Home› U.S. Coin Forum
Options

Take a look at this slabbed 1916 proof cent and tell me what you think about it!

BUFFNIXXBUFFNIXX Posts: 2,771 ✭✭✭✭✭
edited December 30, 2025 2:53PM in U.S. Coin Forum

Take a look at the following 1916 Lincoln cent slabbed across the street and tell me what u think about it,
It is on ebay and the item number is 276978156184

Collector of Buffalo Nickels and other 20th century United States Coinage
a.k.a "The BUFFINATOR"

Comments

  • Options
    P0CKETCHANGEP0CKETCHANGE Posts: 3,872 ✭✭✭✭✭

    The coin looks underwhelming for a 66. I’d look for a CAC’d example at that level.

    I’ve also had multiple issues with that seller and refuse to do business with them.

    Superb collections are built more by omission than by addition.

  • Options
    MFeldMFeld Posts: 17,361 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November 19, 2025 6:06AM

    Based on the images, I would have guessed 65RB, rather than 66BN and those two grades have similar values. If that coin bothers you, countless others should, too.

    When asking for members to take a look at listings and comment, you should include links. It’s easy enough to do (or learn to do if you don’t know how).

    https://www.ebay.com/itm/276978156184?

    Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.

  • edited November 19, 2025 5:55AM
    This content has been removed.
  • Options
    MFeldMFeld Posts: 17,361 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @jmlanzaf said:

    You should also cut off everything after the ebay ID number to eliminate the trackers.

    https://www.ebay.com/itm/276978156184

    Done, thanks.

    Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.

  • Options
    WaterSportWaterSport Posts: 7,084 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Well the crappy pic and the mixed planchet metal make it impossible to see any diagnostics. But IF it is a MPL, it had to have been one of the last ones struck given the lack of detail in the beard. Looking thru the PCGS Trueview examples you can see others with not as sharpe rims and this one has the weakest beard detail.

    https://pcgs.com/coinfacts/coin/1916-1c-rd/images/3326

    WS

    Proud recipient of the coveted PCGS Forum "You Suck" Award Thursday July 19, 2007 11:33 PM and December 30th, 2011 at 8:50 PM.
  • Options
    Coins3675Coins3675 Posts: 1,147 ✭✭✭✭

    I don't like the grade on the holder.

    Successful Transactions With: JWP, DBSTrader2, greencopper, bretsan, ajaan, Ted1, Desert Coin, olah_in_MA

  • Options
    MWallaceMWallace Posts: 4,706 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @jmlanzaf said:

    @MFeld said:

    You should also cut off everything after the ebay ID number to eliminate the trackers.

    https://www.ebay.com/itm/276978156184

    I didn't know that. Good to know. Thanks.

  • Options
    World67World67 Posts: 13,098 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @Coins3675 said:
    I don't like the grade on the holder.

    I don't like the holder.

  • Options
    jesbrokenjesbroken Posts: 11,274 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I would not pay 66 price for this coin, should I be interested. I like the comparison coin much better.
    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
  • Options
    FlyingAlFlyingAl Posts: 4,516 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I’m not convinced it’s a Proof based on a quick glance.

    If I get a chance today I’ll see if I can die pair match it for confirmation.

  • Options
    messydeskmessydesk Posts: 20,871 ✭✭✭✭✭

    At the least, it's an unflattering, uninspiring picture.

  • Options
    dipset512dipset512 Posts: 290 ✭✭✭✭

    @MFeld said:
    When asking for members to take a look at listings and comment, you should include links. It’s easy enough to do (or learn to do if you don’t know how).

    I’d say it’d be better to download the coin image and reupload here, or is that frowned upon? I say this because I believe after 90 days or so, the link will no longer work and people who read older threads will have no idea what the OP is talking about.

  • Options
    MFeldMFeld Posts: 17,361 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @dipset512 said:

    @MFeld said:
    When asking for members to take a look at listings and comment, you should include links. It’s easy enough to do (or learn to do if you don’t know how).

    I’d say it’d be better to download the coin image and reupload here, or is that frowned upon? I say this because I believe after 90 days or so, the link will no longer work and people who read older threads will have no idea what the OP is talking about.

    >

    I’d say what you think would be better would, indeed, be better than what I suggested👍

    Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.

  • Options
    cheezhedcheezhed Posts: 6,437 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @P0CKETCHANGE said:
    The coin looks underwhelming for a 66. I’d look for a CAC’d example at that level.

