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My Circulation Strike "Fireball Rainbow" Lincoln Cent Collection is the running for Best Digital Alb

So my Wheatbacked Circulation Strike "Fireball Rainbow" Lincoln Cent Collection is in the running for the 2016 Best Digital Album! (Which is a huge honor.)
Vote for your Favorite Digital Album
Many of you have probably already voted, so thanks for participating! There are certainly many beautiful sets to pick from.
I actually also have a really nice Proof Strike Lincoln Cent Collection as well as a Circulation Strike Set, however since the Proof Strike Set is missing the ultra-rare 1909VDB, it was not eligible.
Starting my collection:
My goal in coin selection was to maximize visual appeal while showing as much color (in other words as little non-standard mint-fresh copper color as possible). For this goal, any color variation would do. My set mostly focused on the brown (BN) and red-brown (RB) color class -- but I would consider a few red (RD) color class coins, if there was some color variation or interest.
I definitely (purposefully) chose EYE APPEAL over numerical grade for this endeavor and would easily pass up a full red 67, if a brown 63 was more colorful and/or beautiful/interesting. This set is all about eye appeal and beauty (from my personal perspective at least) and not focused on numerical grades.
In addition to PCGS's cool book-style digital albums, I thought it would be interesting to design customized single-sheet coin boards, which can be displayed more like posters. Offered below is more detail on that endeavor.
A bit of background on the development of the CoinBoads:
Circulation Strike Coinboard …
I was initially inspired by antique coinboards from the 1930’s as I always thought they were really interesting looking with their single sheet, poster style layout. Especially inspirational was a “Lincoln Penny Collector” coinboard that was issued in 1936.

I liked their 3 column layout but ended up reversing their D and S column to the more “now traditional” Denver (D) mintmark first, then the San Francisco (S) mintmark second.
I also spent a lot of time trying to figure out how to make the rows EVEN between board #1 and board #2. Since I wanted to add a second board covering the entire Wheatbacked era from 1909 through 1958.
Putting all the coins from 1909-1958 on a single board wasn’t an option since I thought it would make the board too long. So I knew I wanted two separate coinboards, one early and one late – that looked more like matching posters.
Because there were now two boards, I wanted to maintain a standardized layout (so they looked like a matched set). Therefore, I wanted both Circulation Strike boards to finish on the bottom right in the same place (without a blank row or an extra row on board #2) and the only way I figured to do that was to add the 1933 and 1934 to the header of coinboard #2.
This also provided some nice symmetry with board #1 with the VDB’s in the header row. Ultimately these turned out great and I think it’s as close to a perfect layout as was possible to engineer for this somewhat choppy series (at least in terms of mintmarks!).
Proof Strike Coinboard …
Doing a Proof Coinboard that seemed to “match” somewhat my Circulation Strike Coinboard was an interesting layout problem. First my Proof Collection spanned the full 107 years from 1909 to present, second there were no multiple mintmarks for a given year. So I immediately realized I needed to abandon the 3 column approach that was used on the Circulation Strike boards.
For the Proofs I decided to organize them by distinct “era’s”. With each era relegated to a row (or multiple rows). For example the top 2 rows are for the Matte Proof Lincoln era (1909-1916).
The next era is the “Pre War Mirror Wheatbacks” (1936-1942). Next the “Post War Wheatbacks” (1950-1958). Next the P-Mint Memorials (1959-1964). And so on.
There is a very faint line between each era on the Proof Strike boards, but it’s hardly perceptible. I tried making those separation lines darker like the Circulation Strike board, but it made the poster too look choppy (losing some symmetry).
Once again I added 2 years to the header of board #2 for the Proof Strike (1990 and 1991) for symmetry. Even though I do break my symmetry at the bottom of the Proof Strike board #2; it was almost necessary since the Circulation boards are finished and unchanging … while the Proof boards are ongoing so there needed to be space at the bottom of board #2 to continue to add years as time moves forward deeper into the 21st century.
So after 5 years of painstaking searching and aquisition … my reults
Note that ALL of the coin faces shown in my boards are resized PCGS TrueView photos. So it's another cool way to enjoy the skill of ace PCGS TrueView Photographer Phil Arnold. Photographing these coins free of the slab (one of the huge advantages of PCGS TrueView photography) is the best way to see a coins color and detail in its full blazing glory. Also since all these coins were shot by the same photographer, with the same equipment, this is a "very level-playing-field view" of the set.
WingedLiberty's "Fireball Rainbow" Circulation Strike Lincolns (Wheatbacked only)


WingedLiberty's "Fireball Rainbow" Proof Strike Lincolns


What do you all think? This was an incredible endeavor that took countless hours over a 5 year period. Passion and dedication! That's what this great hobby is built on!!
Vote for your Favorite Digital Album
Many of you have probably already voted, so thanks for participating! There are certainly many beautiful sets to pick from.
I actually also have a really nice Proof Strike Lincoln Cent Collection as well as a Circulation Strike Set, however since the Proof Strike Set is missing the ultra-rare 1909VDB, it was not eligible.
Starting my collection:
My goal in coin selection was to maximize visual appeal while showing as much color (in other words as little non-standard mint-fresh copper color as possible). For this goal, any color variation would do. My set mostly focused on the brown (BN) and red-brown (RB) color class -- but I would consider a few red (RD) color class coins, if there was some color variation or interest.
I definitely (purposefully) chose EYE APPEAL over numerical grade for this endeavor and would easily pass up a full red 67, if a brown 63 was more colorful and/or beautiful/interesting. This set is all about eye appeal and beauty (from my personal perspective at least) and not focused on numerical grades.
In addition to PCGS's cool book-style digital albums, I thought it would be interesting to design customized single-sheet coin boards, which can be displayed more like posters. Offered below is more detail on that endeavor.
A bit of background on the development of the CoinBoads:
Circulation Strike Coinboard …
I was initially inspired by antique coinboards from the 1930’s as I always thought they were really interesting looking with their single sheet, poster style layout. Especially inspirational was a “Lincoln Penny Collector” coinboard that was issued in 1936.

