Found Hidden Gem

Gurney266

Found this in my coworkers drawer.
She had only one penny in her cash register after an 8 hour shift and this was what it was. Please keep in mind that while I took this picture my hand was very steady.
This coin seems Lincoln appears blurred in a way. I know this is a high grade coins with a rainbowish sheen to somewhat. My question is #1 is it worth getting graded and #2 how do I get that blasted fingerprint on it off?

Gurney266

And the reverse

Ike1964

The coin is not worth the grading fee.

yosclimber

It's most likely an AU (retail less than $2).
On a good day it might be MS-65 (retail $18). (The fingerprint rules out MS-65, actually).
https://www.pcgs.com/prices/detail/lincoln-cent-wheat-reverse/46/most-active/ms?pn=4
Grading it would cost you $60-80.

Still, kind of a cool find. No world cruise, though.

ricko

I would not have it graded...Investment would far outweigh any value. That fingerprint will not be removed... it is etched into the surface by now, due to acids in the natural finger oil. Cheers, RickO

WAYNEAS

Like the story about the find.
Need clearer pictures for me to decide about the grade.
Finger prints lower the grade.
Wayne

ChrisH821

What you have is an impaired proof(a proof coin that has been circulated, mishandled, etc), very cool to find in change, but not really any value to it. Someone probably broke apart a 1956 proof set to get the silver and spent the cent and probably also the nickel.
That fingerprint is very likely permanent, copper does not like contaminants on its surface. That could also be the reason it was spent.
The reason Lincoln looks blurry is because detail from the die that struck the coin had been lost due to use and polishing.

JBK

I thought it might be a proof, too, but did not want to stick my neck out on it.

MarkKelley

Not worth grading unless it comes back as a 67. And it won't.

Treashunt

@JBK said:
I thought it might be a proof, too, but did not want to stick my neck out on it.

Denver did not make proofs

JBK

@Treashunt said:

@JBK said:
I thought it might be a proof, too, but did not want to stick my neck out on it.

Denver did not make proofs

?? I don't see a mintmark in the photo.

Treashunt

@JBK said:

@Treashunt said:

@JBK said:
I thought it might be a proof, too, but did not want to stick my neck out on it.

Denver did not make proofs

?? I don't see a mintmark in the photo.

oops, bad eyesight, I thought I saw some mark there

sorry