Wow, what do you think spotted these Omega Lincoln cents?

MJPHELAN · January 23, 2026 6:22PM

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.

Alpha2814 · January 23, 2026 6:38PM

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

NJCoin · January 23, 2026 6:41PM

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.

Rc5280 · January 23, 2026 6:59PM

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..⇊
.

Cougar1978 · January 23, 2026 7:10PM

I would wager some kind of biological attack. Looks like some liquid splattered across them.

Tramp · January 23, 2026 10:54PM

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.

oldabeintx · January 23, 2026 11:34PM

Shameful.

Rc5280 · January 23, 2026 11:34PM

@Tramp said:
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.

.

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...⇊
.

Tramp · January 23, 2026 11:49PM

@Rc5280 said:

@Tramp said:
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.

.

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...⇊
.

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.

Goldbully · January 24, 2026 5:38AM

@Rc5280 said:
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..⇊
.

I didn't know CAC stickered modern day coins?

BillJones · January 24, 2026 5:47AM

@Tramp said:
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.

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.

BillJones · January 24, 2026 5:48AM

Comment withdrawal.

Tramp · January 24, 2026 8:01AM

@Goldbully said:

@Rc5280 said:
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..⇊
.

I didn't know CAC stickered modern day coins?

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.

PerryHall · January 24, 2026 9:13AM

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.

MJPHELAN · January 24, 2026 9:16AM

I thought it looked like a sneeze aftermath.

Old_Collector · January 24, 2026 10:31AM

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.

johnny9434 · January 24, 2026 10:34AM

@MJPHELAN said:
I thought it looked like a sneeze aftermath.

Keep it green 💚

BillJones · January 24, 2026 2:22PM

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.

NJCoin · January 24, 2026 3:46PM

@BillJones said:
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.

FlyingAl · January 24, 2026 4:01PM

@PhilArnold

Any chance you took non-axial images? That may help the discussion here.

messydesk · January 24, 2026 4:41PM

Improperly rinsed and dried before striking. These coins are not photogenic.

Rc5280 · January 24, 2026 5:32PM

@Goldbully said:

@Rc5280 said:
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..⇊
.

I didn't know CAC stickered modern day coins?

.

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...
.

Wow, what do you think spotted these Omega Lincoln cents?

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