Question About Newcomb And Sheldon Variaties.

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Author	Replies: 7 / Views: 1,973
GrapeCollects Pillar of the Community United States 8938 Posts	Posted 05/31/2019 9:15 pm I've been looking to dabble into large cents for a while now, ranging from draped bust to braided hair. I know the pairings and variaties are sorted by Sheldon (S-) and Newcomb (N-) numbering systems. What reference guides to I need? Or so to speak what reference do you use when attributing large cents? Do I need a book? Or is it a website? Many thanks Report this Post to the Staff

kanga Pillar of the Community United States 5825 Posts	Posted 05/31/2019 9:54 pm Generally speaking, if you want the definitive book for a particular coin series you will probably be spending several hundred dollars. Last show I went to I stopped at Rick Snow's table and bought the latest edition of his two volume set on Flying Eagles and Indian Head cents. Normally he charges $200 for the set but I got it for $150. Report this Post to the Staff
paralyse Bedrock of the Community United States 12057 Posts	Posted 05/31/2019 10:44 pm Sheldon's book Penny Whimsy covers 1793-1814 and Newcomb's book United States Copper Cents covers 1816-1857. Both are not that expensive used (can be had for less than $50 each in most cases.) They are still useful for attributing most coins, but lack more modern information about die states, and some of Newcomb's coins have been deleted or renumbered. Breen's encyclopedia is still a very valuable reference. The more up-to-date references are Bill Noyes' 3 volume set U.S. Large Cents (1793-1814, 1816-1839, and 1840-1857) and John Grellman's U.S. Cents (1840-1857) which will run you about $100 each if you can find them. John Wright's "The Cent Book" is also great and covers the middle dates (1816-1839) and was originally $125 per. I also recommend Grading Guide for Early American Copper Coins (Eckberg et al.) which focuses on grading but also has a wealth of information about Half Cents and large cents in general. It is not that expensive (under $50) and very useful. Member ANA - EAC - TNA - SSDC - CCT #890 "Most of the things worth doing in the world had been declared impossible before they were done." -- Louis D. Brandeis Report this Post to the Staff
Conder101 Bedrock of the Community United States 17884 Posts	Posted 06/01/2019 08:48 am I prefer real books and I recommend Breen's Encyclopedia of Early United States Cents 1793 - 1814 Getting difficult to locate but not too expensive yet (<$100). It is available online as well on the PCGS website https://www.PCGS.com/books/earlycents For the middle dates (1816 to 1839) Both the Noyes book and John Wright's The Cent Book are good but I prefer Wright's book. It is hard to find used but is still available form the author ($100) it is also available online on the Newman Numismatic Portal. Also available online is Howard Newcomb's original bool on the large cents from 1816 - 1857 It works well for the middle dates but I do not recommend it for the late dates. I believe it is also on the Portal Another nice reference is Rod Buress's Quickguide for large cents 1816 - 1834. Not available online and seldom available now, but I do have a PDF copy of it. For the late dates nothing beats Grellman's book [b]Attribution Guide for United States Cents 1840 - 1857 (third edition). Unfortunately it is now out of print and no longer available from the author. It is also very difficult to find used and is NOT available online. For seeing good pictures of all the varieties I recommend the auction catalogs of the Dan Holmes sales. Good pictures but unfortunately no variety descriptions Early dates http://images.goldbergauctions.com/...&sale=54#toc Middle dates http://images.goldbergauctions.com/...&sale=59#toc Late Dates http://images.goldbergauctions.com/...&sale=62#toc Even with the books it takes practice and experience to get good at attributions. Report this Post to the Staff
joecoin Pillar of the Community United States 789 Posts	Posted 06/01/2019 08:49 am What paralyse says is spot on. I use my Breen all the time (it stops at 1814). I have not been able to get a Noyes or Wright yet, but I have a lot of auction catalogs that show varieties. I was a member of EAC and plan on joining again, now that I'm retired. You will find the late dates are often a pain in the rear to attribute. A good strategy would be to either focus on earlier dates or buy the highest grades in the later dates. Or both if you have the funds. Report this Post to the Staff
cipster Pillar of the Community United States 2362 Posts	Posted 06/01/2019 09:55 am Early Years - I bought a used copy of Penny Whimsy from a bookstore in Maine. The descriptions are great and often enough to identify the variety. The pictures aren't so good so I use online resources when needed. Middle Years - I have the Wright book - it's really good. Late Years - I bought the Grellman book directly from the author. It's a great resource but attributing some of the dates is not easy for an amateur like me. Several years ago when I was looking for info to buy the Grellman book all I could find was a phone number so I called and left a message to email or text me how to purchase the book. The next day John Grellman called me and said - I'll send you the book and if you like it you can send payment. He also said that if I had a problem or question attributing a coin he would help. Wow - that was so great of him. Member ANA and EAC "You got to lose to know how to win". Dream On by Aerosmith Report this Post to the Staff
GERMANICVS Pillar of the Community Germany 1849 Posts	Posted 06/01/2019 10:06 am I have Breen's book which Conder mentions and have been very happy with it for many years. It covers 1793-1814. The Cent Grading Guide by William Eckberg is another great book but does not cover varieties (it is not its purpose). If I feel like looking at pretty pictures of cents I refer to the Golberg Sale of the Holmes Collection. Report this Post to the Staff
Conder101 Bedrock of the Community United States 17884 Posts	Posted 06/03/2019 09:04 am Quote: Early Years - I bought a used copy of Penny Whimsy from a bookstore in Maine. The descriptions are great and often enough to identify the variety. The pictures aren't so good so I use online resources when needed. Do you know which edition you have? They aren't all created equal. My favorite is the 1958 edition but the two 1965 printing come close. The worst is the first printing of the 1990 edition, the pictures are way to dark, in some cases not much more than black circles. (second printing is better) The 1976 and 1981 editions are kind of in the middle. I learned with the 1976 edition. Report this Post to the Staff
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