Realcent.org

Today I picked up 50 US large Cents from the late 1700's through 1856. 46 were different dates. I got 2 1810's and three early type with no date readable.

I only had a few of these from previous collecting and one was a 1957. So now I have 47 with different dates.

I think they are all at least good condition but must do some homework before evaluating grades. A few are certainly nicer.

I note with minor research the shade of the coin is an important feature. Red, Red-Brown, Brown, and note that I have lots of different shades.

Let's say they were all "Good" condition.

What would the approximate value be? I am looking at some different sites and prices start at $21 each for later dates and hundreds for early dates.

I am going to take some time looking at these.

I got them at a gold-silver shop which has coins but the owners do not collect and only some interest.

I may be willing to part with them for silver.

Time will tell. More information to follow.

0CD

Sometimes it's not the date, but the variety that makes these old coppers valuable. There is a lot of resource material available and it could be worth your while to check each coin carefully. Condition is important, as many of these old ones are pitted and/or corroded. Nice clean ones fetch better prices. Best of luck....

What I like best about these old coppers is that when you hold them in your hand you are holding a piece of early American history. Imagine some patriot putting one of the early ones in his pocket and spending it carefully at a store in Philadelphia when that was the capital of our early democracy. They are a dynamic link to our early Americans.

Thanks Country, I remembered your interest in large coppers and hoped you would comment.

What I found are coins from almost good to a few very fine later issue examples.

I also checked auction prices and grades to get an idea what I have.

Although some are nice, others have reasonable pitting and marks.

Love the history and feel of the large coins.

I think most are twenty dollar coins with a some fifties and a hundred or two.

More if you consider silly auction pricing.

I think they were worth the $480 I paid today..

0CD

That is a great price for 50, especially if they are all culled.

Ryan

Would love to see them! Especially any early ones.

Cull largies are worth around $5-$7, especially at coin shows. Nicer later common date largies would probably at most go for $30 and $10-$15 if you sold them to a dealer. Dealers have loads of them for sale usually where I go. Sorry to burst your bubble.

I will get some scans up this weekend.

I will show the dings, pits and the nice ones.

One thing I was happy with was I have a great starter collection which gives me something to build.

I also learn a great deal quickly.

For instance, the uniformity of coin diameters is far less than modern coins.

My 1817 is too large for the whole in the book.

I had to do some "carpentry" as my gunsmith would say.

All of a sudden, I am looking at yet another coin at the shops.

0CD

zerocd wrote:I will get some scans up this weekend.

I will show the dings, pits and the nice ones.

One thing I was happy with was I have a great starter collection which gives me something to build.

I also learn a great deal quickly.

For instance, the uniformity of coin diameters is far less than modern coins.

My 1817 is too large for the whole in the book.

I had to do some "carpentry" as my gunsmith would say.

All of a sudden, I am looking at yet another coin at the shops.

0CD

What brand of coin album are you using to house these beauties?

zerocd wrote:I will get some scans up this weekend.

I will show the dings, pits and the nice ones.

One thing I was happy with was I have a great starter collection which gives me something to build.

I also learn a great deal quickly.

For instance, the uniformity of coin diameters is far less than modern coins.

My 1817 is too large for the whole in the book.

I had to do some "carpentry" as my gunsmith would say.

All of a sudden, I am looking at yet another coin at the shops.

0CD

0CD, I think the problem with your coins is that they were smashed out of shape. If they weren't all culls you should expect them to all be of the same diameter.

Either way, sounds like a great start to a collection

I'm no expert on US Large Cent coins but I just read this article on US Large Cents Key Datesand figured I'd contribute the link to the discussion. The author appraises US coins.

Nice