Epidemic of MS69RD Lincolns!

itsnotjustme

I've seen the prices dropping on MS69RD Lincoln Memorial cents lately. The 1999-D's have been over 30 for a little while, but not the 2002s have come in....

2002-P 64
2002-D 30

I spotted 5 active auctions on e-bay for 2002-P or D. Interestingly, the D opens at $400. I thinks that's optomistic since 1999-Ds--with a comparable pop but also useable in 20th century type sets--sell for much less. The 2002-P coins often start with BIN prices below $150.

One
Two
Three
Four
Five 2002-D

Blade

I've seen MS68's in pocket change. I would like one for my type set, so I'll wait until the pops get into the 500 range and pick up one for under $50.

wondercoin

"I've seen MS68's in pocket change. I would like one for my type set, so I'll wait until the pops get into the 500 range and pick up one for under $50."

You must be referring to MS69's here, because the MS68's are already $25 coins.

I am #4 seller on your list and agree with you that prices are at the lowest point they have ever been on the 2002(p) and (d) Lincolns in MS69. Of course they can go even lower. But, I also see some of the recent slabbing taking place on 2002 product as sort of the "last horrah" before the 2003 Mint Sets come out and the focus shifts to making 2003 coins. Even with certain "pops" quite high on some 2002 product, consider this:

1. NOT A SINGLE "D" MINT STATE QUARTER WAS EVER SLABBED MS69 FOR ANY 2002 STATE!!

2. THE 2002(D) NICKEL HAS PROVEN TO BE A SIGNIFICANTLY TOUGH COIN IN GRADES MS66FS AND HIGHER. AN MS68FS MAY PROVE TO BE AN EXCEPTIONALLY SCARCE COIN.

3. THE 2002(D) KENNEDY HAS PROVEN TO BE A SIGNIFICANTLY TOUGH COIN IN GRADES MS68 AND HIGHER. MS68 EXAMPLES SHOULD BE HIGHLY SOUGHT AFTER IN YEARS AHEAD (EVEN THE #1 NEAR PERFECT SET HAS YET TO FILL THE SLOT!)

4. THE 2002(D) SAC HAS PROVEN TO BE A SIGNIFICANTLY TOUGH COIN IN GRADES MS68 AND HIGHER. AN MS69 MAY PROVE TO BE AN EXCEPTIONALLY SCARCE COIN.

5. THE 2002(D) ROOSIE HAS PROVEN TO BE A SIGNIFICANTLY TOUGH COIN IN GRADE MS69. NONE WERE EVER SLABBED!!

6. THE 2002(p) SAC AND KENNEDY HAVE PROVEN TO BE SIGNIFICANTLY TOUGH COINS IN GRADES MS69. ONLY -2- SACS AND -0- KENNEDYS WERE SLABBED.

7. THE 2002(P) NICKEL HAS PROVEN TO BE A SIGNIFICANTLY TOUGH COIN IN GRADES MS68FS AND HIGHER. AN MS68FS MAY PROVE TO BE A SCARCE COIN.

Any thoughts on these as we move into the slabbing of 2003 coins? Wondercoin

cladking

Post-1985 cents often come very nice in mint sets. Superb gems are typical
for some dates. The ultra high grades also show up with more frequency than
any other made for circulation modern. These will make an excellent starting
point for newbies to get into high grades at a very affordable price. And, yes,
there are some superb gems in pocket change also, though I rarely see anything
over MS-67.

The quality of many of the late date cents can be astounding. The composition
is very easy to strike so dies make more gems before showing wear. Very early
strikes can be nearly indistinguishable from proofs. These will typically show
highly mirrored fields and occasionally a light cameo effect. These are handled
much like regular coins so they will usually show some marks under magnification
but are often mark-free to the naked eye.

itsnotjustme

I'm tempted to buy a few more 2002 mint sets while they are still on sale. I much prefer high grade coins I slabbed myself than ones I purchase that way. I bought 15 sets last year, and found nothing worth slabbing. There were probably some 68RD cents, but I didn't want to cut the sets just for the chance of a 68RD.

I may see how low the prices come on the 2002 cents and pick one up below $100 when (if) they reach that point.