I want to collect slabbed wheaties, but fear a RD coin turning in the slab.

BBN

Is it best just to collect nice looking brown wheaties? I would really like to collect slabbed wheat cents, but I don't want to have one of those slabs that says "RD" and it contain a "RB" coin. Are all red cents doomed to turn in the slab? Should I just go with nice browns in a Dansco except keys?

rainbowroosie

Look for RB coins with a lot of red.

BBN

I think that may be my best bet. Oh, did a random experiment. Today, I took a slightly tarnished 1979 cent and dipped it in silver jewelry cleaner. It came out looking like it just came from the mint. Rinsed it off with filtered water. About an hour later it stayed mostly red, butthen got some crazy rose and purple streaks in it! What caused this? The cleaner not being compleyely rinsed? The water??

lkeigwin

If you're thinking RD for a wheaties collection you might consider the expense of many of the early ones. Are you up to spending four digits on a single RD wheatie? It will take that, if you want a RD collection that includes the wonderful early Lincolns.

Or maybe you're just thinking later year RD wheaties...say, post '33?

I think the best buys, and often the prettiest Lincolns, are RB. Especially if you buy those that are more red than brown.

A lot of guys like brown. It can be rich and delicious looking. Often it's too dark for my old eyes. But it sure has its price advantage!

If you're really worried about a RD cent turning RB then maybe copper isn't right for you. This is not to say that RD copper will turn RB or BN. (You only hear the bad stories. No one says "Hey, my RD cents are still red after more than 80 years.") But copper can bite, particularly if it's been messed with.
Lance.

(edited for spelling)

BBN

Good points Lance. I'm thinking maybe I should stick with the Dansco trend I've been doing and looking for nice original brown cents at the local B&M.

Blackborder

<< <i>Look for RB coins with a lot of red. >>



+1 Can't go wrong there. Full RD coins are for registry sets, not collectors.

illini420

<< <i>

<< <i>Look for RB coins with a lot of red. >>



+1 Can't go wrong there. Full RD coins are for registry sets, not collectors. >>



I like BN and RB coins too, depending on how they look, but RD coins aren't just for registry sets... some of us collectors just like a nice brand new lookin penny But yeah, maybe someday they'll turn RB, but I have many that are still blazing RD after 100+ years, so I'm not too worried about it.

Bottom line, collect what you like, regardless of what it says on the holder it may be in.

magikbilly

Hi there,

for me, with the costs mentioned above, the "red" issues of late apart from the instability of reactive copper, I'd collect strong XF coins.

Best,
Eric

Edited to add - only you can tell what you should collect IMHO.

MidLifeCrisis

Is it best just to collect nice looking brown wheaties?

YES. I'd still recommend that you collect nice, eye appealing, high grade slabbed ones...just brown. As I mentioned in response to another thread the other day, you could build a nice milk chocolate collection.

RWB

If you don't waste your money on slabs, you could have a roll set for the same $$$.