    I’ve also had multiple issues with that seller and refuse to do business with them.

    What kind of issues?

    Many happy BST transactions
  • Options
    thebeavthebeav Posts: 4,126 ✭✭✭✭✭

    What a confusing sale listing.
    Selling this coin and showing a listing of a 66 BN CAC example. One that is MUCH more attractive too !

  • Options
    MsMorrisineMsMorrisine Posts: 40,245 ✭✭✭✭✭

    more from this seller:

    https://www.ebay.com/itm/276258105790

    note pictures of report of metal content

    Current maintainer of Stone's Master List of Favorite Websites // My BST transactions
  • Options
    MsMorrisineMsMorrisine Posts: 40,245 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Current maintainer of Stone's Master List of Favorite Websites // My BST transactions
  • Options
    P0CKETCHANGEP0CKETCHANGE Posts: 3,872 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November 19, 2025 10:50AM

    @cheezhed said:

    @P0CKETCHANGE said:
    The coin looks underwhelming for a 66. I’d look for a CAC’d example at that level.

    I’ve also had multiple issues with that seller and refuse to do business with them.

    What kind of issues?

    In one instance, they tried to pull a bait-and-switch. They sent me a certified coin of the same type and grade, but it was not the one in the listing (and was an inferior coin, of course). The listing did not state that the coin pictured was a stock photo, or anything along those lines.

    In another instance, I caught them using photos of a coin I actually owned in a listing. I'm not sure what coin they would have sent if someone purchased it, but perhaps it would have been a similar situation as the one I described in the previous paragraph. Again, the listing did not state it was a stock photo.

    And for a time, many of the primary listing photos they used were of a drooling baby or other obnoxious, non-coin imagery which constantly polluted my saved search results. It seems they've abated those practices but if you go deep into their old listings, you can see some of what I'm referring to. Edit: here's an example:

    Superb collections are built more by omission than by addition.

  • Options
    BUFFNIXXBUFFNIXX Posts: 2,771 ✭✭✭✭✭

    this coin is not a proof
    but it is rather a pooof! as in there goes your money1

    Collector of Buffalo Nickels and other 20th century United States Coinage
    a.k.a "The BUFFINATOR"
  • Options
    oldabeintxoldabeintx Posts: 3,241 ✭✭✭✭✭

    The coin has the look of a typical 1916, which always seems to come nice and well-struck. If it is a proof, it doesn’t appeal as such, lacks distinction. I just sold an 09 proof in 66 that is a nice coin, but looks pretty much like any nice 09. Wide rims and markers alone don’t cut for me any more.

  • Options
    BuffaloIronTailBuffaloIronTail Posts: 7,783 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @messydesk said:
    At the least, it's an unflattering, uninspiring picture.

    I most definitely don't like the "chatter". Maybe that's not the word for it. I like clear fields. IMHOP the coin looks terrible.

    Pete

    "I tell them there's no problems.....only solutions" - John Lennon
  • Options
    messydeskmessydesk Posts: 20,871 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @BuffaloIronTail said:

    @messydesk said:
    At the least, it's an unflattering, uninspiring picture.

    I most definitely don't like the "chatter". Maybe that's not the word for it. I like clear fields. IMHOP the coin looks terrible.

    Pete

    There are things besides the coin making it look lousy. The picture isn't sharp, so it shows nothing of the razor sharp detail that makes matte proof Lincolns special. The lighting is flat, showing no fine detail on Lincoln's portrait and making the coin look dead. The slab also seems to need polishing, but that won't make up for the other issues of the photos.

  • Options
    davewesendavewesen Posts: 7,008 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I looked at NGCs site for the coin and their picture is even worse. :(

  • Options
    EbeneezerEbeneezer Posts: 401 ✭✭✭

    @BUFFNIXX said:
    this coin is not a proof
    but it is rather a pooof! as in there goes your money1

    Huh? The sharp, squared rim says otherwise. Albeit a weakly struck proof.

  • Options
    renomedphysrenomedphys Posts: 4,030 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I would avoid that coin. Having owned maybe 10 of these, you can take that for what it’s worth. The rim is not squared from 6-8 o’clock on the obverse, and I never buy ‘16 proofs with a weak inner obverse rim, even if the diagnostics are present. On this one I don’t see a die chip on the inner curl of the 9 either. Not a deal breaker but most of them have it.

    Let someone else worry about it.

