Image of the single highest graded early Lincoln (MS69RD)

shylock · March 5, 2003 3:04AM

I had the pleasure of being welcomed into Stewart Blay's home yesterday to image some of his world class coppers, and as you'd expect it was the numismatic thrill of my life. I was as overwhelmed by his hospitality as I was his coins. He acted like I was doing him a favor! After 10 hours of first picking out coins from mountains of slabs at his bank -- his "second string" Lincolns would be the stars on most other teams -- and photographing them at his loft I felt like I had completed Coppercoins101 in one day.

One coin I was always curious about was his single highest graded early Lincoln, a 1919 MS69RD, and he was nice enough to let me share it here with the many Lincoln collectors on the forum. I'm a novice at grading Lincolns but, after examining many of his 68RDs, it was obvious this coin had special qualities that set it apart. As always the coin is nicer than the image, as well as a bit brighter in person. But I think you get the general idea.

goose3 · March 5, 2003 3:06AM

WOW

CarlWohlforth · March 5, 2003 3:07AM

The detail is amazing! That is an awesome coin, thanks for posting the image.

dwood · March 5, 2003 3:07AM

I'm no expert, but whay not take a shot at the upgrade?!?

That is one beautiful Lincoln. Do you happen to have a larger pic of the reverse as well?

Thanks for sharing!

danglen · March 5, 2003 3:08AM

WOW!!!!!! I'm speechless

TheNumish · March 5, 2003 3:09AM

Shylock,

That is very cool!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for sharing it.

cladking · March 5, 2003 3:12AM

Wow!

braddick · March 5, 2003 3:12AM

Amazing. I keep expecting to see a "Gallery Mint" flip in the background.

JeffinMich · March 5, 2003 3:25AM

Wow, I never knew his beard looked like that. What a strike on that beauty.

agfox · March 5, 2003 3:28AM

That's beautiful. You must be a proud father Stewart.

Lakesammman · March 5, 2003 3:30AM

Wow - Thank you Paul and Stewart for sharing this great coin!!

I've come to appreciate the fields as much as the devices - look at that planchet!!! I've only seen a handful of FE/IHC's with that look - what a treat!!!!!

Is there more to come???

Lakesammman · March 5, 2003 3:31AM

PS - Is there doubling on that coin??

keithdagen · March 5, 2003 3:34AM

Wow, now that's a Lincoln for the ages. Great coin, and thanks for sharing it with us, Paul & Stewart!!!

Dog97 · March 5, 2003 3:37AM

That's real nice! That's a special coin.

shylock · March 5, 2003 3:40AM

There does seem to be light doubling of the lettering & date, going to take another look at the huge 1200x1200 tiff file...

Dwood -- A large scale reverse can be found here. Anyone who's ever enlarged a small cent to this size knows how unflattering even some of the nicest specimans look. This coin is one of those freaks of preservation that holds its own.

UncleJoe · March 5, 2003 3:45AM

That is one special coin.

Thanks for sharing.

Joe.

anoldgoat · March 5, 2003 3:52AM

What everyone else said.

Thanks shylock and Stewart

supercoin · March 5, 2003 3:54AM

Wow, that coin is spooky.

nwcs · March 5, 2003 3:56AM

WOW! That is an incredible cent! WOW!

TomB · March 5, 2003 4:04AM

That coin is absolutely nuts! Thank you, Stewart, for allowing us to see such beautiful images of this coin and thank you, Paul, for expending the time and effort to bring these images to us!

Coppernicus · March 5, 2003 4:09AM

Thanks for sharing! Now, please excuse me while I pass out....

M
i
k
e.............

jom · March 5, 2003 4:09AM

Whoa...look at that beard! He needs a shave...

jom

tjkillian · March 5, 2003 4:16AM

Wow! I had no idea that Lincoln's beard was so much different than the hair on his head, truly! Great coin, great photography. Please show us every single picture you took, especially the INDIANS!!!

Tom

ANACONDA · March 5, 2003 4:17AM

What....no criticism....what do you just save it all up for me?

Morganluver · March 5, 2003 4:18AM

I was going to say the same thing, it's so well struck it looks like his beard has an extra weeks growth. Very nice!!!

Bustman · March 5, 2003 4:18AM

Wow, never saw so much detail in his beard before! Nice coin indeed!

NumisEd · March 5, 2003 4:19AM

I hate Lincolns, but that coin is all that and a bag of chips. Wonderful coin....almost looks fake.

ccr · March 5, 2003 4:20AM

That`s a wild looking Lincoln there. His beard and suit are really nice and I can`t get over how nice it is.

solid · March 5, 2003 4:29AM

solid · March 5, 2003 4:30AM

That last post was me, speechless...I'm beginning to recover now!

ksteelheader · March 5, 2003 4:31AM

Thank you, PUUUUUUUURRRRDY>>>>>>>...........Ken

wayneherndon · March 5, 2003 5:14AM

For years, I've imagined what this coin must look like. I now see it is multiples nicer than I had pictured.

WH

keithdagen · March 5, 2003 5:22AM

What....no criticism....what do you just save it all up for me?

