Thoughts on some Lincoln Cents I acquired, and grade?
Omegaraptor
Posts: 541 ✭✭✭✭✭
A couple days ago I was at the LCS and right before I was about to leave I asked the dealer if he had any bulk wheat cents. He didn’t have any on display, but he normally sells them in bags of 300. He went to the back and brought out a bin containing about 240 wheat cents, and said I could look through them. So I did... and I started noticing things. There was an unusually high quantity of early and better dates in the bin, and they weren’t exactly in low grade. I offer to buy the whole thing and he sells them to me for 3¢ each.
Here are some of the best coins I pulled from that little bag:
1923-S Lincoln Cent: I thought this was a lower grade at first, but looking at it closely I really don’t see all that much wear at all, and the missing details are probably a typical mushy strike. There is a scratch on the obverse through Lincoln’s bust, which I don’t think is enough to details it due to its thinness, but I could be wrong.
1925-S Lincoln Cent: Again, not much actual wear on this one. May have been cleaned at some point, but the weird obverse color may also be blamed on poor planchet quality (coin is woodgrained).
1926-D Lincoln Cent: Can’t see any real problems with this one. I grade it XF45, net down to 40 due to some rim dings/roughness at 1:00 on the obverse.
1926-S Lincoln Cent: This was one of the first ones I noticed when looking through the bin at the shop, and as soon as I saw this one I was sold on buying the lot. The strike quality actually looks pretty good for a 26-S. Going on the optimistic XF side but could also be a high end VF - either way an awesome coin.
1927-S Lincoln Cent: The obverse is a weak strike from a worn, tired die that has reached its terminal state with a die crack running through the 7 in the date. (Would be interesting to know if anyone here has a 1927-S cent with the same crack!) However, this is a real nice coin, with only a few spots of wear on the high points (cheekbone and jawbone). In fact, there is even a little bit of mint luster left over on this one with some nice blue/purple rim toning in person! I grade this one AU.
In addition, I pulled plenty of better date coins, three 09 VDBs, a 1953-D/D FS-501, and a 13-S that would have been a nice coin if it wasn’t corroded. Ah well. Probably the most fun I’ve ever had with bulk Wheat Cents, and I’ll definitely ask again next time I go.
Now, I’m not an expert by any means. My grades might be a little high, so I’ll need some input from the experienced collectors of CU. Again, I paid a whopping 3¢ each for these coins, so I have absolutely nothing to lose. What are your thoughts?
"You can't get just one gun." "You can't get just one tattoo." "You can't get just one 1796 Draped Bust Large Cent."
Comments
No pictures.
Can't go wrong at 3 cents each for a raw album collection. Nothing worth slabbing based on your verbal assessments.
All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.
A good deal at 3 cents each.
Weird that the pictures aren’t showing up for you. I posted them from my phone and they show up fine on my computer. They’re pretty big files, so if you have a slow internet connection you might have to wait a minute.
"You can't get just one gun." "You can't get just one tattoo." "You can't get just one 1796 Draped Bust Large Cent."
I see pics
That's a fair price.
I like the 23S and 25S. Woodgrain cents have always been a favorite of mine. Nice pickup.
Jim
When a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, he will either quit being mistaken or cease to be honest....Abraham Lincoln
Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.....Mark Twain
Old Lincolns for 3 cents each is always a fun purchase.
If I may add I do not agree with your grading on these coins.
I learned a lot using 2 guides when I started trying to grade coins accurately.
The Official ANA Grading Guide for US coins and Photograde.
Their pics are not the greatest but still very helpful.
I still look through these references when I need a refresher on coins I
don't handle regularly. Good books.
Nice deal. Not much downside.
Good for putting an album together. Nice buy.
"A dog breaks your heart only one time and that is when they pass on". Unknown
That sounds like a good, and fun batch of wheaties to go through.... nice pictures....Cheers, RickO
Without going coin by coin, I would grade everything you posted somewhere in the VF30-XF45 range. A few have little surface issues, which is probably how they got into the bulk rolls, but those are absolutely perfect album coins. Give me a full album of coins that look like those and I could stare at them for hours.
Sean Reynolds
"Keep in mind that most of what passes as numismatic information is no more than tested opinion at best, and marketing blather at worst. However, I try to choose my words carefully, since I know that you guys are always watching." - Joe O'Connor
Guessing that they were indiscriminately popped out of folders from someone’s decent collection. Nice find!
About 20 years ago I bought the estate of a long retired part time dealer. As expected there were lots of bulk wheats. He said back in the 1960’s, he would have his kids help sort them, with a short list of key dates to watch for. Everything else went in the bucket.
Needless to say, I could have filled multiple folders, except for the keys.
I kept all the pre 1935 coins, and any red/red-brown cents, then rolled these all up and sold them off.
Your 1926-S looks like it may get to 40. IMHOP it's a 35 for sure, going by the wear between the neck and shirt collar.
You made your money back plus some.
Pete
Nice dates and decent looking cents. I think you did very well at 3 cents each. I agree with the above comments that these are in the VF/XF grade range.
Excellent album coins... I agree with the others in that the coins you posted appear to be in the 35 to 45 range with some minor surface corrosion...
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