Proof Lincoln Cents

TerrapinWill

My question is related to Proof Lincoln cents.....I am starting a collection of Proof Lincoln Cents starting from birth year until present. There doesnt seem to be too many dates where high grade examples are cost prohibitive. theres just something about those DCAM Lincolns that just look so nice. Anyway, I have bought a few of the more modern dates 1995-2004 for starters and for each coin I have paid about what it would cost to get the slabbed. So my question is this, Is it ever a bad deal to buy a coin for the price of getting it slabbed?

cladking

If you like a coin then paying market price for it is rarely
a mistake but paying an amount equal to the slabbing fee
is no assurance you'll get your money back. Mint sets have
sold for less than face value and slabs will sell for less than
the cost of grading if their number ever exceeds the demand.

Hedger

I love those Lincolns and it's worth it if you will keep 'em. I have a nice collection of raw Lincolns up to '55 all the rest after that are proofs. Nothing like a proof wheatie. I say go for it and have fun.

TerrapinWill

Prior to buying these coins I have looked at heratige for realized prices and have paid sometimes a dollar more, sometimes a dollar less. When I get those PR69RD DCAM's in hand....well for those who like Lincolns I guess I don't need to explain. I was just wondering if paying say $10 for a PR69RD DCAM is ever a really bad choice?

TerrapinWill

ttt looking for input

sinin1

Do you plan on keeping these until you die?

When the mint produces 2-4 million sets, there are quite a few 69 DCAMs not slabbed

I am not sure if there are thousands or hundreds of thousands still out there



I am assuming the submitters were hoping for an occasonal 70 which would be well worth it.


Are you going to be happy with 69's, or do you think you will want some 70's after awhile.





I think Teletrade has occasional date runs of 20-30 coins at similar price you are talkng about


I like them, but not well enough to have 50 different years of the same coin.

TerrapinWill

This is definately something I am cooecting for the sole purpose of keeping them forever. I just like the look of the coin. I imagine there are many PR69RD DCAM's out there, especially for the more recent dates. I like them also because they could be had fairly inexpensively. Plus they also have the benefit of being nice gifts for younger collector. I suppose I could put a collection together of PR Lincolns that werent slabbed, but there is something attractive about "near perfection".

CarlWohlforth

Lots of people have asked "isn't it always a great deal to buy a coin for less then the cost of slabbing?". Well the answer is no. If you like the coin then buy it. Nobody asks what the resale value is of a souvenir. How about the investment potential of a trip to Disneyland? If you enjoy the coin then buy it.

However if you think you want to sell the coin for a profit then it may never happen. There was a thread where people suggested several reasons how coins get slabbed that are not worth the cost of slabbing and may never be worth more.

Anyway I like DCAM Lincolns too but am partial to Proof Jeffersons. All the modern proof Jeffs can be had for around the cost of slabbing.

michael

JUST MAKE SURE IF YOU ARE BUYING PROOF LINCOLN CENTS make sure you get the ultimste proof lincoln cent

the first one

a 1909-p matte proof lincoln cent with no vdb on the reverse

either get the ultimate a sweet proof 64 red 65 red or 66 red - which in my opinion a 66 red pcgs matte proof lincoln 1909 p mint no vdb on the reverse --- would be the ultimate ofthe ultimate usa coin to own and make sure it is in a pcgs holder

also if not the abovre then a really cool nicely colored and/or toned red brown or brown coin proof 65 and above pcgs/ngc
make sure it has great eye appeal and it is pleasing to your eye


the reason why is i think that there might be passed that will make a reissue of the lincoln cent in the same metal and original portrait as it was when it was first issued in 1909 for circulation and a proof striking it would be a cool thing and the ultimate to have a matte proof 1909 with no vdb on the reverse side by side along with this new 2009 coin commemorating one of the most historical greatest presidents that has ever lived and is known the world over with a series that is unique in american history as the lincoln cent i believe to be the longest running series of any issued usa coin series

