Recently I have noticed COUNTERFEIT 1799 and 1799/8 Bust Large Cents being listed. Hopefully this will help you spot them so you don't get taken:

1. If the seller has a real 1799 cent, s/he will get them CERTIFIED. Even the most worn-out 1799 is worth $1000+.

2. If the picture is of poor quality ie blurry, the seller is doing this purposely to hide the tell-tale counterfeit signs.

3. The date is crucial. A real 1799 will be 'FLAT', and not sharp. The bottoms of both of the 9's will touch the rim. The allignment of the date will be such that it contours the rim perfectly. None of the numbers in the date should be higher or lower than the others.

4. The word 'LIBERTY' should be 'FLAT' and not sharp.

If you're still not sure, try comparing to a known real 1799 cent. You can see one at 'www.coinfacts.com'