  • Options
    Eldorado9Eldorado9 Posts: 2,853 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I will echo what @pocketchange said about this Ebay seller. For a very long time they were using a TV of one of MY Barber Halves, and showing it for sale on their web site, at an exorbitant price of course. I complained to ebay about it a number of times. I wouldn't EVER consider doing business with these guys.

  • Options
    FlyingAlFlyingAl Posts: 4,516 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @renomedphys said:
    I would avoid that coin. Having owned maybe 10 of these, you can take that for what it’s worth. The rim is not squared from 6-8 o’clock on the obverse, and I never buy ‘16 proofs with a weak inner obverse rim, even if the diagnostics are present. On this one I don’t see a die chip on the inner curl of the 9 either. Not a deal breaker but most of them have it.

    Let someone else worry about it.

    I was unable to find any matching diagnostics, and with the bad images I'd highly suggest passing on this one.

  • Options
    coinbufcoinbuf Posts: 12,635 ✭✭✭✭✭

    From the photos this looks rather blah and not up to the grade. Maybe in hand under better lighting/viewing conditions it has a better look. Would love to see it in hand and then decide if the photos are a good representation of the coin.

    My Lincoln Registry
    My Collection of Old Holders

    Never a slave to one plastic brand will I ever be.
  • Options
    ChrisH821ChrisH821 Posts: 7,198 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @Ebeneezer said:

    @BUFFNIXX said:
    this coin is not a proof
    but it is rather a pooof! as in there goes your money1

    Huh? The sharp, squared rim says otherwise. Albeit a weakly struck proof.

    The thing about 1916 is that some of them come like that as circulation strikes.

    Collector, occasional seller

  • Options
    TrampTramp Posts: 995 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November 21, 2025 5:01PM

    A definite pass if one is looking for a true PR66 for the asking $$. This coin has too many issues as others have pointed out.

    If someone tried to crack this one open and resubmit to PCGS it may just come back as a MS instead. Just look at some of the MS65 - 67 in CoinFacts to see some flat rims on MS grade coins. That would be a huge loss. JMO.

  • Options
    robecrobec Posts: 7,058 ✭✭✭✭✭

    The rims, particularly the inside, aren’t sharply squared. I’m not sure this is really a proof. The focus is too soft to see any other proof markers, especially around the date.

  • Options
    DRUNNERDRUNNER Posts: 3,947 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I would concur with the doubts on proof status. I have found three in the wild (11, 11, 13) over the years and have a decent feel for the fabric and rims. Admittedly, I can't see a lot of the 'fabric' of the coin, but wow, for the premium a '16 gets with proof status . . . . I'd surely want this verified.

    Drunner

  • Options
    BUFFNIXXBUFFNIXX Posts: 2,771 ✭✭✭✭✭

    The current owner of this coin had better be ready to take a nice long cold bath when and if he finally finds a collector who is attracted to the coin to buy it.

    Collector of Buffalo Nickels and other 20th century United States Coinage
    a.k.a "The BUFFINATOR"
  • Options
    GuzziSportGuzziSport Posts: 628 ✭✭✭✭✭

    For the OP @BUFFNIXX
    it’s sold, but if you want to see a truly beautiful ‘16 proof Lincoln, check out the one that is still listed on desertmoonnm.com.
    That’s the quality of Lincoln proof you want to look for, imo.

    Other passions include golf, Moto Guzzi motorcycles, and Euro motorcycles in general.
    Chris

  • Options
    ambro51ambro51 Posts: 14,524 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I don’t like it. I wouldn’t have put that 16 in my MPL set some years ago. To Me, the MPL Must have interesting colors and tones. This thing looks too clean. Yuk.

  • Options
    TrampTramp Posts: 995 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @GuzziSport said:
    For the OP @BUFFNIXX
    it’s sold, but if you want to see a truly beautiful ‘16 proof Lincoln, check out the one that is still listed on desertmoonnm.com.
    That’s the quality of Lincoln proof you want to look for, imo.

    Agree!

    Desert Moon's pic is nicer than the TV that I have for this '16. Grateful to have it my collection.

  • Options
    BUFFNIXXBUFFNIXX Posts: 2,771 ✭✭✭✭✭

    If someone bought that coin he just bought a pig-in-a-poke as the saying goes!

    Collector of Buffalo Nickels and other 20th century United States Coinage
    a.k.a "The BUFFINATOR"

Leave a Comment

BoldItalicStrikethroughOrdered listUnordered list
Emoji
Image
Align leftAlign centerAlign rightToggle HTML viewToggle full pageToggle lights
Drop image/file