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Ready for some EYE CANDY? (Colorfully Toned MS Lincoln Collection)
WingedLiberty1957
Posts: 3,013 ✭✭✭✭✭
Background
Like many coin collectors that grew up in the 1950’s and 1960’s, the Lincoln Cent Series has always been of great interest due to its familiarity & accessibility. Over the past few years, my numismatic passion has branched into a new area --namely Naturally Toned (NT) colorful coins, due to their unique beauty and relative scarcity. Natural toning on copper tends to be especially compelling with the full-spectrum of rainbow color represented.
Toned Lincolns
In 2011, I saw a set of rainbow-toned Mint State Lincolns being assembled by a collector named CopperColor -- and later a similar set by Robec.
By March 2015, I decided to assemble my own version -- so I began looking for a colorful Mint State Lincoln in the wheat-backed era (1909-1958) for every date/mint combination, which PCGS would bless as problem-free.
Though I didnt think I would be able to match or surpass the great coins accumulated by these great collectors -- I wanted to try. CopperColor especially has some really high grade monsters in his collection -- and I still consider his set #1 in the toned Mint State Lincoln genre.
Ultimately, I didn't care if the color class assigned by PCGS was red (RD), red-brown (RB), or brown (BN),as long as there was some color variation on the coin.
That being said, my primary focus is typically in those coins that PCGS assigns a color class of either brown (BN) or red-brown (RB), since those two color classes tend to display the most non-standard color. However I have found some red (RD) coins that display some really beautiful and varied color patterns.
So after 8 months of hard hunting and some good luck, I have almost completed the full set of colorfully toned Wheatbacks! My only remaining hole is the 1914-D -- though there are a few coins that I would like to upgrade.
Building an Antique Style Digital Coinboard
So after nearly completing the set a few weeks ago, I wanted to try to build an antique style coinboard modeled after those popularized in the 1930's (post depression).
For my digital version, I wanted the entire board to be 1100 pixels in width which is a good size for posting on the coin forums. Also I wanted to split the wheat era into 2 equally sized and formatted boards so they looked like a matched set. After laying out a number of designs, I decided this 9 across style was the most appealing. And with 9 coins across (max) adding in a bit of margin … each coin face is 110x110 pixels in size That’s about as big as they can get in this format.
I could do another board “flipped over” showing the reverses, but I am not sure I have the energy for that endeavor -- right now at least. Robec also suggested an interactive board where you could mouse over the coin to see the flip side ... a cool idea ... but not possible in a static posted image.
It’s funny when you see the mint mark gaps laid out like this … I never realized how "choppy" this series was in terms of missing mints in certain years:
no D in 1909 or 1910 …
no D in 1921 or 1923 …
no P or S in 1922 …
no S in 1932, 1933, or 1934
no S in 1956, 1957, 1958
All the coin images are PCGS TrueView photos shot by photographer Phil Arnold (Thanks Phil!), which were cut out and resized to fit on this board. I like the fact these were all shot with the same camera, lighting, setup, and photographer … so the playing field is level. Easy to make side by side comparisons of all coins.
I thought about putting the grades on here … however I found that ended up just being distracting.
It was nice that top row center on board 2 was the STEEL CENTS. That was a lucky break as I didn’t make that an intentional decision. But I like the way that worked out.
Board #2 also starts and ends with some P/D mints only (1933, 1934, 1956, 1957, 1958), which is nicely symmetrical.
I had to use that TOP margin area for some coins (VDBs on Board #1 and 1933/1934 on Board #2) to get the rows to work out evenly in the body of both boards. It's not easy to get things to work out evenly in this choppy series!
My Favorite Coins
Hard to pick my favorites out of this group (the eye appeal monsters).
On Board #1, my favorites might be 1909 VDB, 1910-S, 1911, 1912, 1915-D, 1917, 1920-D, 1928, 1929-S, and 1932 ... even the 1931-D and 1931-S are cool looking.
On Board #2, it’s hard to beat the 1934, 1936-S, 1939-D, 1940-S, 1942, 1943-S, 1945-D, 1946-D, 1950-D, 1950-S, 1955-D, 1956, 1957-D, and 1958-D.
I flipped over the 1958 and 1958-D as both of those had monster reverses but more ordinary obverses.
