Large cent?

[je177]

I dug this highly corroded "coin" today in an old home site by a fresh water lake. When held in the right I can see a matron head. It appears the right size to be a large cent but it is heavily corroded and it rang up in the 50's on my DFX. I expected a higher VDI from a large cent. Any thoughts? Thanks for looking!

 

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[je177]

I want to add that as it is corroding, it appears to almost be separating in layers. I didn't think copper would do that.

 

[Scrappy]

That looks like a pointy chin on the bottom . I don't have my resources in front to me but I would look at British and Spanish coppers.

Do not clean that coin! It will destroy it.

 

[Cross Potent]

Looks like cast pewter and American made. Not sure what it is but its a pretty cool find.

 

[je177]

Here is a side by side comparison with a hoot if a large cent I dug a few weeks ago.

 

[Scrappy]

Here is a side by side comparison with a hoot if a large cent I dug a few weeks ago.

Ah, yes, I see what you see. The upper bust looked like a chin. Well I think you have yourself a LC. I've had coppers turn up looking EXACTLY like that so I think yours is genuine. I also learned to not touch a copper in that condition so enjoy your find for what it is and don't clean it anymore. Or if you do, use mineral oil

 

[je177]

A warm peroxide bath is a bad idea fur this guy? It worked wonders on the other LC.

 

[Professor of Engineering]

In my opinion, any large cent find is a good one. Congratulations!

 

[Argentium]

Yes , you have a "Matron Head" large cent there (1816-1835) looks to my eye like you got an 1818 . fertilizers can do funky damage
to coppers -

 

[WildWildBill]

Could be either a LC or a colonial. Must find stars on the front, or what details are on the back.

 

[shoague]

Looks like a ringer

 

[je177]

What do you make of the low VDI numbers it registered in my DFX? Copper usually rings in 70-80.

 

[Argentium]

I think if you look at the clear curve at the bottom of the "truncated bust" (neckline) and the shape of the profile overall this
is pretty clearly a Matron Head large cent .
( as far as the lower VDI reading - I'm guessing it has to do with how toasty and shredded your piece is )

 

[UnderMiner]

What is in that dirt? Never seen a LC that "flaky" before. No matter, a LC is a LC and they are awesome no matter what!

 

[Metal Illness]

Could it possibly be one of those token type LCs? I have seen LC type tokens that say "Not One Cent" on the back, and I'm not sure of the composition of these LC tokens. Maybe Pewter mix of some sort? This might explain the low numbers and explain why it seems to be coming apart in layers. Just something to ponder, I can't definitively say. Congrats anyway!

 

[Scrappy]

Could it possibly be one of those token type LCs? I have seen LC type tokens that say "Not One Cent" on the back, and I'm not sure of the composition of these LC tokens. Maybe Pewter mix of some sort? This might explain the low numbers and explain why it seems to be coming apart in layers. Just something to ponder, I can't definitively say. Congrats anyway!

I have one of the Not One Cents and they're copper. Here's mine...

 

[Gaspipe]

No doubt Matron head .

 

[testing123]

almost looks like it's pewter? or maybe lead? That might explain the lower VDI.

 

[je177]

Thanks for all the input on this one. It's clearly a LC design. Whether it's real or a copy is still a mystery!

HH

 

[grasshopper]

One particular large cent I found also rang up much lower than other ones....I thought it was a counterfeit. It was also heavily corroded and flaking apart like yours was. I posted it and some of other members informed me that it's common for coins like these to ring up lower because of all the material that was lost.