What's Up with This: Vivid Purple 1961 Proof Lincoln Cent ... (Edited to add PIX)

RGL

Sorry for the lack of pix, but I shall describe: I opened an unopened 1961 proof set today and found a wonderously colorful Lincoln cent. The coin is bright, vivid purple except for a ring of deep-steel blue about the rims. The orange-red copper peeks through in a couple of spots, mainly on the reverse. I don't collect or look for Lincoln proofs, so I do not know how common this coin may be. This is as purple as some of the Jeff proofs with which I am familiar, but I have never seen this vivid a purple on an Abe proof. The remainder of the coins in the set are blast white. Under 16x, I found no holes or tears in the mint cellophane in the compartment holding the cent.

Do I have something here, or is this common as dirt? It is one very attractive coin, no hairlines, flashy mirrors under the toning. And, if interested in slabbing, would it help to send this to PCGS in the original cellophane or am I destined for a bag? Thanks ...

This coin still astounds me. Edited to add (lousy) pix from my scanner. Purple as advertised. Scuffs on obverse from cellophane, not coin. Hard to pick up, but you can see trace of steel-blue along rims at base of bust around to TRUST on obverse.

CarlWohlforth

It sounds great! Your description is very good. It makes me want to reach for my wallet to buy that coin. I hear TeleTrade is looking for someone who can write like you

Seriously I haven't seen many 1961 proof sets. If I was going to send it in I would certainly leave it in the cellophane.

FC57Coins

I certainly think you do. It's not rare to get a Lincoln with toning. To get a Lincoln with vivid wild toning like that is certainly a treat. If I were you I'd leave the coin in the cello - cut out the little pocket, and submit it to PCGS. Provided there is no PVC damage, which there doesn't sound like there is, you should get back quite a nice prize!

RGL

Thanks guys, I will send it in the cellophane. It is amazing, at least to me, to come across a bright purple Lincoln!

Insofar as writing about coins, as a professional journalist -- and astounded at the bad grammer and number of the typos in the last B&M catalog -- I actually wrote and offered to edit/proof read/clean up their copy, for a fee, of course, but I never received a response. It would be a cheap investment to produce a professional product ...

Edited to add: And, just to prove that everyone needs an editor, FC57 via a PM, to needlessly spare me a humbling, points out grammer is correctly grammar. I stand corrected and bless the editors ...

Russ

Did somebody mention purple toned 1961 proof Lincolns?





Russ, NCNE

Russ

Russ, NCNE

grip

Russ
Stop with the spray paint already,.Just kidding,thats a beauty.Al

RGL

Kind of like your second one, Russ, but much more vivid, amazingly deeper and complete and throw in those steel blue rims ...

And, have you slabbed one of those without a bag?

airplanenut

Russ ain't alone




If you look hard enough, you can find these, but they're not your everyday coin... I'd give them a nice premium- whether they deserve slabbing, IMO, really depends on the grade they're receive... high grades do very well with color.

Jeremy

Russ

<< <i>And, have you slabbed one of those without a bag? >>



Randy,

There is no doubt in my mind that PCGS would bodybag them instantly. They are natural toning, but they are not "market acceptable" in PCGS's eyes. NGC might grade them. I've sent them some pretty wild neon purple business strikes that they've slabbed.

BTW, it won't matter if you send it in the mint celo. Receiving pulls it and puts it in a flip, so the graders have so idea it came in still sealed.

Russ, NCNE

wayneherndon

BTW, it won't matter if you send it in the mint celo. Receiving pulls it and puts it in a flip, so the graders have so idea it came in still sealed.

Correct. That's why one should take pictures before shipping. It helps when one complains later. Been there.

WH

RGL

Curious, a genuine-toned still-in-cellophane coin can be declared "market unacceptable" -- which is not one of the bag designations -- and instead be falsely labled as AT ... so much for numismatic truth and honesty. Thanks, all.

Russ

<< <i>Curious, a genuine-toned still-in-cellophane coin can be declared "market unacceptable" >>



Conversely, that same principle allows artificially toned coins to get in to holders.

Russ, NCNE

RGL

ttt for the pix...

RonMan

I asked David this question over a week ago on the Q&A forum about submitting coins in the mint celo. (No answer yet...maybe this week)

I think the one main reason for submitting in the celo is to show that the coin is original but then the people in receiving yank it out and the graders don't have a clue. Seems there should be an easy way to let the graders know that the coin came out of an unopened mint set.

Ron

RGL

Ron: Great minds ... I, too, yesterday posted a question about submitting coins in mint cello on the Q&A. Hopefully, homerunhall will respond...

itsnotjustme

XpipedreamR

CoinAddict

Beautiful coin Randy.

airplanenut

Oh, duh! I forgot...




ANACS PR66 or 67... sold for $40.

Jeremy

supercoin

I've never (knock, knock) had a coin bagged that was sent still in mint cello. I'm very skeptical that the receiving department would remove it from the cello if you put it inside a 2.5" flip, I don't think they'd want receiving performing that relatively delicate operation.