I liked their 3 column layout but ended up reversing their D and S column to the more “now traditional” Denver (D) mintmark first, then the San Francisco (S) mintmark second.
I also spent a lot of time trying to figure out how to make the rows EVEN between board #1 and board #2. Since I wanted to add a second board covering the entire Wheatbacked era from 1909 through 1958.
Putting all the coins from 1909-1958 on a single board wasn’t an option since I thought it would make the board too long. So I knew I wanted two separate coinboards, one early and one late – that looked more like matching posters.
Because there were now two boards, I wanted to maintain a standardized layout (so they looked like a matched set). Therefore, I wanted both Circulation Strike boards to finish on the bottom right in the same place (without a blank row or an extra row on board #2) and the only way I figured to do that was to add the 1933 and 1934 to the header of coinboard #2.
This also provided some nice symmetry with board #1 with the VDB’s in the header row. Ultimately these turned out great and I think it’s as close to a perfect layout as was possible to engineer for this somewhat choppy series (at least in terms of mintmarks!).
Proof Strike Coinboard …
Doing a Proof Coinboard that seemed to “match” somewhat my Circulation Strike Coinboard was an interesting layout problem. First my Proof Collection spanned the full 107 years from 1909 to present, second there were no multiple mintmarks for a given year. So I immediately realized I needed to abandon the 3 column approach that was used on the Circulation Strike boards.
For the Proofs I decided to organize them by distinct “era’s”. With each era relegated to a row (or multiple rows). For example the top 2 rows are for the Matte Proof Lincoln era (1909-1916).
The next era is the “Pre War Mirror Wheatbacks” (1936-1942). Next the “Post War Wheatbacks” (1950-1958). Next the P-Mint Memorials (1959-1964). And so on.
There is a very faint line between each era on the Proof Strike boards, but it’s hardly perceptible. I tried making those separation lines darker like the Circulation Strike board, but it made the poster too look choppy (losing some symmetry).
Once again I added 2 years to the header of board #2 for the Proof Strike (1990 and 1991) for symmetry. Even though I do break my symmetry at the bottom of the Proof Strike board #2; it was almost necessary since the Circulation boards are finished and unchanging … while the Proof boards are ongoing so there needed to be space at the bottom of board #2 to continue to add years as time moves forward deeper into the 21st century.
So after 5 years of painstaking searching and aquisition … my reults
Note that ALL of the coin faces shown in my boards are resized PCGS TrueView photos. So it's another cool way to enjoy the skill of ace PCGS TrueView Photographer Phil Arnold. Photographing these coins free of the slab (one of the huge advantages of PCGS TrueView photography) is the best way to see a coins color and detail in its full blazing glory. Also since all these coins were shot by the same photographer, with the same equipment, this is a "very level-playing-field view" of the set.
WingedLiberty's "Fireball Rainbow" Circulation Strike Lincolns (Wheatbacked only)


WingedLiberty's "Fireball Rainbow" Proof Strike Lincolns


What do you all think? This was an incredible endeavor that took countless hours over a 5 year period. Passion and dedication! That's what this great hobby is built on!!
0
Comments
And great work by Phil.
5$ bills are WOW with the numbers - wanted:
02121809
04151865
Wanted - Flipper notes with the numbers 6-9 or 0-6-9 ON 1$ 2$ 5$ 10$ 20$
Wanted - 10$ Sereis 2013 - fancy Serial Numbers
Always looking for tougher PSA 10's of Nolan Arenado, Alex Bregman, Mookie Betts, Francisco Lindor, and Mike Trout.
Absolutely Stunning! I voted for you weeks ago my friend
I did the same. Stunningly beautiful set of toners.
- Bob -

MPL's - Lincolns of Color
Central Valley Roosevelts
Certainly you will have my vote if the link you posted would only work. Am I too late?
OINK
mark
Fellas, leave the tight pants to the ladies. If I can count the coins in your pockets you better use them to call a tailor. Stay thirsty my friends......
Who even cares what any of the coins graded -- it is just a delight to view.
Congratulations on your achievement!
GREAT Coins........all of them. BN and RB coins are definitely more desirable than RD coins, and much harder to find.
Certainly you will have my vote if the link you posted would only work. Am I too late?
OINK
Whoops Sorry!
I fixed the link in the OP
This is the corrected link again. The voting thread is actually on the "PCGS Set Registry Forum" ...
Here is a text link ...
https://forums.collectors.com/messageview.aspx?catid=30&threadid=964386&enterthread=y
Here is a hypertext link ...
Vote for your Favorite Digital Album (Contest)
My Coin Blog
My Toned Lincoln Registry Set
Very impressive
5$ bills are WOW with the numbers - wanted:
02121809
04151865
Wanted - Flipper notes with the numbers 6-9 or 0-6-9 ON 1$ 2$ 5$ 10$ 20$
Wanted - 10$ Sereis 2013 - fancy Serial Numbers
Just a pleasure to see.
THANK YOU!
My YouTube Channel