Early Lincolns vs Modern Lincolns

And:

 

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All toners, all the time. All of these are PCGS graded. And all are Proofs.

Top Row (L to R): 1915, 1941, 1950, 1955, 1961
Bottom Row (L to R): 1966, 1972, 1989, 2004, 2011

Sharpest strike definitely in the 1915-1917 era.
Strike/dies got really worn and soft in the mid to late 1950s.
The Redesign starting in 1969 got much more "cartoony".
The later Shield design post 2010 has almost a snakeskin look to it (not a fan).

 

Hard to beat the early Lincolns for look and sharpness. Def peaked out around 1915-1916.

 

The 15 is raw and the 16 is MS-64 BN. Both are amazing in hand.

 

Love that 1915!

 

I bought it on ebay. I thought i was cherrypicking a matte proof until i got it in hand. Still one of my favorites regardless.

 

That is a gorgeous set. Just need a matte VDB

 

Memorials can be beautiful too:

 

I like the 1947 Lincoln
But I like the 1957 Better

 

I suppose a lot of the reason I've grown to prefer the memorials in the last 20 years is just that they aren't appreciated by very many. As the years have gone by I've even come to prefer the memorial though in 1959 I thought it was ugly, too big, and cumbersome. It's really pretty good art for the time period it was done. The lack of competitions allows me first crack at coins I couldn't even afford otherwise.

The attrition on these coins is remarkably high.

The poll is flawed. I don't much care for the shield cents (yet) either. I voted for "moderns" but meant "memorials".

 

Moderns here! I have a few nice wheats, but I'm not one to collect the same thing over & over, like a whole series. I prefer type collections, lots of different coins, which is probably why I'm drawn to commemoratives and State & Parks Quarters, especially the Pucks.

As for modern Lincolns, I like the Satins from the 2005 to 2010 mint sets, a distinct variety with a satin finish and sharp strike, similar to early matte proofs, and super low absolute mintages.

 

Not as bad as the "spaghetti hair" coins.

Agree, man, agree! A 1915 mint set might be a nice project. I don't think there are any real rarities that year, are there?

It's hard to find nice memorial toners though. You have to really hunt.

Great coins! I've kind of been looking for one of those all silver toned Lincolns. I've seen them on 60s era proofs, but nowhere else really.

 

Well, not Memorials, but have you noticed how the 2009 Satins tone? The mint delayed delivery on these sets, as they had a "problem" with toning. The ones I've put in albums develop a beautiful rainbow target toning within months.

 

Spaghetti George is pretty bad, I agree, but have you ever taken an early cent and set it side by side to compare with a later pre-shield cent? Say an 1909 and 2009 obverses.... if not, give it a shot.

 

I have not. I've only seen mint red on these. Also, I pretty much ignore 99% of coins dated after 1999.

 

I am not sure just what conditions you are talking about, but 1915-S coins tend to be a bit unusual. For instance, there are only 98 red PCGS Lincolns in any condition. And there is a 1915- half.

 

Silver toned wheats IFC are hard to find, but they are out there.

 

I don't collect Lincoln's, but I prefer the Wheat's. Even as a kid, when I found one in loose change, I kept them.

 

I'm hoping this one grades this time around.