Graded Type Coins | IDC COIN & BULLION

Shop U.S. Type Coins, Early Copper & Collector Curiosities

Explore historic American coins, obsolete denominations, unusual varieties, Civil War tokens, and collectible pieces representing more than two centuries of monetary history.

From early half cents and large cents to Flying Eagle cents, Indian Head cents, Lincoln cents, Shield nickels, Buffalo nickels, two-cent pieces, and three-cent nickels, this collection offers opportunities for both beginning and experienced numismatists.

IDC Coin & Bullion, part of International Diamond Center, offers historic U.S. type coins and selected world coins, including professionally certified examples and eligible IDC Verified pieces.

Browse the inventory below using available filters for coin series, year, mintmark, grading service, and grade. Examine individual listings for exact identification, certification, condition, and variety information.

What Is a U.S. Type Coin Collection?

A United States type coin collection brings together representative examples of different coin designs, denominations, or major design varieties.

Instead of collecting every date and mintmark in a series, a type collector may select one Draped Bust half cent, one Flying Eagle cent, one Indian Head cent, one Shield nickel, and other examples illustrating changes in American coinage.

Type collecting offers a way to explore the development of U.S. coin design, manufacturing technology, denominations, and monetary policy without necessarily completing every individual coin series.

Popular references include the Guide Book of United States Coins, commonly called the Red Book, and established type-set collecting systems.

Early American Half Cents & Large Cents

Early copper coinage is a foundational area of American numismatics. The United States Mint produced half cents from 1793 to 1857 and large cents from 1793 to 1857.

These coins are substantially larger than modern Lincoln cents and reflect the design and manufacturing practices of early American coinage.

Draped Bust Half Cents

Early copper coins featuring the Draped Bust Liberty design, issued from 1800 through 1808.

Classic Head Half Cents

Produced from 1809 through 1836, these coins represent another distinctive early copper design.

Coronet Head Large Cents

Issued beginning in 1816, these large copper cents include collectible design and die varieties.

Braided Hair Large Cents

The final major large-cent design type, produced from 1839 through 1857.

Collectors examine early copper for surface originality, corrosion, scratches, cleaning, strike quality, and identifiable die varieties.

Early copper buying tip: Color, porosity, environmental damage, and surface quality can affect value even when two coins have similar levels of circulation wear.

Flying Eagle & Indian Head Cents

Flying Eagle Cents: 1856–1858

The Flying Eagle cent marked the transition from the traditional large cent to a smaller cent format.

Regular circulation production began in 1857, following limited 1856 pattern production. The Flying Eagle design is popular among collectors building 19th-century type sets.

Indian Head Cents: 1859–1909

The Indian Head cent, designed by James B. Longacre, replaced the Flying Eagle cent in 1859 and remained in production through 1909.

The series includes important design and composition changes, better dates, and varieties such as the 1873 Open 3 and Closed 3.

Collectors often pursue Indian Head cents by date and mintmark, certified grade, or major variety.

Lincoln Wheat Cents & Memorial Cents

Introduced in 1909, the Lincoln cent is one of America's longest-running coin series.

The original Wheat Ears reverse was used from 1909 through 1958. The Lincoln Memorial reverse followed in 1959 and continued through 2008, with four bicentennial reverse designs appearing in 2009.

Lincoln cent collectors study key dates, mintmarks, doubled dies, repunched mintmarks, composition changes, and copper color designations.

1909-S VDB

A famous Lincoln Wheat cent key date bearing Victor David Brenner's initials on the reverse.

1914-D Lincoln Cent

A major Denver-mint key date in the Lincoln Wheat cent series.

1922 No D Variety

A recognized variety associated with die deterioration at the Denver Mint.

1955 Doubled Die Obverse

One of the best-known doubled die varieties in American coin collecting.

A 1955 cent is not automatically a doubled die, and a 1922-D cent is not automatically a No D variety. Exact attribution matters.

Historic American Nickels

Nickel collecting provides a broad range of design types, historical periods, and recognized varieties.

Series	Years	Collecting Interest
Shield Nickel	1866–1883	First five-cent nickel series; collectible rays and no-rays reverse types.
Liberty Head Nickel	1883–1913	Includes 1883 No CENTS and With CENTS designs and major key dates.
Buffalo Nickel	1913–1938	Popular American design with important dates, varieties, and strike differences.
Jefferson Nickel	1938–present	Includes wartime silver issues, Full Steps collecting, and modern varieties.

Buffalo Nickel Varieties

Buffalo nickel specialists pursue varieties such as the 1913 Type 1 and Type 2 reverse designs, the 1918/7-D overdate, and the 1937-D Three-Legged Buffalo nickel.

Because certain varieties are valuable, buyers should confirm attribution and examine the certification information when available.

Two-Cent & Three-Cent Coins

The United States once issued several denominations no longer used in everyday commerce.

Two-Cent Pieces

Issued from 1864 through 1873, these bronze coins are notable for introducing the motto IN GOD WE TRUST to circulating U.S. coinage.

Three-Cent Nickels

Produced from 1865 through 1889, these copper-nickel coins feature Liberty on the obverse and a Roman numeral III on the reverse.

A broader U.S. type set may also include the three-cent silver series, which was produced from 1851 through 1873.

These obsolete denominations are particularly appealing to collectors interested in unusual American coinage.

Colonial Coins, Civil War Tokens & Medallic Pieces

Not every collectible numismatic item is a regular-issue United States coin.

Colonial and early state coinage can reflect monetary practices before and shortly after the establishment of the U.S. Mint.