There are only a few dogs in here: 1919-S, 1920-S, 1922-D 1932-D, 1941-S … I would also love to replace by 1909-S (still amazed that’s an MS65BN)
THANK YOU's
I did want to post some THANK YOUs ...
To Robec for some very helpful feedback and suggestions made during my build process.
To CopperColor (and Robec) for inspiration on beautiful toned MS Lincolns, who initially piqued my interest in this series.
To Phil Arnold and the PCGS Photo Department for their stunning photography work.
Like many coin collectors that grew up in the 1950’s and 1960’s, the Lincoln Cent Series has always been of great interest due to its familiarity & accessibility. Over the past few years, my numismatic passion has branched into a new area --namely Naturally Toned (NT) colorful coins, due to their unique beauty and relative scarcity. Natural toning on copper tends to be especially compelling with the full-spectrum of rainbow color represented.
Toned Lincolns
In 2011, I saw a set of rainbow-toned Mint State Lincolns being assembled by a collector named CopperColor -- and later a similar set by Robec.
By March 2015, I decided to assemble my own version -- so I began looking for a colorful Mint State Lincoln in the wheat-backed era (1909-1958) for every date/mint combination, which PCGS would bless as problem-free.
Though I didnt think I would be able to match or surpass the great coins accumulated by these great collectors -- I wanted to try. CopperColor especially has some really high grade monsters in his collection -- and I still consider his set #1 in the toned Mint State Lincoln genre.
Ultimately, I didn't care if the color class assigned by PCGS was red (RD), red-brown (RB), or brown (BN),as long as there was some color variation on the coin.
That being said, my primary focus is typically in those coins that PCGS assigns a color class of either brown (BN) or red-brown (RB), since those two color classes tend to display the most non-standard color. However I have found some red (RD) coins that display some really beautiful and varied color patterns.
So after 8 months of hard hunting and some good luck, I have almost completed the full set of colorfully toned Wheatbacks! My only remaining hole is the 1914-D -- though there are a few coins that I would like to upgrade.
Building an Antique Style Digital Coinboard
So after nearly completing the set a few weeks ago, I wanted to try to build an antique style coinboard modeled after those popularized in the 1930's (post depression).
For my digital version, I wanted the entire board to be 1100 pixels in width which is a good size for posting on the coin forums. Also I wanted to split the wheat era into 2 equally sized and formatted boards so they looked like a matched set. After laying out a number of designs, I decided this 9 across style was the most appealing. And with 9 coins across (max) adding in a bit of margin … each coin face is 110x110 pixels in size That’s about as big as they can get in this format.
I could do another board “flipped over” showing the reverses, but I am not sure I have the energy for that endeavor -- right now at least. Robec also suggested an interactive board where you could mouse over the coin to see the flip side ... a cool idea ... but not possible in a static posted image.
It’s funny when you see the mint mark gaps laid out like this … I never realized how "choppy" this series was in terms of missing mints in certain years:
no D in 1909 or 1910 …
no D in 1921 or 1923 …
no P or S in 1922 …
no S in 1932, 1933, or 1934
no S in 1956, 1957, 1958
All the coin images are PCGS TrueView photos shot by photographer Phil Arnold (Thanks Phil!), which were cut out and resized to fit on this board. I like the fact these were all shot with the same camera, lighting, setup, and photographer … so the playing field is level. Easy to make side by side comparisons of all coins.
I thought about putting the grades on here … however I found that ended up just being distracting.
It was nice that top row center on board 2 was the STEEL CENTS. That was a lucky break as I didn’t make that an intentional decision. But I like the way that worked out.
Board #2 also starts and ends with some P/D mints only (1933, 1934, 1956, 1957, 1958), which is nicely symmetrical.
I had to use that TOP margin area for some coins (VDBs on Board #1 and 1933/1934 on Board #2) to get the rows to work out evenly in the body of both boards. It's not easy to get things to work out evenly in this choppy series!
My Favorite Coins
Hard to pick my favorites out of this group (the eye appeal monsters).
On Board #1, my favorites might be 1909 VDB, 1910-S, 1911, 1912, 1915-D, 1917, 1920-D, 1928, 1929-S, and 1932 ... even the 1931-D and 1931-S are cool looking.
