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YOUR coin could be worth a pretty penny, but you must know what to search for.
The 1795 Jefferson Head Cent is a rare coin with a rich history.
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Jefferson Head Cent’s were part of a series of Liberty Cap coins struck from 1793-1796.
This one is a specific variety – the Plain Edge.
These particular cents were struck in Philadelphia where only 10 were minted as the coins were not meant for public use.
Due to such a low mintage and fascinating history, these coins have sold for huge price tags.
In fact, one sold from leading coin site Heritage Auctions for $264,000.
A LITTLE HISTORY
These sample coins were produced outside the mint by John Harper who suggested to the Mint new machinery, according to third-party grader Professional Coin Grading Services, PCGS.
After being turned away, Harper created his own press and dies to prove his methods which became the Jefferson Heads.
For the design, Harper mirrored the 1795 Liberty Cap Cents.
Coin collectors nick-named Harper’s Cents Jefferson Heads as they resembled Thomas Jefferson’s profile.
Since this was not his original career, each attempt came out differently and was a little off the mark.
Despite Harper’s attempts being less than perfect, PCGS claims they were made to show that he could produce coins.
Coin collectors hold the Jefferson Heads in high regard, recognizing three different die combinations: Sheldon NC-1, Sheldon NC-4, and Sheldon 80.
This Jefferson Head obverse was combined with two different reverse dies to create 1795 NC-1 and 1795 S-80.
There are two edge lettering styles for NC-1, plain edge S-80 cents, and lettered edge pieces from the same die pair that is sometimes called NC-4.
Only the plain edge S-80 Jefferson Head cent is seen with any frequency.
COINING IT
Plenty of other coins strike a chord with collectors.
For example, a 1916 Buffalo nickel, also known as the Native American Head, sold for $105,000 due to a doubling error.
Doubling is an error that happens during the coin’s strike process.
How coins are graded
Coins are graded on a scale of one to 70, with one being the poorest grade, and 70 being the most pristine example.
Numbers 60 to 70 are generally the most sought-after by collectors and are known as Mint State coins.
Pieces that fetch thousands at auction are commonly found in MS67, MS68, and MS69 conditions.
An MS-70 is near-impossible to find among older coins.
This occurs when the metal pieces used to create the coin’s features strike multiple times to embed the image or text.
The Buffalo nickel was designed by sculptor James Earle Fraser.
The 1916 date features a double die on the nine, the one, and the six.
