Need Lincoln Experts Help! Matte Proof?

cmerlo1

ANACS says no, just cleaned. I agree with the cleaned part, but I've never seen a Lincoln cent as sharply struck as this- every hair on Lincoln's beard is needle sharp, to the point that it makes the coin look unusual. I bought it for $16.00 @ the Round Rock, TX show earlier this month. It had 'exceptional strike' written on the holder, which raised my cherrypickin' interest. Knowing it was cleaned, but being a gamblin' man, I decided to buy it and submit it. When I took it out of the 2X2 at the ANACS table to submit, I was surprised at how sharp the edges were- they felt like a knife edge. I've only ever seen a few matte proof Lincolns in my lifetime, so I'm not sure what they are supposed to look like. I know there are die markers on some of the proofs. Can anyone tell me what they are, and give their opinion on the proof status of this coin?

Thanks in advance!
--Christian

lasvegasteddy

"if the grade does not fit you must resubmit"
i'm no pro so take this with a grain of salt but
that is a matte proof lincoln there.there is no way that coin is not!

drwstr123

Christian
There aren't any markers for the 1916. The Numismatist reprint stated, "Very little die polish. Die polish between the 1 and 9 in date, through UST of TRUST and at WE. Die polish above PLURIBUS." Mike (good luck)

Steve

It sometimes amazes me how some people jump to the conclusion that a certain coin is what it is not. If the buyer of this coin purchased it for $16 it is obvious that the seller didn't think it was a proof. The key diagnostics for a true 1916 Matte Proof Lincoln cent is:
On the obverse, die polish between 1 and 9 in the date, thru UST of TRUST and at WE.
On the reverse, die polish above PLURIBUS.

Apparently only ONE die pair was used on this coin. Second lowest population of MPL. If the coin in this picture was the real thing you would have a $10k coin. Steve

commoncents05

It it was the real thing, it would be worht less than $1000. A PCGS 65BN sold in a Stacks auction last month and brought $2350. It's hard to tell if it's real or not, 1916 Business Strikes had some good strikes too. I would try submitting it again to ANACS, and if it doesn't work out again, it must not be the real deal.

-Paul

TomB

Listen to ANACS.

cmerlo1

Here are some more photos...I just got a new camera and I'm still figuring it out! Thanks for the replies so far- I do see evidence of die polish in the areas described, particularly the 1 and 9 of the date. I'm leaning toward resubmitting it to ANACS, or possibly sending it to NCS. Either way, it's fun, and what I've gambled on it so far would have lasted 5 minutes (or less) in Vegas!

--Christian

CarlWohlforth

The hair detail is very good. The rims are nicely square as long as your eyes don't look at the missing chunk at 3:30 on the reverse which I'm assuming is an artifact of the photo. The lower part of Lincolns bust looks weakly struck. While I think the graders at ANACS see way more coins than I, I still agree with them that this is not a proof. Sorry.

mozeppa

on business strikes the edges are slightly beveled or rounded...on proofs they are sharp and squared off...no beveling what so ever.

mozeppa

oh ...and its not a proof.

cmerlo1

Carl-

The missing chunk is actually plastic from the slab...ANACS returned it in an old-style holder since it was cleaned...thanks for the reply!

--Christian

commoncents05

given the new photos i can say for sure that it is not a proof, sorry. Here's a Link to a real on.

-Paul

cmerlo1

A big thanks to everyone for taking the time to help (and for saving me $30+ in submitting to NCS)! That auction photo pretty much cinches it for me that it isn't a matte proof. One thing I notice is that the rims are much thicker on my coin than on the matte, along with the obvious 'look' of the real deal. I'm keeping that photo for future reference. You all ROCK!

--Christian

WaterSport

Here is another on that is NOT a matte IMHO>

WS

Text Ebay

cmerlo1

Lucky for the eBay community, I'm an honest man. Looks like I could sell it as such if I wanted to!

--Christian

droopyd

Matte proof or not, it's a nice one and a great pickup for just $16.

VicPortland

Cool coin. Round Rock has a coin show now huh? I lived there for 8 years but I was taking a break from coin collecting back then. Where did they have the show?

joefro

I can't really give a comment on whether or not this is a matte proof. However, what I will say is the following:

If it is NOT a proof, that is an AMAZING reverse for this date. AMAZING!! Even after is it cleaned.

Second, if it IS a proof, it is the saddest thing that someone cleaned it and made the surfaces look like that.

Lastly, thanks for the post, a nice coin regardless for the price I think

cmerlo1

Unfortunately, the cleaning is brutal on this coin...I agree, it's an amazing strike- sharper than any I've seen before.

The Round Rock show is at the Wingate Inn, where I-35 hits 79...it's only been held there for the last couple of years. Before that, the Capital City Coin Club held it at various hotels around Austin...

--Christian

Coxe

Nice coin but not likely a matte proof. Albrecht's article in The Numismatist (10/83) does have die polishing markers, with the obverse ones possibly dependent on the die state (repolished). A reverse scratch, approximately concentric with the rim, through the US of PLURIBUS is a deciding marker. $16? Mazel Tov, still a nice coin.