Anyone have an image of a steel cent in Good or worse condition?

Comments

• 291fifth Posts: 24,834 ✭✭✭✭✭

  June 27, 2019 5:46AM

  It is unlikely that they would have worn down that much during the 25 years or so they actually circulated. (They were effectively gone from circulation by the late 1960's.) Having a steel core they would have resisted rapid wear. Rust, yes, but heavy wear, no. I don't recall ever seeing one that would have graded less than Fine by wear and most were VF or XF by wear.

  All glory is fleeting.

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• ajaan Posts: 17,689 ✭✭✭✭✭

  June 27, 2019 5:53AM edited June 27, 2019 5:53AM

  @291fifth said:
  It is unlikely that they would have worn down that much during the 25 years or so they actually circulated. (They were effectively gone from circulation by the late 1960's.) Having a steel core they would have resisted rapid wear. Rust, yes, but heavy wear, no. I don't recall ever seeing one that would have graded less than Fine by wear and most were VF or XF by wear.

  I see PCGS has graded one AG3

  
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• JasonGaming Posts: 928 ✭✭✭✭

  June 27, 2019 5:58AM edited June 27, 2019 6:02AM

  

  The AG03, from a PCGS set registry. I wish it were mine

  Always buying nice toned coins! Searching for a low grade 1873 Arrows DDO Dime and 1842-O Small Date Quarter.

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• 291fifth Posts: 24,834 ✭✭✭✭✭

  June 27, 2019 6:02AM

  @JasonGaming said:
  

  AG03, from a PCGS set registry. I wish it were mine

  I suspect it may have been a pocket piece. The lack of any rust on a steel cent with that level of wear is the tip off.

  All glory is fleeting.

  1
• CaptHenway Posts: 33,070 ✭✭✭✭✭

  June 27, 2019 7:01AM

  @291fifth said:

  @JasonGaming said:
  

  AG03, from a PCGS set registry. I wish it were mine

  I suspect it may have been a pocket piece. The lack of any rust on a steel cent with that level of wear is the tip off.

  I wonder if it had help. I have never seen a bronze Lincoln wear in that pattern.

  Numismatist. 54 year member ANA. Former ANA Senior Authenticator. Winner of four ANA Heath Literary Awards; three Wayte and Olga Raymond Literary Awards; Numismatist of the Year Award 2009, and Lifetime Achievement Award 2020. Author "The Enigmatic Lincoln Cents of 1922," due out late 2025.

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• 291fifth Posts: 24,834 ✭✭✭✭✭

  June 27, 2019 7:30AM

  @CaptHenway said:

  @291fifth said:

  @JasonGaming said:
  

  AG03, from a PCGS set registry. I wish it were mine

  I suspect it may have been a pocket piece. The lack of any rust on a steel cent with that level of wear is the tip off.

  I wonder if it had help. I have never seen a bronze Lincoln wear in that pattern.

  A definite possibility.

  All glory is fleeting.

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• 1630Boston Posts: 14,115 ✭✭✭✭✭

  June 27, 2019 7:51AM

  Great question by the OP and great theories/responses.

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• BillJones Posts: 35,032 ✭✭✭✭✭

  June 27, 2019 8:02AM

  I doubt that you will see one with honest wear. The steel was too hard, the coins didn't circulate for long enough and the rust got to them before circulation did.

  Retired dealer and avid collector of U.S. type coins, 19th century presidential campaign medalets and selected medals. In recent years I have been working on a set of British coins - at least one coin from each king or queen who issued pieces that are collectible. I am also collecting at least one coin for each Roman emperor from Julius Caesar to ... ?

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• cladking Posts: 28,964 ✭✭✭✭✭

  June 27, 2019 8:11AM

  I saw a few low end VF's before they quit circulating. Most had some rust, were black, and/or were mid range XF. It wasn't at all unusual to see fairly nice AU's once in a while. Most of the AU's were probably spotty but I didn't notice such things in those days.

  tempus fugit extra philosophiam.

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• topstuf Posts: 14,803 ✭✭✭✭✭

  June 27, 2019 8:59AM

  @291fifth said:
  It is unlikely that they would have worn down that much during the 25 years or so they actually circulated. (They were effectively gone from circulation by the late 1960's.) Having a steel core they would have resisted rapid wear. Rust, yes, but heavy wear, no. I don't recall ever seeing one that would have graded less than Fine by wear and most were VF or XF by wear.

  Everyone called them "silver" pennies.

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• carabonnair Posts: 1,455 ✭✭✭✭✭

  June 27, 2019 9:31AM

  @topstuf said:
  Everyone called them "silver" pennies.

  I heard "lead" pennies a few times, I think.

  Gawain
  
  Pacific Northwest Numismatic Association

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• ricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭

  June 27, 2019 10:58AM

  I have a couple rolls of MS '43's.... but none that are 'worn'....Cheers, RickO

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