NEW BOOKS: NOYES UNITED STATES LARGE CENTS VOLUMES 5 AND 6

Bill Noyes has recently added to his books illustrating the die varieties of large cents from 1793 to 1857. The new books are United States Large Cents, Volume 5, 1816 to 1845, and Volume 6, 1846 to 1857. These join Volumes 1 and 2, previously issued, which covered the 1793 to 1797 period. Unlike the previous books, these do not offer a detailed condition census of each variety, but are more concerned with the attribution of varieties and die states through the use of color photographs. Both have maroon covers, matching the earlier volumes.

In the 1816-1839 period, a typical variety is illustrated at greater than 2X, and the characteristics of each die are described and marked around the photos. Then the die states, the changes the coins undergo as the dies wear and crack, are described and generally illustrated, again with color photos greater than life size. The recently (re)discovered 1825 N5 is included. This period was previously covered by Newcomb, Wright, and Noyes himself, but the treatment of die states is expanded, with obverse and reverse states individually stated.

For the 1840-1857 period, Noyes has employed a different approach. Rather than listing a series of numbers relating the digits of the date to the bust and denticles, as done by Reiver and Grellman, he has photographed the date, in each case, and placed a photo, 5X or larger, below the obverse and reverse photographs. This shows the date and surrounding features, similar to a coin being viewed with a low power glass. Below that are photos of the important characteristics of each variety, and descriptions of die states in which the varieties are found.

Because many of the variations are quite subtle, red arrows and/or lines are used to enhance some of the fainter variations. Typically each variety is covered in a single page, and all illustrations are color photographs: the overall coin, the date area, and other areas characteristic of the particular variety.

At the beginning of each volume are a number of pages containing quick finders, or listings of defining characteristics of varieties, die links, which are lists of dies which are used in more than one variety, and other information, such as the original Newcomb position descriptions. These would probably have been more useful as booklets to use alongside the individual pages, and it is suggested that the reader make his own booklet using a copier. Ripping the pages from the binding is strongly discouraged.

The volumes were divided between 1845 and 1846, rather than 1839 and 1840. This was done to keep the size of each volume approximately the same, and is of little consequence. The books are not available individually. Another factor is that the varieties of the early 1840s are relatively few in number for each date, and those of the late 1840s and 1850s increase as do the mintages.

The books are offered as a pair only at $225.00 plus $10.00 shipping and are available from the sole distributor Charles Davis, Box 547, Wenham, MA 01984. Numislit@aol.com or on his website numisbook.com at $235.00 plus $10.00 shipping.

Wayne Homren, Editor

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