I Like Large Cents

[benjmurts]

I see a lot of posts out there about Morgans and other silver coins with little respect for Large Cents. The Indian Heads do get some attention but the Large Cent is just passed on. The Large Cent is one of my favorites along with Barber Dimes but it seems I am in a small percentage of collectors who really like them. I have several MS 63 / MS 64 NGC graded large cents and plan on sending in a few more this year. Just wondered if there is anyone else out there?

[thebeav]

I'm not particularly a large cent person, but I wish I would have concentrated on this series 30 or 40 years ago.....Heck, any early copper.....I remember buying Fugio cents for 38 dollars and then being thrilled selling them for 40..... Who knew that such tremendous appreciation would apply to this area......

Oh, don't worry...you're not alone......

 

Paul

[leeg]

I'm a big fan of early copper. I just wish I could afford more of them.

 

 

 

 

[CO Collector]

I like large cents. Just too focused right now on finishing other collections.

 

But I couldn't resist bidding & winning this:

 

 

[jpcienkus]

I also like Large Cents. I've come to appreciate them as I'm putting together my Type Set.

[BillJones]

I like large cents and have considered forming a date set of them. Two coins, the 1799 and the 1804 bring me up short because their high prices.

 

The trouble with large cents today for most collectors is that tracking them down in decent condition (nice Fine, VF and EF coins) is tough because the Early American Coppers (EAC) collectors have taken so many of them out of collector circulation. These collectors collect them die varieties and sometimes by die state (level of die wear). That means to one collector might need 20 or more coins of the same date to complete his or her collection.

 

The prices are also high, at least for the early dates, because three or four dealers control most of the market. That makes it hard for collectors on a budget to build a collection of them.

 

Here is a really super 1820 large cent. This coin is fairly common in Mint State because it came from a large hoard, but it is still outstanding piece.

 

[thebeav]

Yes, that 1820 is really nice.

I've always been a fan of die cracks.....

Paul

[Conder101]

The trouble with large cents today for most collectors is that tracking them down in decent condition (nice Fine, VF and EF coins) is tough because the Early American Coppers (EAC) collectors have taken so many of them out of collector circulation. These collectors collect them die varieties and sometimes by die state (level of die wear). That means to one collector might need 20 or more coins of the same date to complete his or her collection.

On the flipside, when a lot of the nicer coins do come on the market they are now being bought up by investor types and are being lost to the early copper specialists. I can't help but wonder how many of the coins from the Tom Reynolds early date collection that sold Jan 31st are still in the hands of EAC people.

[Matt_dac]

I too like large cents, specifically late 1700's.

[PocketArt]

I enjoy collecting large cents. Not my specialization, and can't honestly say I specialize in any one particular coin type. Enjoy all U.S. coins and even some World.

 

Here is my 1857 small date Large Cent- bought this from friscomint1793 on ebay. Yes, it has a few carbon spots on obverse; but happy just the same and not too distracting in hand.

 

https://www.ngccoin.com/certlookup/3705725-002/

 

In regards to (EAC) collectors; I read a good article in Coin World Weekly in the January 25, 2016 issue on Large Cent Master Dan Holmes. Apparently, Mr. Holmes had the "most complete die variety collection of large cents ever formed." It's noted in the article that his collection sold in four sales between 2009 - 2011.

 

At least good to see a healthy amount of his coins still available for sale. Probably next on my list unless distracted by something else...too many coins and not enough money!

[jpcienkus]

I have really come to appreciate large cents while putting together my graded 7070 type set. Part of it is the design, part of it is the history and the idea that I can add a 150-200 year old coins to my collection. This is one of my favorites. I bought it raw. NGC graded it AU58. I love the die crack. The coin is a rich chocolate brown. The photos are from the auction company where I won the coin.

 

[MAC266]

I don't own any, but I read about them every now and then and have watched a few videos about them from the ANA library. They are very interesting, but also cost prohibitive as someone before me mentioned (with a great explanation as to why, too!).

 

I wouldn't mind picking up one like the 1818 or 1820 someone posted, with the obvious die cracks. I teach Boy Scouts the coin collecting merit badge and things like die cracks, cuds, etc. might peak their interest.

[oih82w8]

Here is my latest hole in my 7070 that I filled;

 

1847 1C N-1(pick-up point is the date which repunched to the west)

 

[BillJones]

A somewhat unusual date ... 1841.

 

This one is graded MS-63, Brown, which I thought was quite conservative. It has not red color, but the surfaces are glossy and smooth. I like nice brown copper when I can find it.