Early Lincolns in mint state brown
gscoins
Posts: 313 ✭✭✭
While I am primarily a non-US coin collector, I recently purchased from a fellow forum member a couple of nice looking raw Lincolns in brown uncirculated: 1912 and 1919. Since I sometimes have little or no discipline, I started dreaming about putting together a partial set of early raw Philadelphia mint Lincolns in similar condition, say 1909 through 1920 or thereabouts, just for the heck of it.
I am not looking to make a profit on such a set, but was curious whether you all see early unc (say 64-66) brown Lincolns as being a decent investment at today's prices. I noticed on Ebay a pretty raw 1911 for about $105 (and not selling), but there are a lot of others much less (and perhaps not in great shape?) on Ebay as well. From purely an economic perspective, would I be better off buying graded coins? Angel Dee has a 1910 in PCGS 65BN for $120, and there are 65BNs on Ebay in the $100-160 range.
Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks
Comments
From my experience, PCGS is pretty frugal with the gem BN grades on most any copper, especially Lincolns. Buying raw on eBay and submitting can be tricky takes experience. Angel Dees is a great source for graded examples.
I think there is great upwards potential for gem BNs as there is many collectors of that now and gaining attention everyday.
A great set to build, I had fun building mine from 09-33. Took about 6 years but If I as only doing the Philadelphia mint it would have taken less time and money.
Investment ... no. Brown Unc. Lincolns are an acquired taste. They may be promoted by some on this site but interest by the general collecting public is thin.
Pay no attention to this person (
) , brown is the best!
If you like the look of them and want to do a set then go ahead an collect them. Do what you want to do and what you enjoy.
I think mintstate Brown wheaties are very pretty and in my eyes are quite popular
HAPPY COLLECTING
You might be able to get the Philly Lincolns inexpensively but good luck getting the early Ds and Ss cheap unless you accept spots and worn die strikes. AU58s can be nice but you need to know a 58 and not accept a 45 in 58 plastic. Now, if you have thousands to spend then you'll have no trouble finding some fantastic brown Lincolns slathered in oily luster. Happy hunting.
"A dog breaks your heart only one time and that is when they pass on". Unknown
Love the Brown Lincolns. This is in a PCGS Slab now.
Ken
I too love Gem mint state Lincolns.
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That would be an enjoyable set to build... I recommend you stick with slabbed coins - mainly due to your relative inexperience and the amount of low quality on the market.... Have fun and keep us informed of your progress... Cheers, RickO
This is the best advice!!!!!
Some good advice here. Collect what you like; don't look at the investment side. BR early Lincolns have a following and are much more affordable than their RD and RB counterparts for many reasons (which I will not get into as it will detract from your post). The P mints come much nicer than the D & S and are more plentiful so you can be picky and patient. Good luck and please share your results.
https://pcgs.com/setregistry/showcase/2819
I think collecting a Brown set of MS Lincoln's, would be harder to put together than a Red set based on how few MS are slabbed. You would have to make several on your own. But I also stand by you should collect what you like.
WS
Don't know that BN cents will ever be a good investment, but I will say I love them when they look nice. I once owned an 09-S in 64BN that had incredible frosty luster with hints of blue. I traded it away years ago, but often wish I hadn't. I wouldn't be surprised to see it in a 65 or even 66 slab today.
I prefer BN over red for an obvious reason.
love this one.
Collect what you love, can afford and hopefully will increase in value. I had zero knowledge of MS Lincolns red or brown. With that said...
Twenty years ago I started collecting toned Peace $ as opposed to toned Morgans despite many dealers pushing me towards Morgans. I couldnt afford toned Morgans and at that time toned Peace $ were relatively cheap though not easy to find. The dealers called me crazy, said toned Peace $ were ugly and I was wasting my time. Many dealers would dip them to make them shiny and bright because thats what Peace $ collectors wanted. So I bought a lot of them for little to no premium.
Now I go to shows and I see the huge premiums on toned Peace $ that I dont find all that attractive and cannot compare to some of the coins in my collection. I could never reconstruct my set -- the coins arent available now - no less at the prices I paid.
Will brown Lincolns catch fire? I have no idea. But I rather collect something undervalued than overvalued.
I too really enjoy brown Lincolns, but they are a niche market. However, if you enjoy them and the price is right, why not??
It's certainly possible that 20 years from now BN Lincolns will be red hot.
I think it pays to define brown. Brown coins with pretty color are hot. Super clean brown coins with no color but great luster are warm. Run of the mill brown coins are cool to cold and probably always will be.
This is coming from the guy who owned 60% of every single lincoln PCGS had graded MS66BN, as of four years ago. Since then the brown market has exploded and the submissions of brown coins have pushed up the populations to double, triple, quadruple what they were four years ago.
So I don't know if we're going to have to wait 20 years to see it be hot.
This, by the way, is a PCGS 66 BROWN coin:
This one surprised me. It was graded 65RB and I thought it deserved better.
So when PCGS offered a special in 2010, when they introduced SecurePlus, I submitted it for regrading.
Instead of the 66RB I expected it came back 65RD. Huh.
Lance.
I think a raw set would be ultra cool. A good investment? Probably not. But then again, I question the 'investment value' of most material. Collect what you love.
My best advice....be selective and buy only nice brown, well-matched examples. I think you're onto something here.
Good luck!
Dave
I echo your thoughts, as you presented them more concisely than I did.
When I mentioned "BN" may be hot in 20 years I was referring to your second category, "clean brown coins with glossy luster and little color."
And by hot, I meant that they may be valued on a level similar to RD coins, or at least not given secondary " stepchild to RD coins" status.....