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Call on bag of 1960 Lincoln cents with an official tag of being defective

logger7logger7 Posts: 9,474 ✭✭✭✭✭

I got a call from an area antiques dealer a few weeks ago who got a bag of 1960 Lincoln cents from his grandfather tagged as somehow defective to be disposed of. Is this possible? Wouldn't a mint separating defective cents out keep them at the mint and then dispose of them? I asked him to send me pictures and have not gotten them yet.

Comments

  • jmlanzafjmlanzaf Posts: 39,819 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Not necessarily. They have sent metal out for scrap. If they sent the cents out for scrap, someone in the chain of custody could have grabbed a bag.

    All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.

  • jmlanzafjmlanzaf Posts: 39,819 ✭✭✭✭✭

    The modern process is discussed here:

    https://www.coinworld.com/news/us-coins/ever-wonder-what-happens-to-unsold-u-s-mint-p.html

    I don't think they were waffling in 1960.

    All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.

  • jmlanzafjmlanzaf Posts: 39,819 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited March 15, 2026 1:49PM

    The other question here: is the bag considered stolen?

    All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.

  • johnny9434johnny9434 Posts: 30,988 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Indeed that's odd

  • IkesTIkesT Posts: 4,099 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Maybe it's the tag that is defective.

  • ambro51ambro51 Posts: 14,244 ✭✭✭✭✭

    :D Maybe the rare “medium” date

  • jmlanzafjmlanzaf Posts: 39,819 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @CaptHenway said:
    I am highly suspicious.

    Suspicious that they are defective or suspicious that they are stolen? They did send out metal to be scrapped. But the process was supposed to be supervised and the metal was not up for grabs.

    I would have thought it would be in large bins not individual bags. Or is it a "ballistic bag"?

    All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.

  • jmlanzafjmlanzaf Posts: 39,819 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Paging @FredWeinberg

    All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.

  • CaptHenwayCaptHenway Posts: 33,527 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @jmlanzaf said:

    @CaptHenway said:
    I am highly suspicious.

    Suspicious that they are defective or suspicious that they are stolen? They did send out metal to be scrapped. But the process was supposed to be supervised and the metal was not up for grabs.

    I would have thought it would be in large bins not individual bags. Or is it a "ballistic bag"?

    Whose bag?
    Whose tag?
    In 1960 Cents were issued in Mint-sewn $50 bags. If the bag is never opened, how do we know that the coins are defective? If the bag is opened, how do we know who put what in it?

    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 ANA Lifetime Achievement Award 2020. Author of "The Enigmatic Lincoln Cents of 1922," Available now from Whitman or Amazon.
  • logger7logger7 Posts: 9,474 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I have the guy's number, he brought it to a shop some years ago and was told he had to open the bag for it to be profitable.

  • ambro51ambro51 Posts: 14,244 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited March 15, 2026 6:28PM

    Well you know since you started this thread at some point we Will need to see pictures of these defective coins.

  • MsMorrisineMsMorrisine Posts: 38,381 ✭✭✭✭✭

    if he's still holding onto it after being told that, then perhaps you ask what he wants for it on the phone.

    Current maintainer of Stone's Master List of Favorite Websites // My BST transactions
  • jonathanbjonathanb Posts: 3,938 ✭✭✭✭✭

    eBay has a couple of completed sales in the $400 range for an opened bag. I expect an unopened bag would bring more. So technically it would be profitable (to some extent) even if unopened.

  • BochimanBochiman Posts: 25,759 ✭✭✭✭✭

    xray it to get some sort of idea

    I've been told I tolerate fools poorly...that may explain things if I have a problem with you. Current ebay items - Nothing at the moment

  • jmlanzafjmlanzaf Posts: 39,819 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @jonathanb said:
    eBay has a couple of completed sales in the $400 range for an opened bag. I expect an unopened bag would bring more. So technically it would be profitable (to some extent) even if unopened.

    That's a tiny fraction of what 5000 error coins would sell for.

    All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.

  • jonathanbjonathanb Posts: 3,938 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @jmlanzaf said:

    @jonathanb said:
    eBay has a couple of completed sales in the $400 range for an opened bag. I expect an unopened bag would bring more. So technically it would be profitable (to some extent) even if unopened.

    That's a tiny fraction of what 5000 error coins would sell for.

    I'd love for this to end up as a bag of 5000 error coins. My prediction is "not that".

  • FredWeinbergFredWeinberg Posts: 5,999 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I think we need a better description From the antique dealer.
    Is the bag mint sewn or just an original bag that’s been opened in crimped?
    Does anyone know what the “errors“ might be?
    Like Tom and others I’m very suspicious at this point with very little information available

    Retired Collector & Dealer in Major Mint Error Coins & Currency since the 1960's.Co-Author of Whitman's "100 Greatest U.S. Mint Error Coins", and the Error Coin Encyclopedia, Vols., III & IV. Retired Authenticator for Major Mint Errors for PCGS. A 50+ Year PNG Member.A full-time numismatist since 1972, retired in 2022.
  • jmlanzafjmlanzaf Posts: 39,819 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited March 15, 2026 9:21PM

    @FredWeinberg said:
    I think we need a better description From the antique dealer.
    Is the bag mint sewn or just an original bag that’s been opened in crimped?
    Does anyone know what the “errors“ might be?
    Like Tom and others I’m very suspicious at this point with very little information available

    I think we're all a little suspicious of various things. I'm suspicious that, even if real, they must be "stolen".

    All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.

  • TypekatTypekat Posts: 630 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Here’s my ‘suspicion’ after 30 years in a coin shop:

    Grandpa, for whatever reason, wrote ‘defective’ on a tag, then tied the bag shut.

    30+ years coin shop experience (ret.) Coins, bullion, currency, scrap & interesting folks. Loved every minute!

  • logger7logger7 Posts: 9,474 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I'll follow up if the guy sends me some pictures as he agreed to do after a long talk on the phone.

  • CaptHenwayCaptHenway Posts: 33,527 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @logger7 said:
    I'll follow up if the guy sends me some pictures as he agreed to do after a long talk on the phone.

    Great! I am curious to see what the "official tag" looks like!

    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 ANA Lifetime Achievement Award 2020. Author of "The Enigmatic Lincoln Cents of 1922," Available now from Whitman or Amazon.
  • DesertCoinDesertCoin Posts: 164 ✭✭✭

    Bag is very sus

    “Land of the free because of the brave”
    “Saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone”
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