So I'm collecting the entire wheat series with a mandate that all Philly Cents must be MS Plus. For some reason I've found it incredibly difficult (most difficult in fact) to acquire a nice raw MS+ 1915. I had a bit of the same challenge with 1921, 1923 and 1925 (still trying to replace an OGH that I won't bust). I hear the words, conditional rarity thrown around but with the mintage numbers of 1915 (29,090,970) I am absolutely perplexed as to why there is such a shortage of this coin (raw MS+)??? And as a note, I'm not looking for Red. RB or B are both acceptable and difficult to find. I have read the Lange and Bowers books on this issue and see no notes indicating that this is an especially difficult year. Can any of you enlighten me on this? 1914 was a challenge too but not nearly so much.
I cannot quote an article but I did read somewhere that the 1915P were a generally poorly struck coin overall. Tough times during the years you mentioned might indicate that more were used than actually saved. The 1915P in MS60 (BN) at around $75.00, you would think, compared to others around the same time period would not be too hard to find, but then it comes down to survival rate also.
It's not an especially difficult year. You're just looking in the wrong places. It's just dumb luck finding anything good "raw," these days. Buy a slabbed one and free the poor little thing, there you go...
There are 6 of them listed on eBay right now. Are you looking for a particular grade or have a cap on the price. Just an MS63 will likely run you $100+.
I'll go with maybe the survival ratio for that particular year. I can say that I haven't paid over 60 for a ms Philly cent yet except for 1914 which I guess had survival issues as well. I deal with several online dealers and either they don't have ms or I feel the price is too high for the coin. I thought about going with LC coins but I hate buying any coins sight unseen. If any of you folks have a reliable source, it would be appreciated.
1915 "Due to its lower that usual mintage for a P-mint cent, this issue has long enjoyed a premium. It was one of only 11 dates values at over $1.00 in 1935 Standard Catalogue" Lange - Complete Guide to Lincoln Cents Even in 1965, an MS60 went for $100 (from Lange again). I really think you are not going to find a decent one for much less that $100 today.
I have a duplicate I'd let go but it's more than you want, I think. PCGS MS65RD in an OGH. When I was building a Dansco of raw Lincolns I decided to go with BN for 1909 - 1940, and RD from 1941 to the present. I had a dickens of a time finding a nice BN 1915 and ended up buying a slabbed 63RB and cracking it out. It sticks out like a sore thumb. Lance.
Thanks for the offer. I actually have a 1925 in an OGH that I can't bring myself to break out. I think I'd just put myself in the same dilemma. I think based on the other replies, I'm going to have to just bite the bullet and pay the premium for a MS brown or RB raw. I'd bet the MS 65 RD in an OGH would be a prize on the market!
