Grading Of Colonial Coppers - Coin Community Forum

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Author	Replies: 9 / Views: 2,133
paleoguy45 Pillar of the Community United States 2936 Posts	Posted 04/29/2010 7:59 pm The Red Book has prices listed for the late 1700's Colonial copper coins, but I can't find a breakout on how to grade them. I just purchased a really nice Connecticut 1787 Copper, Draped Bust, Left but I have no guidance on how to grade it. Help anyone? Paleoguy Report this Post to the Staff

aladinslamp Pillar of the Community United States 3076 Posts	Posted 04/30/2010 02:36 am as far as grading goes I wish I could help, pictures are needed, however I am no fan of Red Book pricing...to me its like the suggested manufacturing retail pricing which no one will pay you for.....if you tried to sell..never use it as a price value guide when buying..In my opinion. if your interested in approximate value try googling "coins fair market value"...you will find a website that is closer to real values for grades, though they don't show pictures.. post some pictures and people here can give you opinions of grades....or where to find info of how to grade... Report this Post to the Staff
Conder101 Bedrock of the Community United States 17884 Posts	Posted 04/30/2010 12:51 pm You won't find a grading guide for colonials. Grading for these things is more a matter of experience. The reason you can't really come up with a guide is because for example in the case of the Connecticut coppers they were made at half a dozen different mints, by different companies, with dies hand engraved in many different styles by several different engravers. Some of them are actually pieces issued by counterfeiters. And then there is the extreme variability of the quality of the copper used in the planchets. Trying to factor all of these into a guide may well be impossible. You might be able to create a guide if you separated it into all the different types and then did a guide for each of them, but trying to locate all the coins/images you would need to illustrate the grades would be a real challenge. Report this Post to the Staff
vermontensium Moderator United States 16677 Posts	Posted 05/02/2010 5:39 pm Several factors must be taken into account when it comes to grading Colonials. As mentioned, 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. Here is a great place to start with the education of Connecticut Coppers:http://www.coins.nd.edu/ColCoin/Col...r.intro.html swcoin.ecrater.com Report this Post to the Staff
Halfwitty Pillar of the Community United States 1523 Posts	Posted 05/02/2010 5:47 pm Love those colognes. Report this Post to the Staff
hemisboats Valued Member United States 461 Posts	Posted 05/02/2010 5:50 pm Report this Post to the Staff
paleoguy45 Pillar of the Community United States 2936 Posts	Posted 05/02/2010 9:42 pm Great information and thanks! I'll post photos when I get the coin/s. Paleoguy Report this Post to the Staff
paleoguy45 Pillar of the Community United States 2936 Posts	Posted 05/03/2010 5:04 pm Just got my newest baby in and it's a nice one. Grading thoughts? Paleoguy Report this Post to the Staff
snook Valued Member United States 99 Posts	Posted 05/03/2010 7:53 pm F+ Report this Post to the Staff
vermontensium Moderator United States 16677 Posts	Posted 05/03/2010 8:22 pm Looks to be a Miller 31.1 and I agree, looks to be in the F range. Nice pickup! swcoin.ecrater.com Report this Post to the Staff
	Replies: 9 / Views: 2,133

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