How close is this early Lincoln to full red (and a 66 grade)

39Special

I'm curious what the experts say. This gorgeous coin (not mine) is graded MS65RB, and I'm wondering, how far off is this from being full red, and 66 instead of 65? Or at least MS66RB? Thanks for the input and the education.

drwstr123

Certainly looks full red to me...but then again, I do not possess a 91.

nccoin

looks red, but not a 66.

questor54

I'm no expert, but I would say the coin (as graded) is off one numerical point from a 66 (it is graded at 65, correct?) and one level of color designation from RD (it is graded at RB, correct?)

Unless I am missing something, this seems like a simple question. Unless, of course, ypu are suggesting the coin may have been graded incorrectly?

39Special

Frank, just wondering if this coin might make either red designation, or 66 red brown, if resubmitted. It's about as red as a red brown could come, and it certainly appears high end for a 65 too, but I wouldn't call myself an expert on Lincolns, although I do have a few nice ones.

devious

I think this is a red cent. I've seen worse designated RD.

Also, I think it's correctly graded at 65. I think the chatter on Abe's clothing toward the bottom is what held it back. The pictures are not clear enough to determine other chatter on the coin. I assume there is some on the reverse.

questor54

<< <i>Frank, just wondering if this coin might make either red designation, or 66 red brown, if resubmitted. It's about as red as a red brown could come, and it certainly appears high end for a 65 too, but I wouldn't call myself an expert on Lincolns, although I do have a few nice ones. >>



If you feel the coin was graded incorrectly, by all means, crack it out and resubmit it. Or you could have "some guy named John" look at it!

lkeigwin

Looks very close to full red and I'd probably get it regraded. As for the numeric grade, it's really hard to say from those photos (are those new ticks in the vest?). But a regrade will address that too.

It looks like a very nice '09-S!
Lance.

Shamika

I'd call it red.

illini420

That is definitely the sort of MS65RB to buy... very close to red and PQ for the grade (based on the photos at least). Well done!

The difference between MS65RD and MS66RD (and 67RD for that matter) is often a matter of how intense the natural luster of the coin is... I've had a few 1909-S Lincolns in MS64-65RD and while most of those were relatively free of contact marks and spotting, the luster was somewhat muted and made the coins almost have a somewhat satin finish appearance in comparison to my MS66RD example which just seems to pop more.

Sometimes the muted luster can also be attributed to a fading of the original red color it seems. In the obverse fields your coin looks slightly streaky (maybe the woodgrain effect) and that usually only starts to show up once the coin starts turning RB. Maybe that is what the graders saw with your coin? In any event, according to PCGS I think it only takes 95% of the original red color to get the RD designation, so you should be there or at least very close (again, based on the photo).

Photos of 1909-S Lincolns in MS66RD as well as MS64RB (FS-1501) and MS65RD (FS-1502) can be seen in my 1909 Mint Set in the Set Registry linked below if you'd like to try comparing to a few more coins.

291fifth

Terrible photos. No judgement possible.

SUMORADA

I would send it......nice coin

TPRC

To my eye...not 66 and not full red.

centmaster

That's a coin that I would send in as many times as necessary before it gets what it deserves (a 65RD). It should go the first or second time. It has an outside chance (maybe 5%) of eventually getting into a 66RD holder. The streaks on the obverse and the weak strike are what may keep it from a 66.