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On a related note… It’s not every day that I can upgrade my Hall of Fame “Top 100 Modern” set. But, today was such a day. The pop 10/1 1972 Lincoln Cent Doubled Die Obverse PCGS MS-67 + RD (CAC Green) (Ex. Stewart Blay / Red Copper) From the Lincoln Collection of Lincoln Cents, sold back in 2023 at the Blay auction for just under $17,500 all in and just sold to me today for just under $8,700 all in (just under 50 cents on the dollar)!! I consider myself very fortunate to have acquired this great coin at this price level.

Wondercoin.

@wondercoin said:
Crypto: Your thesis may be spot on that the absence of just 1 or 2 major players may create meaningful corrections in the top pop coins - both classic and modern. And, for that matter, meaningful potential opportunities for buyers until such time as new whales surface. In your example, you discuss 66RD coins at $1k, but, a better comparison might be the 67RD coins (which are not a dime a dozen) and often trade in the $3k - $3.5k range (especially for nice examples). PCGS has graded around 3,600 RED examples of this coin number in all Mint state grades, but less than 100 coins in superb gem 67 grade. And, just a fraction of those coins with the CAC sticker. I can see the future is likely bright for there to be at least 100 serious collectors of major variety Lincoln cents desiring a 67RD specimen. And, the nicer quality 67 grade coins will be even more in demand.

But, an interesting question is what should the less than 1 dozen (out of 3,600+) top of the line specimens trade for at this time? It isn’t a great stretch to me that the (10) MS67+ coins have a value close to, or in excess of, the current P.G. level of $9,000. Indeed, my max bid tonight was in excess of full P.G. not even counting the B.P. And, above those (10) MS67+ coins is a single MS68RD. I can only imagine what that might auction at even with a whale or two missing from the auction.

So, I’m not exactly sure what the recent “correction” in these Lincoln cent top pops is signaling. It could be many things, including possibly players temporarily redirecting their assets into Bitcoin at record levels.

Just my 2 cents.

Wondercoin

Your points make perfect sense from a supply and demand perspective based on plastic availability. you have forgotten more about the top pop market than I will ever know.

With that said for it to make sense to me a grumpy collector (using your example) one would need to be able to line those dozen 67s up raw, the 67+ and the 68 while throwing in a few 66 reds and have the majority of buyers (not dealers) mostly agree the 67+ and 68 were the best coins and worth stretching for. I simply don’t think that would happen with most top pops in the plastic game with the under grades esp from the late 20th cen.

My point is more about the consistency of grading and the nuances of superb gem grading. Don’t get me started on 68,69 and 70s. I walk my walk too, my 1995w ASE is an ultra cam 68 in an NGC holder that I got for cheaper than spotted 69s in pcgs holders go for at wholesale. I have no idea why it’s a 68 and I am a pretty good grader but I know the plastic effect that elevates top pops also unfairly makes some coins market pariahs.

I still haven't found any 2025 coins except quarters, just like last year.

@CRHer700 said:
I might post some more pictures soon, as I haven't had much time to do so recently.

I still might. Sorry that I haven't already.

Crypto: Your thesis may be spot on that the absence of just 1 or 2 major players may create meaningful corrections in the top pop coins - both classic and modern. And, for that matter, meaningful potential opportunities for buyers until such time as new whales surface. In your example, you discuss 66RD coins at $1k, but, a better comparison might be the 67RD coins (which are not a dime a dozen) and often trade in the $3k - $3.5k range (especially for nice examples). PCGS has graded around 3,600 RED examples of this coin number in all Mint state grades, but less than 100 coins in superb gem 67 grade. And, just a fraction of those coins with the CAC sticker. I can see the future is likely bright for there to be at least 100 serious collectors of major variety Lincoln cents desiring a 67RD specimen. And, the nicer quality 67 grade coins will be even more in demand.

But, an interesting question is what should the less than 1 dozen (out of 3,600+) top of the line specimens trade for at this time? It isn’t a great stretch to me that the (10) MS67+ coins have a value close to, or in excess of, the current P.G. level of $9,000. Indeed, my max bid tonight was in excess of full P.G. not even counting the B.P. And, above those (10) MS67+ coins is a single MS68RD. I can only imagine what that might auction at even with a whale or two missing from the auction.

So, I’m not exactly sure what the recent “correction” in these Lincoln cent top pops is signaling. It could be many things, including possibly players temporarily redirecting their assets into Bitcoin at record levels.

Just my 2 cents.

Wondercoin

@JimTyler said:

@fathom said:
I would think hardcore Superman comic collectors would seriously consider this piece.

I hope they don’t make a Curly.

That would be awesome! Curly, Larry and Moe gold coins from the Mint! You never know. Anything is possible these days from the Mint! I’d buy them!

@MJPHELAN said:
I believe the hoard pictured above were mostly wheat cents if I remember correctly.

Remember, this is just one person's hoard of wheat cents. Think of how many more hoards are out there. They are common, common, common. I recall hearing of a hoard of several million wheat cents existing in my area ... and that was at least twenty-five years ago!

I wonder what’s the record for submissions of the same coin CA- CHING 💰

Maybe the food chain is rebalancing without the Megalodon swimming in the waters. Just minus blay’s Statue of Liberty bidding will (and apparently has) effected the shallow elite red copper whale market. Honestly how may copper buyers are there for 6figure top pop pennies when very similar undergrade coins bring a fraction and it’s not like dealers like stocking that kind of stuff to create a small spread wholesale floor. The reasons so many collect cents is they are cheap, elevating past the bulk of a collector base is a risky investment proposition.

Just use wondercoin’s 72ddo in 67. He is a top pop master so I’m sure at 8.7k he knows his market but a near perfect (dime a dozen) 66 red is like a 1k coin maybe a few bucks more. I have often thought there would be a market correction for registry points esp when it’s more grade rarity opposed to real rarity. Maybe correction is too strong but a maturing of the market. I could be wrong as always