1793 Large Cent

[smed]

I went to the closer of the local coin shops today to let them know about the coins I sent to NGC. They told me about this coin somebody wanted then to send to ANACS, he said he thought it was a 1793 Strawberry Leaf cent, and that he could tell from the portrait.

Now, this cent is slick on the reverse and there's enough of the portrait to tell it's a 1793. It was in a 2x2 and I couldn't get a good enough look at the rim to tell what it had. The coin also has about a 1mm hole in the center and one about 2mm at about 4:30 maybe 4-5mm from the rim. Still, I'd say it's about $100 coin given what's still there.

Anybody know of any way to tell a Strawberry Leaf just from the portrait?

[GarryN]

Hi Smed,

I have a 1989 Yeoman Handbook. There is an image of a Strawberry Leaf Large Cent in the book, that looks porous and VG at best. The portrait looks identical to the usual Wreath type cent. Not a scientific comparison, but a beginning! The book also says there are 4 known. Maybe anyone with a Breen book could see if there are any characteristics to the portrait mentioned there? I might have access to the book Tuesday. My local dealer has one.

[smed]

Thanks, but I should have mentioned that I have a Breen (I didn't because some people have a major problem with him personally) and so does the coin shop. Nothing in there to help.

[GarryN]

Thats too bad there is nothing there, maybe it means there is nothing about the portrait that distinguishes it. I seem to recall that the dates were hand punched into the die at that time, perhaps that would give a clue... if there was any part of the date left to examine.

[smed]

Nothing of the date... you can see where LIBERTY used to be.

[ken]

http://www.coinresource.com/guide/exhibit/strawberry_cent.htm
This link will explain the strawberry leaf coin.

[smed]

Wow Ken, how'd you dig up this 6+ year old thread?

In all honesty, I don't have the faintest recollection of the coin or the thread. But thanks for the link anyway!

[ken]

I've been buying alot of early copper coins lately.And reading past threads trying to find info on them.Some colonials and pre 1810 dates in both cents and half cents.You may have read or seen some of the coins in other threads.I'm trying to get info on the sheldon/breen #'s of the different varieties and in my searches I came across the strawberry leaf details in the link I posted.I saw your topic and thought I'd post the link for all to see.I doubt I'll ever see one,but you never know.Flea markets,estate sales,ect.I have a friend that found a 1916/16(paid .35 for it) and a chain cent(paid $2 for it) at a flea market.The Buff came in at f15 and the chain came in at vf35(1 of the best known).I had mentioned this in past threads.

[GarryN]

Just for the record, the Eliasberg Collection did not have a Strawberry Leaf variety. I seem to recall seeing one in a recent auction catalog. I have to do some searching. Also, Ken, when did someone cherryick a Chain Cent at a flea market?? That is amazing.

Here is a link. One sold this month...

http://www.coinlink.com/News/us-coins/strawberry-leaf-1793-cent-sells-for-862500-an-auction-record-for-a-copper-coin/

The article mentions the coin in Ken's link. That coin sold for $414,000 in 2004.

[eagames]

It feels like a time warp, the thread popped back from 2003.