Need help with 1794 large cent

Gridwalker306 · May 29, 2014

I got this 1794 large cent a couple of years ago at a flea market. I am curious of the variety, the "Sheldon" list is overwhelming, and it's hard to tell on a worn coin. After some comparison, I suspect that it is the 1793 head. What do you think?

huntsman53 · May 29, 2014

The coin appears to possibly have the Sheldon 56 (Office Boy) Reverse but the Obverse does not match to this Variety. It is possible that the "Office Boy Reverse" was used with other Obverse Dies. I will keep checking and see if I can find a match but the Obserses are somewhat harder to attribute!

Frank

Gridwalker306 · May 29, 2014

You are one knowledgeable dude, thanks so much. I will explore the Sheldon variety you mentioned...

Gridwalker306 · May 29, 2014

Yes, I see the match with S-56 on the reverse! I would give this coin a grade of AG3, what sort of value would it have?

huntsman53 · May 29, 2014

Although I cannot access any of the Sheldon NC- Varieties, after researching all of the other known Varieties of the 1794 Flowing Hair Large Cents, it is my believe that your' coin is a Counterfeit. While the Reverse somewhat matches the Reverse for the Sheldon 56 Variety ("Office Boy" Reverse), the Obverse does not match any that I can find and note that "LIBERTY" is way too far Eastward. There also appears to be traces of what might be an "LI" to the West where "LIBERTY" should actually begin. It is possible that this is an unknown Variety where "LIBERTY" was recut into the Die but the chances are higher that the coin is a Counterfeit.

Frank

huntsman53 · May 29, 2014

J.Cache said:
Yes, I see the match with S-56 on the reverse! I would give this coin a grade of AG3, what sort of value would it have?

Considering my statements in the post after yours quoted here, I cannot put a value on the coin as it may be a Counterfeit. However, you need to send pics to some EAC members and get their opinions on this coin.

Frank

Gridwalker306 · May 30, 2014

I had to really look at the "Liberty" to figure it out, but to me it looks good. There is a scratch at the bottom of the "I" that throws you off, but I can see where the letters all appear in the right place. Does this help?

I will take some much better pics tomorrow in the light.

huntsman53 · May 30, 2014

J.Cache said:
I had to really look at the "Liberty" to figure it out, but to me it looks good. There is a scratch at the bottom of the "I" that throws you off, but I can see where the letters all appear in the right place. Does this help?

I will take some much better pics tomorrow in the light.

I see what you mean! The pic really makes it appear that "LIBERTY" is shifted Eastward. Maybe a better straight-on closeup pic might help. If you are correct in the pic showing "LIBERTY" lined up with the writing in red, then it the coin is surely a Sheldon 56 Variety.

Frank

Gridwalker306 · May 30, 2014

Here are some better pictures. The coin looks to be in worse shape in the pics (isn't that always the case haha!). I can clearly see the bottom corner of the "L" on the obverse in these pics, so it looks to be right. Also, the reverse is rotated 15 or 20 degrees from the obverse, not sure if that helps in the ID.

huntsman53 · May 30, 2014

The first pic of the latest pics, better shows the alignment of LIBERTY and it is pretty much where you showed them in the previous pic and post. Die rotation would only have significance in determining the Variety if both Dies that created it, were solely used to strike every single specimen of the Sheldon 56 Variety that were produced. If the Dies were removed, re-annealed and possibly repaired then used to strike more coins, the coins struck during this time would be of the same Variety but may or may not have/show rotation of the Reverse Die.

Frank

Gridwalker306 · May 31, 2014

Do you think it would be worth having this coin graded and slabbed?

huntsman53 · May 31, 2014

J.Cache said:
Do you think it would be worth having this coin graded and slabbed?

Sorry but I cannot find any prices realized for this Variety of 1794 Flowing Hair Large Cent in a similar grade! The Variety has a Rarity of only R2, so I would imagine not. However, you might want to check with some well known EAC members/experts for their opinions. Please bear in mind, that one or more of their members may not give you a true value and only what they would pay for it as they may want to obtain the coin. This is what Vino (George) found out when showing some of his' Half Cents and Large Cents to them and trying to get fair offers. I believe he had one offer of around $550 and another of $600 for his' 1802/0 Draped Bust Half Cent Cohen-2 Variety and we now know that he sold the coin for $4,200 to a Dealer in these type of early coins. Another choice would be to contact Larry Briggs of Larry Briggs Rare Coins, send him pics and ask his opinion. Just make sure that no matter who you are in contact with, make sure to always state that the coin is not for sale and that you only want to know if it is worth having certified, graded and attributed (i.e. the Variety noted on the label) and any possible value!

Good luck!

Frank