER curve of the 0.Also on 188 and 189 the right side of the bow loop is very weak or missing, on this coin it is strong and clear. NC-1 does have a strong right side to the bow, but the berry stems to either side of CENT don't match up. On NC-1 the berry below the e in UNITED has a strong stem the parallels the leaf stem above it. I don't see that on the OP coin. The OP coin has a long stem on the berry just left of the C, NC-1 has a shorter stem. The berry right of T has a clearly defined stem and the berry is away from the leaf stem above it. On NC-1 the stem is almost nonexistent and the berry is up against the leaf stem. The berries on the OP coin most closely match S-188. Another thing those that rules out S-188 is the outer leaf cluster below the I in AMERICA, On 188 the leaf overlaps the wreath stem, on the OP coin it is clearly separated from it.

I would probably not buy this unless they were willing to have it slabbed, or until it could be seen in hand by someone that is really good with early copper. I've done the best I can but I am working form images not in hand.