Civil War tokens circulated as substitutes for scarce small change during the American Civil War. They include patriotic designs and merchant advertising tokens.

Medallic pieces, restrikes, replicas, and fantasy coinage require careful identification. Some were produced long after the historical periods they depict.

Authentication matters: A colonial-style piece should not be described as an original colonial coin unless its authenticity and attribution support that identification.

Understanding Coin Grades & IDC Verified

Many coins in this category are certified by third-party grading services, including PCGS, NGC, ICG, and ANACS.

Certified coins may receive numerical grades based on the Sheldon 70-point scale. Some coins receive Details or Genuine designations because of surface problems or other characteristics.

Grade	General Description
AG-3	About Good; heavily worn but identifiable.
G-4 to G-6	Good; extensive circulation wear.
VG-8 to VG-10	Very Good; major design features remain visible.
F-12 to F-15	Fine; moderate to considerable wear.
VF-20 to VF-35	Very Fine; moderate wear with stronger detail.
XF-40 to XF-45	Extremely Fine; light wear on high points.
AU-50 to AU-58	About Uncirculated; slight traces of wear.
MS-60 to MS-70	Mint State; no circulation wear, with varying preservation.

What Is IDC Verified?

IDC Verified identifies eligible coins participating in IDC's numismatic verification program, which incorporates independent grading through Independent Coin Graders (ICG).

Collectors should examine each coin's actual holder, assigned grade, certification number, and any condition or variety notation.

Explore IDC Verified coins .

What Makes a Historic Type Coin Valuable?

A coin's age alone does not establish its market value.

Date & Mintmark

Certain issues have lower surviving populations or stronger collector demand.

Condition & Originality

Wear, corrosion, cleaning, damage, and natural surfaces affect desirability.

Die Varieties

Doubled dies, overdates, repunched mintmarks, and other recognized varieties may attract specialists.

Demand & Availability

Collector interest, certified populations, and comparable sales influence market prices.

Compare coins with matching dates, mintmarks, varieties, grades, and condition characteristics rather than relying only on published price-guide estimates.

Building a U.S. Type Coin Collection

A practical starting point is to select one representative coin from each major design or denomination.

Some collectors focus on affordable circulated examples, while others pursue certified coins in a consistent grade range.

A themed collection might focus on 19th-century copper, obsolete denominations, Buffalo nickels, Civil War-era coinage, or famous varieties.

Before buying, identify the exact type and verify that it fits your collecting goals. For valuable or frequently counterfeited pieces, third-party authentication can be especially useful.

Buy & Sell Historic Coins in Clearwater, Florida

IDC Coin & Bullion, part of International Diamond Center, is headquartered in Clearwater, Florida.

IDC operates 11 retail locations across Florida and Georgia and offers collectible coins nationwide through its online store.

Collectors throughout Clearwater, Tampa, St. Petersburg, Largo, Dunedin, Palm Harbor, Safety Harbor, Oldsmar, and surrounding Tampa Bay communities can contact IDC about historic U.S. coins, certified type coins, and numismatic collections.

Have old cents, nickels, unusual denominations, or a larger coin collection to sell? IDC considers qualifying coins and collections for purchase.

Learn what IDC buys or find an IDC location .

Collector Curiosities & Type Coin FAQs

What is a U.S. type coin?

A representative coin from a particular denomination, design, or major design type in United States coinage.

What is a type set?

A collection assembled to represent different coin designs or denominations rather than every date and mintmark in a single series.

What is a half cent?

A historic U.S. coin worth one-half of one cent, produced from 1793 through 1857.

When were large cents discontinued?

Large cents were last produced in 1857, when the Mint transitioned to the smaller cent format.

What is a Flying Eagle cent?

An early small-cent design associated with 1856 pattern coinage and regular issues from 1857 through 1858.

Are Indian Head cents rare?

Some dates and varieties are scarce, while others remain relatively accessible. Value depends on the exact issue and condition.

What is a Shield nickel?

The first regular five-cent coin made from copper-nickel alloy, introduced in 1866.

What is a three-cent nickel?

A U.S. three-cent coin made from copper-nickel alloy and issued from 1865 through 1889.

Why are two-cent coins collectible?

They are an obsolete U.S. denomination and were the first circulating U.S. coins to bear the motto IN GOD WE TRUST.

What are Civil War tokens?

Privately issued tokens used during the Civil War era when official small change was scarce.

What is a doubled die coin?

A coin struck from a die displaying doubled design elements caused during the die-making process.

What does Red or Red Brown mean on a copper coin?

These are grading-service color designations describing the remaining original red color on eligible copper coins.

Are old coins automatically valuable?

No. Rarity, condition, demand, and exact variety generally matter more than age alone.

What does Genuine mean on a certified coin?

It indicates authentication, but the coin may not have received a straight numerical grade.

What is IDC Verified?

An IDC numismatic verification program for eligible participating coins, incorporating independent grading through ICG.

Does IDC sell historic U.S. type coins?

Yes. IDC offers historic cents, nickels, obsolete denominations, tokens, and other collectible coins through its online catalog. Inventory varies.

Does IDC buy old coins and collections?

IDC considers qualifying historic coins and numismatic collections for purchase. Contact the team about your specific items.

Where can I buy type coins in Clearwater, Florida?

IDC Coin & Bullion is headquartered in Clearwater, Florida, and offers collectible U.S. type coins through its online store.

Explore More Numismatic Collections

Discover Historic Coins at IDC Coin & Bullion

Explore early American copper, collectible cents and nickels, obsolete denominations, Civil War tokens, and certified type coins.

Browse available inventory online or contact IDC about a collection you are considering selling.

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