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 Replies: 10 / Views: 1,327 |
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New Member
United States
44 Posts |
Just bought my first 18th century US coin. I've been collecting World and US coins for 15 years, but hadn't bought one of these yet. I was super patient and chose this one because of the older holder and the detail that was left on Miss Liberty (and within my budget of course). Can I get some insight from more experienced old copper collectors on the condition of this one? I've seen so many out there with general, porous environmental damage that looked like they'd been buried forever but this one has a different look; huge pock marks on the obverse but otherwise doesn't really have that corroded look. How do we think those big marks on the front were formed? And I assume the 'damage' ANACs decided back in the late 90s on this one were those two sizable dings on the back. I guess in summary I'd really appreciate general opinions on the condition of this old cent and maybe guesses on how it got to that state. thanks!     Edited by syarnie
12/24/2022 1:34 pm
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
557 Posts |
I think it's still a great coin with decent eye appeal, especially considering its age. Looking forward to some learned opinions on this one.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
756 Posts |
i agree with the S-22 attribution. its the bent lock variety. called that because the 6th hair lock from the bottom has a funny bend in it.
solid coin. you seem aware of its problems. the color is really nice.
those pits are probably the result of someone using some engraving tools and tooling out occluded bits of environmental damage. these coins had pretty poor metal stock. youll see a lot of them from this era with bright green crystalline blobs imbedded in the surface. its nasty stuff that eats copper.
personally I think this is a nice example of a details coin. the problems are significant enough to get a big discount on the price but they are placed in a way that leaves the coin looking pretty nice.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
Handsome example of a scarce early coin, lightly defaced long ago for an unknown reason. I like it.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
3640 Posts |
 to the forum! I agree with the above sentiments; though the damage and light corrosion is apparent, it's a very decent looking coin. With most of the pitting being in the fields of the obverse and reverse, I find the eye appeal quite OK. Member of SPMC, FCCB, ANA and ANS. My U.S. Classic Commemorative Complete Set: https://www.NGCcoin.com/registry/co...sets/278741/My U.S. Fractional Note Set: https://notes.www.collectors-societ...eSetID=34188 |
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Bedrock of the Community
 United States
18645 Posts |
 with the above comments. actually the planchet is pretty nice. I'm only seeing some light corrosion mostly on the reverse left field. these early copper planchets came across the pond in wooden barrels for several months in the salt air. finding a clean planchet is always a premium and without the bullet holes this one would be a very nice coin. hopefully you got a good price on it |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
735 Posts |
I agree, this is a nice looking example & housed in a cool older anacs holder.
I've been collecting for a couple years... Favorite Coin's are Standing Liberty quarters, Working on my type set | Coffee, Corvettes, Coins & the CCF what could be better? |
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New Member
 United States
44 Posts |
Really appreciate all that insight...I learned a lot from these comments. Yes, I think I got a fair price. Paid around VG10 money for it but with the damage in the fields (mostly away from the designs) along with the nice planchet and strike I'm really happy with it. Fun one to look at under a good light.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
11880 Posts |
I also agree that it is an attractive coin. Congratulations!  IN NECESSARIIS UNITAS - IN DUBIIS LIBERTAS - IN OMNIBUS CARITAS THE MAN IN THE ARENA, Theodore Roosevelt at the Sorbonne Paris on April 23, 1910: " It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat." My coin website: https://fairfaxcoins.com |
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Pillar of the Community
Germany
1849 Posts |
It is overall a nice piece, and one I would have added to my collection as well, at the right price.
As a matter of fact, I have at least one such coin in my collection that I like a lot in spite of all the pits that it has.
When it comes down to it, I actually prefer a few localised defects (like in this case the pits or digs on the obverse), rather than generalised defects for example corrosion.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
36643 Posts |
Nice looking coin even with the problems.
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Replies: 10 / Views: 1,327 |
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Posted 12/24/2022 9:46 pm
