Hey guys, Recently picked this up at a good price. I bought it because of the sharpness and nice color. Calling all Lincoln Matte Proof experts here - does this look like it may be a Matte Proof, or does it look like a business strike? Any advice would be appreciated!
Beautiful cent: I'd take it either way. From the Lincoln Cent Collection website: 1913 Matte Proof Die Characteristics "The edge of a matte proof will always be flatter, smoother, and more reflective than its more rounded business strike counterpart. A matte proof will stand alone on its edge very easily. Further, the inside and outside edges of the rim will be sharper and crisper. A matte proof will have its inside edge drop off more steeply and therefore the coin will exhibit less of an inside curved dish than a business strike. A matte proof may also have a slight fin on the far outside of the rim around the coin."
Thanks Ksmooter. Coin is en route and will probably be delivered next week. Based on your initial assumptions do you think this MAY be a proof?
I'm not a collector of matte proofs, have only looked at a few in hand so would not want to give you bad info. The website though has some excellent info to help you learn on your own. I am sure a couple of other members will respond and give their insights soon.
The hair details seem too strong to be a business strike. While it may not have circulated there are some carbon spots on the reverse as well as a couple of other areas that didn't tone, 2 o'clock by the rim as well as the O and E in CENT and the area around 6 o'clock. One look at the edge will tell you if it is a proof or not.
Compare the rims on your coin to the rims on certified examples sold by Heritage: https://coins.ha.com/c/search/resul...ode=archive&page=200~1&sb=5&ic4=SortBy-071515 Notice how wide and perfectly flat the rims are? And also, both edge of the rim are *crisp*. On your coin, there is quite a bit of rounding. I'd say your coin looks nice - it is a quality coin. But I'd say it is most likely a business strike. When you say you got it for a good price... are you talking a good price for a business strike and you're hoping to get lucky? Or you got it for a good matte proof price?
I didn't see the "matte look", but I am not an expert. But I would agree with business strike and cleaned. If the edge is not wide and squared, maybe it can be returned as item not as described.
It was only $40, sold as an uncirculated piece. I’m keeping it because I think it’s still beautiful. I appreciate EVERYONE’s very helpful advice.
Please explain as all I see is mint luster on a coin that has a few carbon spots and wasn’t circulated very well.
If it was not cleaned $40 is the correct price. What is important is that you are happy with it. I thought it was advertised as a matte proof. They have a very distinctive look, different from the other proofs.
Yes, that's my point. I don't see anything from these pictures that indicates cleaning. However, Greg is highly experienced and I trust him. If he's seeing something in these images that I'm not, I want to know.
I don’t see any diagnostics for the 1913. The rims aren’t sharply squared and the detail not sharp compared to the MPL’s. It’s a very nice business strike.
The most glaring is that the color is off. It just doesn't look like original color. It has an orange look to it. On Lincoln, the high points are blue tinged. There are blue spots on the top of the rim. If you look at the top of the right wheat stalk, there is a darker area that has some residue with what appears greyish-blue coloring around it where the residue was removed. Same at 6:00. This is exactly the look you get when using chemicals to remove residue from copper. Both sides have darker red and blue areas scattered around in a very unnatural way. Everything points to some chemical used to clean the coin.
