Greetings! Can anyone explain why the 1986 Lincoln cent is so popular? I was watching one on e-bay that sold for $125. recently. I saw it listed for .50 for MS-65 in the Red Book. I pulled out about 24 that looked pretty good (I'm new to the realm of coin collecting, but I'd guess they are AU-55 or better). I don't have any pictures yet, but can post some within a week or so if anyone's interested in seeing them. I'm trying to decide if they're worth getting graded. Have a Great Day! Mari
It's not particularly popular, however the one you saw must have been a very high grade like ms-67 or 68. You won't find one of these anywhere but a mint set I'm guessing, and you'd be hard pressed to find one that good even there.
This was probably one of the most lightly saved Lincoln rolls since the 1940's. People just missed it and everyone thought everyone else was saving it. Mint set production was way down this year so this coin usuaally sells for 50c or a dollar. Quality of the zinc Lincolns had been quite poor up to '86 and even mint set coins almost always had poor surfaces and/ or plating problems. The '86 mint set coins were a huge improvement over previous years but there were still relatively few top grade coins. It wasn't until '88 that "gem" became pretty much the norm for the Lincolns in the mint sets.
That's what I was thinking. Did this coin happen to be graded by one of the major TPG's? If it is a high grade, it will blow the prices in the Redbook away. Registry set owners will pay almost anything to have one of the top grades. Be careful going by the Redbook. Sometimes you'll see a coin in there worth $1 and you'll pass on it if a dealer has it for $4. Redbook is rarely accurate, especially in the past couple months.
1986 - Thanks for de-mystifying! Thank you for your replies! As to the coin I saw on ebay - 1986 Lincoln Cent Graded Mint State 67 Red By PCGS. - Mari
I got my first Red Book in 1960, it wasn't accurate then and I haven't seen one be accurate since then either.
Also, try to remember that not long ago someone posted the lint from his belly button on ebay and it sold. Some time ago a guy listed a half drank bottle of water and it also sold. Just because someone paid that much for that coin only means they will be real sorry if they ever try to get thier money back.
PCGS has only graded 139 1986 Cents that high & only 26 are rated higher than that (MS68RD). That's why the prices is so high. Folks doing registry sets, competing with each other to have the best set & stuff.
Grade - rarity - population survival - market demand. Out of the billions produced, how many of these cents are truly 67RD or even tougher 68RD grades? Keep searching.