good luck with your lincoln set a fantastic collecting idea and also again i think the lincoln cent there are more produced at the usa mints than any other coin and none come even close to what is produced at the usa mint in lincoln cents yet it is still a tremendously popular coin bith in commerce and in collecting

now the mint experimented with roman finish proofs in 1909 and 1910 with the gold and some authors experts/accepted authorities collecctors have stated that some of the first strikes of the 1909 matte proof lincolns the 1909-p coins with no vdb on the reverse where actually roman finish proofs and this means they have still the matte surface but it is more like a traditional roman finish kind of like a golden type sheen to the surfaces and i myself have noticed this on full red 1909-p no vdb matte proof coins

so for me the ultimate the best of the best would be a proof 66 roman finish matte proof pcgs coin

but again the best would still be the above and also proof 64 red or higher matte proof lincoln cent 1909-p no vdb pcgs

and any fantastic eye appeal matte proof 1909 brown with great color proof 64 or higher pcgs/ngc and red brown coins with great eye appeal and/or color proof 64 and higher

and really any 1909 matte proof in any grade as long as it has great eye appeal in your eyes

pf70collector

Maybe the mint should make a gold or silver modern commemmorative of Lincoln. Be nice to see him on something other than the cent or paper currency.

AgMe

Hello all,

If you like the coin, $10 isn't bad.

With only 1 coin to go on completing my set, I have started my new set... Proof Lincolns. I'm in the same boat you are (TerrapinWill), I'm currently on a PR69 DCAM kick, so in order for my set "to match", my only real option is ~1968-on.

I usually don't like duplicates, so I plan on collecting from 1980-1998 (I have full proof sets from 1999 on). All of this fits nicely, because if the mint does issue a new Lincoln cent in 2009, it would be a nice cap on the series.

I've also been thinking about having a collection of Proof sets from 1968-1979 to honor the San Fran mint.

While my future Lincoln set will only run 19 years, the years it covers I consider "boring", so it helps me fill a hole.

This is how I'm going to do it.

-g

Jdurg

I'll soon be in the same boat. I completed my Roosevelt Dime set, so now I'm looking to finish another. While my ultimate goal is to have all of the Lincoln Cents, my brain and my wallet say 'No way!'. So I'll be putting together a complete set, including proofs, starting with the year 1959. The proof copper coins do look very nice, and it shouldn't be too pricey to complete.

TerrapinWill

I was wondering what you feel are the toughest dates between 1970-2004 in High grade Lincoln Proofs???

mozeppa

<< <i>I was wondering what you feel are the toughest dates between 1970-2004 in High grade Lincoln Proofs??? >>



all of 70 thru 76 are tuff in 69 grade

cladking

Most top tier proofs run about 2% of mintage. For the later dates even some second tier
coins are good enough quality to rank PR-69 and for earlier dates many of the best won't
go 69. Significant percentages of proof coins have degraded because of misuse, circulation,
or corrosion so total pops should range from a few thousand to nearly a quarter million.

carl

I use the Whitman Classic Blue binders for coins and have been adding pages for years now. The last page in two Lincoln Cent books is reserved for proofs. Throughout the book for dates where there could be a proof, there is a proof if possible besides the one on the last page. None are older than 1938 though. Still need the proofs of 1936, 37 and 2-40s so far. Sure would like to add some from the teens but not cost effective at the present time. They really stand out next to an uncirculated cent in the set. Most of the proofs from about 1960 on up are very common at coin shows around here and at flea market dealers for very low prices. It would be great if someday that last page of proof Lincolns was complete though but finding the remaining ones is really getting tuff.
You said you were starting from your birth year. You didn't say when that was so if it was before 1909 you will really have problems acquiring some of them.
As far as a slabbed coin's price, what difference does it make if that's the coin you want. I'll pay the price just to know it's the real thing. To afraid on rare ones of a fake.