Draped Bust or Liberty Cap?

[West Jersey Detecting]

I dug this half cent about a year ago, and I always thought it was a Draped Bust variety. I have been looking at it from different angels and I am still not convinced what variety it is. It has been soaked in peroxide.

Based on its light weight (71 grains) and diameter 23 mm it could be either one.

Anyone?

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

DR.ÖTEK Metal Detector, Waterproof Gold Detector, Pinpoint & Terrain Modes, Professional Metal Detector - Grab it through Amazon!

[sagittarius98]

Nice find! I am no expert, but I think it is a Liberty Cap because it looks like the bottom edge of the bust is angled down and I think I see something like a cap where it should be, but it could just be my imagination.

 

[Don in SJ]

Nice find! I am no expert, but I think it is a Liberty Cap because it looks like the bottom edge of the bust is angled down and I think I see something like a cap where it should be, but it could just be my imagination.

I reangled his photograph to what I think the proper angle should be and it looks more like the bottom of a Draped Bust and not the Liberty Cap, however, sure is tough to say for sure, I see other things that make me think otherwise.

May look again later today and play with the photo some more.

ALWAYS hard to say from bad conditioned coppers with basically no detail where you need it most for ID.
Don

Update: I took two of my coppers and put Neil's photo in the center, now without a doubt it does not match the size bust of a 1797 Half Cent, and seems close to matching the 1804 example.

Now the 1797 does have a smaller bust so here is a photograph of a 1794 Half Cent (normal head)which has a larger bust and again, seems the match is closest to the Draped Bust.

 

[West Jersey Detecting]

I tried another re-soaking of the half cent, and after a few hours got enough crud off the left side of the bust to ID it. There is no doubt is a Draped Bust, and it may even be an 1804!. I can only see the draped bust while the coin is wet and until my camera is back from repair I have no way of scanning a wet coin.

Nice work Don (as usual)!

 

[Don in SJ]

Thanks Neil, I have found over the years the best way for comparing a posted photo is to put it along side a possible duplicate to compare, it usually works pretty good and sure beats going back and forth from one pic to another or to a book photo........
Irfanview.com is what I use for merging the photos...

Don

 

[West Jersey Detecting]

Irfanview.com is what I use for merging the photos...

Don

It's also great for looking at large jpeg maps.