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NGC RESEARCH

Coin of the Day

1854 Copper Pattern Cent
NGC PF-65 BN

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1854 Copper Pattern Cent

One of the several problems addressed by the U. S. Mint during the 1850s was the growing obsolescence of the large, copper cent. Cumbersome and costly to produce, a replacement was needed. One compromise solution was the reduced-size cent seen here.

Smaller and thinner than conventional cents of 1854, this pattern bore the same design, sans stars. This copper impression is superbly struck throughout, and it displays glossy surfaces of uniformly reddish-brown color. Nearly free of marks, it is vastly superior to the typical example of this popular pattern variety. Coins of this type are widely sought by both pattern specialists and those collecting large cents as a series.

NGC Census

The NGC online census of graded coins is a wonderful tool that is intuitive and user-friendly. You’ll find a complete listing of USA coin types, divided into MS (Mint State and circulated coins) and PF (Proof coins). Clicking on the desired category will open that particular selection, and further options for obtaining more detailed information will appear. A separate tab is provided for NGC-certified world coins.
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Coin Grading Guide: From 1 to 70

NGC Research Director Dave Lange looks at the entire series of United States coins, on a type-by-type basis, providing tips on how each coin type is graded and qualities to seek in selecting optimum examples. Now you can shop for coins well armed with useful facts and insights that will help you avoid many pitfalls.
Go to the Coin Grading Guide — From 1 to 70 »

Verify NGC Certification

Use this online tool to compare the certification details of any coin against the NGC certification database. This is also a great launching off point to learn more about your coin. In addition to seeing the grade and attribution details associated with your coins, you will also be provided the NumisMedia Price Guide value, a link to its population figures and a link to its coin encyclopedia entry.
Verify Certification tool instructions»
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Coin Encyclopedia

The Coin Encyclopedia contains historical summaries prepared by NGC's research department with obverse and reverse images of the coin and including detailed information about coin designs and associated reference materials. You can search by category or by entering a term in the search field. Currently there are almost 200 coin designs in the library.
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Numismedia FMV Price Guide

A feature incorporated into the online Census of NGC-certified coins is the NumisMedia Price Guide. By clicking on a highlighted coin issue, a table appears that features both that coin’s certified population and its corresponding values across several grades. These figures represent the Fair Market Value as established by NumisMedia, an independent compiler of prices at which coins are offered to collectors by dealers.
Go to the Numismatic FMV Price Guide »

Numismatic Bibliography

NGC's research department uses many resources when researching information for VarietyPlus and the Coin Encyclopedia. You can search through the Reference used from this page.
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VarietyPlus

NGC maintains a comprehensive guide to the varieties we recognize on our website, and a future release of this catalog includes important attribution information and detailed photographs. Coin details are a benefit of paid NGC Collectors Society membership. All visitors may explore the VarietyPlus category information.
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Glossary

Numismatics, like any specialized field, has a language all its own. To help you find your way, NGC created this alphabetical glossary of common numismatic terms that you may encounter on the NGC certification label and elsewhere on this
Web site.
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