To make Adrian feel more welcome on this thread:

Come on guys, there's no way this thing would grade MS-69RD at PCGS today. I mean, come one, there's a carbon spot on the D in GOD. Looks like at least two ticks on the shoulder area. No better than a 68RD I had come back last week. Better ship this one back and have it taken off the pop reports.

dwood · March 5, 2003 5:29AM

That is one amazing coin! Thanks for the link to the bigger scans...You're right, it holds up well even at that magnifiction. A true GEM!

Adrian, perhaps the lack of tone is the reason this one is being treated so nicely. There's nothing there that even hints at artificial.

Clankeye · March 5, 2003 5:32AM

Just have to add my voice to the chorus of thank yous. Great post, Paul.

Carl

clw54 · March 5, 2003 5:33AM

Geez, I'll bet most of them didn't look that good in 1919.

Gerry · March 5, 2003 5:43AM

Great job, Paul. The coin is fantastic. The photography is fantastic. And, I'm sure this coin is typical of the Lincolns in Stewart's great collection. Perhaps he can share the story of how he came to the coin - I believe he cherrypicked from a roll along with a bunch of 68s, but let him tell it.

mrpaseo · March 5, 2003 6:05AM

Oh my word... I sit here open mouthed...drooling. What is there to say? Speechless I am, speechless.

Speechless...

VonZipper · March 5, 2003 6:08AM

I see a bright copper light, bright copper light......................I think I just died and have gone to heaven. I can't believe an 84 year old copper could look so great. I would like to take this time to thank everyone and I mean everyone who post's picture of superb coins that I would normally not get to see unless I bought a book, and I would rather spend the money on coins! Thank you shylock and Stewart for sharing hope to see more of your collection, please share more with us.

Thanks to anaconda,bear and the many others that show us what old pocket change used to look like. Keep them coming.

BNE · March 5, 2003 6:09AM

Amazing coin, and it makes you cry when you think about how they've messed up the portrait in recent years. I don't know whose idea it was to give Abe a huge schnozz and his beard a cute little flip up, but I like this original, dignified portrayal much, much better.

Absolutely superb!!!!

cosmicdebris · March 5, 2003 6:13AM

Amazing coin and images, thanks Paul and Stewart for sharing.

clackamas · March 5, 2003 6:16AM

A stunning and quite frankly an amazing coin. However, its not an MS69 according to the published PCGS standards. In the photo I can see flaws, marks, etc. Therefore it is not "as published standards" state an MS69.

Pushkin · March 5, 2003 6:17AM

Just one more small voice of thanks. Paul and Stewart, thanks for sharing. A stunning coin!
Paul - an outstanding photographic effort!

gmarguli · March 5, 2003 6:19AM

A stunning and quite frankly an amazing coin. However, its not an MS69 according to the published PCGS standards. In the photo I can see flaws, marks, etc. Therefore is in not "as published standards" state an MS69.

The coin also appears to be only about 99.7% fully struck. Look at that TINY area on Lincolns shoulder. Probably an MS63RB by today’s insane PCGS standard on copper.

lincolnSence · March 5, 2003 6:35AM

Shylock and Stewart - thanks for sharing. It is an amazing thing to see the "KING" of the early dates. Stewart based on the comments received so far from forum members, I will send you my check for the $5K we agreed on . I waive my 2 week return priviledge as well.

MastaHanky · March 5, 2003 6:58AM

<< A stunning and quite frankly an amazing coin. However, its not an MS69 according to the published PCGS standards. In the photo I can see flaws, marks, etc. Therefore it is not "as published standards" state an MS69. >>

The "O" in ONE looks mangled.

Still, I doubt there exists a single wheat cent in better condition.

dddangerousdan · March 5, 2003 7:03AM

Now that is how Abe is supposed to look. Not like the no relief junk they are pumping out by the billions today. They should go back to the original design, and forget about all the changes they have done over the years. The current coin dosen't look anything like this. With the flat hollowed out gheeks it looks like Abe hasn't eaten since the first coin came out.

DAN

merz2 · March 5, 2003 7:11AM

Shylock
As usual,your pic is outstanding.That had to be the first one off a new die.With coins like that it is no wonder Stewart is one of the leaders in the Lincoln series.This explains why his words are so highly regarded by all in the Numismatic community.

Blade · March 5, 2003 7:21AM

That really is amazing. I see MastaHanky's issue with the "O" in ONE, perhaps that was as struck. The fields are just flawless.

Paul or Stewart - What is the provenance on this coin? It would be interesting to hear who had it and how it was preserved so well for so long.

shylock · March 5, 2003 7:23AM

Don! I thought of you -- and your noticable absence here recently -- when I was looking at his Lincolns. Was hoping you'd get a look at this.

As Gerry mentioned the story behind the coin is interesting and I hope Stewart comes onboard to tell it. I'd also be remiss not to mention what a talented sculptor he is. There was a turtle in his loft I really wanted to take home with me. I think he would noticed it under my jacket, it weighed about 1,000 lbs.

indianabyron · March 5, 2003 7:25AM

WOW 1/1 very nice coin . Im truely impressed with lincolns beard i didnt have a clue that it was supposed to look like that.

Byron

LOL il trade him one of my rare circulated 2003 lincolns for that 1919.

Image of the single highest graded early Lincoln (MS69RD)

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