Which Lincoln is the better buy?

39Special

Hello all, what a great forum this is! I've only been a poster for the past week but I've been very impressed by the group here and how helpful everyone is and how informative this board can be. A little background on me: I just in the past 2 yrs returned to the hobby after a 20 year absence. My grandfather was really into coin collecting and got me started with some really nice ones that I still have to this day: 1836 Half Dollar, 1844 Large Cent, a 3-cent piece (1867 I believe; I don't have it in front of me), and several early date lincolns, mercuries, washingtons, and jeffersons, among others. A lot of what I buy now is directly a reflection of the coins he got me started in. In the past 2 years, I have focused primarily on Jeffersons and Washingtons, but have collected a few nice Walking Liberty half dollars, mercuries, and roosevelts along the way. When I buy coins, I do it both for the love of it and for the investment potential.

I'm now looking at getting back into Lincoln cents, and wanted the board's advice on something. I have the opportunity to purchase, for roughly the same price (not cheap!), either a very solid PCGS MS66RD 1933-D, or a very choice 1918-S MS64RB. I wish I could afford both, and I like both equally, but I'll probably have to decide between one or the other. Which is the better buy? I think the Lincoln market might go crazy in the next few years (some would say it already has with those prices!). What do you recommend as the better purchase?

pharmer

Well, if no one smart is gonna answer, I'll weigh in. The 66rd will probably sell more easily, may have a wider market base. The 1918s is certainly a tougher coin, but for the bucks you'll probably find more buyers for a red example in the higher grade. Unless the rb designation means a little color, like some green or blue mixed in, then the rainbow premium sets in.

As to your compliment, on behalf of the group, I'd like to say thanks, and I'm glad we passed the audition.

66RB

Is the 1918-S graded? If it is graded by a reputable TPG, that would probably be my choice.....there's something to be said about the 'aura' of a mintmarked Lincoln from the teens, and a 1918-S is a very tough coin at the choice level and above.

If it is not, then I would probably go for the 33-D. This date is a tougher date to acquire in gem grade, and I would rank it right along with the 1935-S, 1949, and 1954 and the prices they command at the MS66 level and above.

relayer

I think the 1933-D MS66RD would be the better buy of the two - if the price is the same.

39Special

The 1918-S is also PCGS graded, MS64RB. It has some nice light violet color to it but not as much as some other RB's I've seen. A very nice coin, though.

Shamika

If the 18-S is mostly red, that would be my choice.