United States: 1965 bronze specimen Lincoln Memorial cent, Special Mint Set issue

United States: 1965 bronze specimen Lincoln Memorial cent, Special Mint Set issue

PCGS SP66. Cert. #30322350.

Numista-42, Krause-Mishler-201.

Mintage: 2,360,000.

Ex-"WingedLiberty1957", Collectors Universe, from the "Color of Money" collection on the PCGS Registry. Date of acquisition unrecorded (2010s).

This Lincoln cent is a prooflike specimen striking for the Special Mint Set from 1965. It has absolutely incredible toning. Many toned coins have colors that only "pop" at certain angles to the light, but in hand, this one is dramatic from any angle you view it from.

I bought it because it was from my birthyear, mostly. But I was impressed by the toning. I don't do Moderns much- generally I am not very interested in coins that were struck within my own lifetime. Unless they're something special, which this one certainly is. Prior to this purchase, if you had ever told me I'd spend 75 dollars for a Lincoln Memorial cent, I'd have called you crazy. Now, in retrospect, that price I paid doesn't seem so unreasonable.

Some collectors of toned coins like to come up with colorful individual names for certain of their favorites. I call this one the "Watermelon Inversion", because the colors resemble those of a watermelon (except inverted, with the pink on the outside and the green on the inside).




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