On Board #2, it’s hard to beat the 1934, 1936-S, 1939-D, 1940-S, 1942, 1943-S, 1945-D, 1946-D, 1950-D, 1950-S, 1955-D, 1956, 1957-D, and 1958-D.
I flipped over the 1958 and 1958-D as both of those had monster reverses but more ordinary obverses.
There are only a few dogs in here: 1919-S, 1920-S, 1922-D 1932-D, 1941-S … I would also love to replace by 1909-S (still amazed that’s an MS65BN)
THANK YOU's
I did want to post some THANK YOUs ...
To Robec for some very helpful feedback and suggestions made during my build process.
To CopperColor (and Robec) for inspiration on beautiful toned MS Lincolns, who initially piqued my interest in this series.
To Phil Arnold and the PCGS Photo Department for their stunning photography work.
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Comments
i love the passion and have cherished seeing you corner so many rare lil gems
stunning...very stunning
My YouTube Channel
Is the PROOF post going to come later in the day?
Big Congrats! You are one of the inspirations I have for my toned 1950-1964 Proof Set.
Not really looking for much these days but if I were, it might be a toner.
I'm honored even being mentioned as a sounding board and my set as one of the inspirations to start this amazing set and board.
This set of WL stops at 1958, but his amazing set continues another 50+ years further. Those boards are just as impressive.
- Bob -
MPL's - Lincolns of Color
Central Valley Roosevelts
I have only a couple of toned mint state Lincoln cents, but I am posting the one below in honor of your great collection (note the coin is not for sale):
An authorized PCGS dealer, and a contributor to the Red Book.
Mike
Check out my iPhone app SlabReader!
siliconvalleycoins.com
I hate to say it, but what would be really cool is to take it out of the digital world into the physical world, and have this as something you could hold
Andrew Blinkiewicz-Heritage
My Ebay
1934-1958 RB Lincoln Short Set
You can see both sides of each coin (as well as the PCGS grades) by visiting my Registry linked below ...
WingedLiberty's "Fireball Rainbow" Lincoln Registry
My Coin Blog
My Toned Lincoln Registry Set
Recipient of the coveted "You Suck" award, April 2009 for cherrypicking a 1833 CBHD LM-5, and April 2022 for a 1835 LM-12, and again in Aug 2012 for picking off a 1952 FS-902.
I'm most partial to that '31D - and I love some of the names you've given them in your Set Registry:
'11S "Blueberry Cobbler"; '12D "Caramel Swirl"; '16D "Tickled Pink"; '49D "Raspberry Tart" and that '58D "Neon Eon"
Excellent set and great work putting together a set you should be very proud of.
I started a similar set about six years ago. Had to sell the coins.
Love the 57-D.
The collection you posted is how we should expect 1909-1958 Lincolns to look. Some of the top registry sets remind me of an old man who has colored his hair to look like he was 18 years old. I hope you find the 14-D that fits in.
OINK
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CoinsAreFun Toned Silver Eagle Proof Album
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Gallery Mint Museum, Ron Landis& Joe Rust, The beginnings of the Golden Dollar
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More CoinsAreFun Pictorials NGC FOR SALE
Wow, that 1934 is electric. The '40-S, too. And the reverse of the '58-D.
Collector since 1976. On the CU forums here since 2001.
Joseph J. Singleton - First Superintendent of the U.S. Branch Mint in Dahlonega Georgia
Findley Ridge Collection
About Findley Ridge
Cheers, RickO
"A dog breaks your heart only one time and that is when they pass on". Unknown
To have completed this set ( or very nearly) in 8 months is a stupid crazy feat. And many of your coins are beautiful as well as one of a kinds.
J
I liked you named them
My favorite is the Copper-Indigo Mosaic
Congratulations again. This is an AMAZING collection of colorful mint state Lincoln cents and complements your truly AMAZING collection of proof Lincoln cents. Your ability to build and design these sets on the computer only adds to the presentation. Thank you for sharing with everyone.
Now go after the memorials and the shields. And don't forget the 1909VDB MPL & 1914D. This is absolutely a one of a kind collection that all of us here can enjoy with you. THANK YOU PAUL.
Steve
My Complete PROOF Lincoln Cent with Major Varieties(1909-2015)Set Registry