Wow, what do you think spotted these Omega Lincoln cents?
MJPHELAN
Posts: 811 ✭✭✭
This is from an Omega set for auction on GC. I did not see images of the coins in original auction to know if these spots were this visible at the time of the sale.
Mark
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The original lot is at https://auctions.stacksbowers.com/lots/view/3-1OMU7L/omega-privy-mark-2025-lincoln-cents-three-coin-set-the-last-circulating-cents-set-number-148-of-232-pcgs
I see spots. Not all of them, but Stacks doesn't have the best photos.
Edit for reference: the GC lot is at https://www.greatcollections.com/Coin/2047953/2025-Lincoln-Cent-Denver-Philadelphia-and-24K-Gold-Penny-3-Coin-Set-Omega-Privy-Set-148232-PCGS-MS-65-RDMS-65-RDMS-69-With-Certificate-of-Authenticity-3-Coins
What spotted them? Maybe the fact that they are circulation quality copper coated zinc, and that's what happens to such coins that don't receive special handling. People got exactly what they paid for with these. The last coins off the press.
They were just as visible (the spots) at the Stack's site.
Those Omega zinc blanks were treated no differently than the Billions, upon Billions of the rest of the circulating cents struck over the last many years. Some get lucky and come out fairly clean, but the vast majority are simply not "cleaned" good enough to satisfy the collectors out there that just don't get it. These are Circulation quality coins.
"The blanks are washed to restore their original color. The cleaning solution is a mix of cleaning and anti-tarnish agents. A dryen then steam dries the cleaned blanks before they move to the upsetting mill."
https://www.usmint.gov/learn/production-process/coin-production
Here is the 3rd "Cent" that goes with those two Zinc cousins..⇊
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I would wager some kind of biological attack. Looks like some liquid splattered across them.
No, Stack's auction you could not see this much detail at time of bidding. So that's what a MS65 gets you? Not good.
USAF (Ret.) 1985 - 2005. E-4B Aircraft Maint. Crew Chief and Contracting Officer.
✓ Everyman Mint State Carson City Morgan Dollars (1878 – 1893)
✓ Morgan Dollar GSA Hoard (1878 – 1891)
✓ Everyman Mint State Lincoln Cents (1909 – 1958)
✓ Matte Proof Toned Lincoln Cents (1909 – 1916)
Shameful.
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Oh yes you could see plenty of detail at the time of bidding.
In fact, I'd argue that more detail(spot-wise) is observed with Stack's std lighting setup vs GC's axial-type light setup...
Same exact Omega coin - different lighting technique...⇊
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I stand corrected. I do recall seeing some spotting but not this bad. Glad I was only a spectator with my popcorn. It will be interesting to see where the bidding ends.
USAF (Ret.) 1985 - 2005. E-4B Aircraft Maint. Crew Chief and Contracting Officer.
✓ Everyman Mint State Carson City Morgan Dollars (1878 – 1893)
✓ Morgan Dollar GSA Hoard (1878 – 1891)
✓ Everyman Mint State Lincoln Cents (1909 – 1958)
✓ Matte Proof Toned Lincoln Cents (1909 – 1916)
I didn't know CAC stickered modern day coins?
I was looking at a 1983 doubled die cent at FUN. The doubling is on the reverse. It had many spots, a couple of them disturbing given that these coins are made of copper coated zinc. Yet it was graded MS-65, Red. It made me realize that the MS-65 example I sold many years ago would grade much higher today, more like MS-67.
Comment withdrawal.
They do list exceptions and guess they made these one of the exceptions. The gold CAC'd but not the two cents. No surprise there.
USAF (Ret.) 1985 - 2005. E-4B Aircraft Maint. Crew Chief and Contracting Officer.
✓ Everyman Mint State Carson City Morgan Dollars (1878 – 1893)
✓ Morgan Dollar GSA Hoard (1878 – 1891)
✓ Everyman Mint State Lincoln Cents (1909 – 1958)
✓ Matte Proof Toned Lincoln Cents (1909 – 1916)
It's cold and flu season so someone may have sneezed over it before it was slabbed. It would initially be invisible and it would take a few weeks for it to show up as it takes time for it to react with the copper.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
I thought it looked like a sneeze aftermath.
Someone with some knowledge about coins should have been on hand during the ceremony to dip them quickly in acetone to get all the biologic deposits off before putting into flips for slabbing.
And yes, of course the photos from Phil are better than Stacks, nothing new there.
If not for the price, that thing would be called a spender in my usual vocabulary.
Keep it green 💚
Given all the games the played with selling these things, you would thought that the striking and handling of them would have been far more strict. These things are lower quality than one would expect in a new, run of the mill Mint Set.
The mint deserves a Bronx cheer for this entire fiasco. They maxed out their prices at the expense of collectors and put out an inferior product. When Mr. Ham Fingers put his fingerprints on the last cent struck, we should have known what to expect.
Yup. Followed by $124.50 uncirculated sets. Utter contempt for their customers. But, it's all good, because people seem willing to tolerate it. So they get exactly what they deserve, since people apparently cannot live without this stuff.
@PhilArnold
Any chance you took non-axial images? That may help the discussion here.
Coin Photography
Improperly rinsed and dried before striking. These coins are not photogenic.
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution
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They sticker 'modern' 50C up to '64, and Eisenhower UNC to '78, as well as some 1C Double Die Lincoln's '55-'95...
https://www.cacgrading.com/stickering/coins-accepted
As far as these Omega Cents, CAC made an exception to grade/sticker them and partnered with the USM, SBG, and PCGS to help promote legitimacy with the offering...
So far, many Omega auction winners have taken advantage of the free CAC stickering that was offered for these...
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