I was watching a YouTube video earlier about coin auctions. Apparently a very high graded version just sold ok like heritage auctions maybe for $1800... got me looking at mine. How do you judge if it’s worth keeping?
You can't believe everything on YouTube, especially when it comes to coins. If the video cites a record of the sale would you be so kind as to post the link. Maybe this was a recent transaction. Checking Heritage's auction results the highest price paid at auction for a 1993 Lincoln cent was $978.00 on July 17, 2011. That was for a MS 68 Red. Recent auction prices are nowhere near that amount.
Most YouTube videos are clickbait. There are a few good videos but I do not believe many of them. All your Cents are worth 1 Cent each.
Typically, if a newer, non-proof coin is selling for that much, it is going to be a 68/69/70. From 65-70 the price increases exponentially because of the known quantity of this example. There are highly common coins that you and I come across on a dialy basis, that in MS68, will be worth a nice chunk of change. Those coins are worth face value.
Here’s the link: This is the only coin related YouTube content I watch because this guy does show the sales and talks about a lot of interesting stuff regarding numismatics.
@MCPark82 In your original post you should have mentioned it was a 1993-D Lincoln Cent. The auction results for a D mint is different than that of a P minted coin. The most recent results I found for a 1993-D Cent was $2,468.00 in March, 2019. The record is $4,600.00 in June, 2010. Both coins were MS 69 RED. You won't find many MS 69's around. There's a fair number of MS 68's but they go for well under $100. Anyone can get lucky so keep looking, it may be you.
