What would you do with a Pop 1/0 . . . BUT . . .

DMWJR

I recently purchased the one and only 1951 NGC PR68CAM Lincoln. Two things happened, and I never expected the feeling I would get when I looked at it. It appears to have a slight brush across the cheek which removed the frost and left a few tiny scratches. I really can't tell under 40x if they are scratches or die scratches. To me this would probably downgrade the coin to a 67CAM. Then I look the entire coin over. It is a doubled die! In fact it is Coneca I-O-II, which is a desirable one.

up . . . down . . . up . . .down . . .

I'm confused on what to do. I'm not saying it wouldn't cross to PCGS, but I have my own standards too. Then the unexpected DDO . . . and I don't know which way to jump. Return it or keep it?

Placid

I wish I had your problem

Did you buy it sight unseen?
If you don't like it either return it or sell it.

braddick

If you even dislike the coin a little bit right now, down the road you're going to absolutely hate it.
Return the coin.

goyankeez

Although I'm no expert, the scratches on the devices sound like die repolishing lines, commonly found on early '50s cameos. But you have the coin and are knowledable about lincoln cents, so you're in a better position than me to judge.

You say this is a desirable DDO. Could you submit it to ANACS and resell it as a DDO, if you are unhappy with it. I don't know what they go for, but maybe you can make a few bucks.

Anyway, just a few suggestions off the top of my head.

Good Luck.

DMWJR

If you even dislike the coin a little bit right now, down the road you're going to absolutely hate it.

Well, it's not that simple. There are no other 1951 PR68CAM's except one PCGS. I only paid PR67CAM money for this one. I really don't know if there is a nicer one out there. It's the nicest I've seen. Therefore, I got my hopes up for an absolute, no questions asked 68.

Doug

RLinn

I agree with Braddick but I don't think that necessarily means return it or sell it immediately. It is a rare coin from the pop perspective and given the price you paid, you're probably not going to get hurt on this one. Since you think it is a DDO, why not show it to a few dealers you respect to evaluate reholdering for the DDO designation?

STEWARTBLAYNUMIS

Doug,

Hope is a dream

Braddick is correct. It is that simple but you're going to buy it anyway.

Cross it to PCGS because you will need it in a PCGS holder for the "Showdown"

There are enough 1951 Proof 66 cameos to buy.

Stewart

lincolnSence

DMWJR - The authoritative reference has the coin so at least they thought it was rare enough to have a page. Scratches in the die would be represented as raised lines in the coin no? The die markers for this variety are 2 light die gouges on the forehead just above the bridge of the nose, die scratch down the right side of W of WE and die gouge (dot) between I and B of liberty. Its listed as a URS-6 with a moderate to high interest level. I also collect these (DD's) and as such it doesnt matter what holder they are in as long as I like the coin. I would almost bet that PCGS would not cross the coin as that just seems to be the way it goes lately. My advice is to dump the coin if your not interested in DD's, as it will always haunt you that it is. People who collect DD's will treasure it more as a DD than anything else.

PS: I don't have one yet so if you dump it PM me and maybe we can talk.

DMWJR

Stewart, you were right hope is a dream. And I woke up.

Are you familiar with coin in question? I don't think I understood what you said about plenty of 66's in the market. Do you think it is a 66, and what do you base that on?

DMWJR

LincolnSence: It has all of the die characteristics listed in that book, including the two lines at the bridge of the nose. There are numerous die polish scratches on the coin, but the ones on the cheek are so light, I can't tell whether they are raised or not, at 40X.

Maybe I'm just too anal retentive about it. I've been accused of pinching button holes in my underwear before, so it wouldn't be the first time.

I bought it based on a photo, and the fact that the dealer is highly regarded in the field, and I have return privileges.

Gilbert

dmwjr

My first thought was to "cherish it," until I read your dilema.

I agree with the opinion that if you are vacillating now on whether you like the coin, then you probably aren't going to ever like it, unless it makes you money, which is still getting rid of it.

2ndly, if it is graded 68CAM and you paid 67CAM money, more than likely the seller also felt it didn't meet the 68CAM standards.

You are the lincoln collector, so you can address this better than I, I suppose, but, maybe your expectations for a '51 proof are a tad off; in other words, maybe you're expecting the characteristics of a 2000 Proof as opposed to what was prevalent in '51.

Lastly, if your not happy and want to sell it as a variety, you don't have to cross it; just sell it in the variety collecting community where the specialist can affirm for themselves that it is the variety mentioned and are willing to pay for the variety. I am a variety collector and I frequently purchase varieties that aren't attributed on the slab. You can even get it attributed in the slab its in - just send to Wexler/Flynn for verification and then sell it.

STEWARTBLAYNUMIS

Doug - What is doubled on the coin ?Have you sent the coin in for crossover ?

There is only deep cameo that exists.It is graded Proof 67 by PCGS and I believe $30,000 was the asking price and it then went into a private collection
NGC graded a 1951 pr 67 D Cam that was sold by teletrade for about $5,000 to R and I.I drove upstate to view the coin and I had doubts the coin would even grade cameo at PCGS.It was glazed over.There is one PCGS proof 68 cameo which is in a collection and I doubt is coming on the market and there is one 67 cam that I have never seen.There are a dozen or so pr 66 cams and if you search you may get lucky

stewart

DMWJR

Stewart, thanks for the insight. I already have another 1951 that is in a PCGS PR66CAM holder, and it is currently in my set.

The doubling toward the center is strongest on IGWT, and matches the die variety description and pictures found on page 140 of The Authoritative Reference on Lincoln Cents by Wexler. This coin also has light doubling on LIBERTY and the date. I attached a couple of macro pics of doubling on this coin.

I have not sent the coin in for crossover.

Stewart, have you seen THIS coin?

DMWJR

OK, I'm sticking my neck out on a picture of this coin one more time. I've got to figure out how to take a photo of a coin.

There is absolutely no haze in the fields, or around the date. I just can't keep the reflection of light out of the fields. Anyway, here it comes for your hacking pleasure.

I will be sending it off for crossover on Monday. I'll request DDO designation, but I don't know if PCGS does it for this particular one.

RGL

Did I read that right? Problems show up at 40x? Probably true of any 70, as well. That magnification is overkill and even as little as 16x tends to make you disrespect and understate the quality of a coin... anything over 10x, except for RPMs, DDs, etc., is too much. Give yourself a break...