Matte Proof Lincolns Mintage Figures. Which one is right?

commoncents05 · February 27, 2007 9:58AM

There is differing mintage figures in the Red Book, "Matte Proofs: A Reprint from The Numismatist" and coinfacts.com. Here's What they say:

The first figure is from the Red Book, the second from the Numismatist Reprint, and the third from coinfacts.com

1909 VDB-------------1,194---------------420-----------------1,194
1909-------------------2,352-------------2,198-----------------2,618
1910-------------------4,083-------------2,405-----------------2,405
1911-------------------2,411-------------1,733-----------------2,411
1912-------------------2,145-------------2,145-----------------2,145
1913-------------------2,848-------------2,848-----------------2,848
1914-------------------1,365-------------1,365-----------------1,365
1915-------------------1,150-------------1,150-----------------1,150
1916-------------------1,050-------------1,050-----------------1,050

Which ones are right? All three are the same only for the years 1912, 1913, 1915, and 1916. What about the others? Thanks in advance for the information!

-Paul

OneCent · February 27, 2007 10:05AM

You forgot to list the 1917 Matte Proof

! Mintage "Unknown" according to Lange. He also states that a "few" have traded hands....They're out there....

Here is Lange's mintages for MPL's:

1909 VBD - 420
1909 2,198
1910 2,405
1911 1,733
1912 2,145
1913 2,848
1914 1,365
1915 1,150
1916 1,050
1917 ???

Hope this helps!

commoncents05 · February 27, 2007 10:08AM

It looks like Lange agrees with the Reprint from the Numismatist.

-Paul

66RB · February 27, 2007 10:09AM

<< <i>You forgot to list the 1917 Matte Proof

! Mintage "Unknown" according to Lange. He also states that a "few" have traded hands....They're out there.... >>

However, no 1917 Matte Proof Lincolns have ever been certified, or undeniably confirmed. There is a picture of a 'suspected' 1917 Lincoln Matte Proof, and I believe Lange stated it traded as a Matte Proof, but it is unconfirmed as being the real deal.

TomB · February 27, 2007 10:10AM

What edition of the Red Book are you using? My 1995 book has all the numbers as in your second column, which is not how you have stated the columns. Also, each year from 1912-1916 has a consistent entry, not just the years you listed. Use the column that agrees with David Lange on this, which happens to currently be your second column, and forget about the 1917 since it doesn't exist and never has.

commoncents05 · February 27, 2007 10:13AM

I'm using the 2003 edition of the Redbook. Their figures must have changed over the years.

-Paul

RedneckHB · February 27, 2007 11:00AM

I think RWB has evidence that the mintage of 1915 is actually less than commonly reported. Perhaps he will comment.

Steve · February 27, 2007 11:39AM

RWB does have some information on this subject. I have been trying for four years to get the Red Book & Whitman Publishing to report proof cent mintages in a CONSISTENT manner without much success. Traditionally, proof mintages have been reported based on quantity SOLD because historically proof coins ARE sold by the US Mint. Business strike mintages have traditionally been reported based on quantity MANUFACTURED. Researchers such as Kevin Flynn and RWB found original documents at the US Archives from 1909 thru 1916 that showed MANUFACTURED quantities of proof coins. This information led to the Red Book changing some of these reported quantities. The KEY change was the very rare 1909 VDB Matte Proof Lincoln cent which has traditionally been reported with a quantity of 420 SOLD. Apparently there is documentation showing that 1,000 or 1,194 were actually MANUFACTURED. What is the correct number? Nobody REALLY knows. But all the major books that currently show matte proof mintages (with the exception of the Red Book) continue to use the quantity SOLD from the traditionally reported numbers. And that is CONSISTENT with all other proof mintage reporting that you see in the books. RWB might care to comment. All the above is JMHO. Steve

Matte Proof Lincolns Mintage Figures. Which one is right?

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