OK - I'm not an official coin collector but I was present as a presenter at the Hodgenville Lincoln Bicentennial event Feb. 12 2009. I have more than a few rolls of these coins stamped with the USPS commemorative bicentennial stamp and a Lincoln postage stamp. It's fiendishly difficult to find out if I should sit on these for a few more years. I'm seeing a few people selling the individual pennies FDI, graded and certified, for over $100. Any ideas? Also, can a non-professional collector have them graded and certified? I'm not living hand-to-mouth so really don't need to sell them right now for rent or anything:smile Thanks
I would contact PCGS and NGC and ask the alternatives considering the unopened roll that is marked FDI. I suspect that once the roll is broken to grade individuals, you either have to get the entire 50 done or lose the ability to get any left in the roll no longer being able to get FDI at a later date. You can ask what the bulk pricing is, although I seem to recall you have to do a hundred coins for that, but they could tell you. I never do special label grading, so I don't know the rules for them. Welcome to the Forum Amill! Jim
I just did a completed search on ebay and find that the proof coins that are graded 70 sell for a couple hundred dollars or more as a group of four coins, but the business strike pieces that you have do not appear to command that price level. There was one auction that sold for $225 that had all eight 2009 first day of issue cents graded by PCGS at MS65RD (two coins) and MS66RD (six coins), which comes to about $28 per coin and after PayPal and ebay fees is more like $25 per coin. Of course, certification fees and postage reduce this net to about $15 per coin. That is still terrific on a one cent investment, but you had better know how to grade mighty well or you may certify many coins that will lose money for you on an individual basis. The USPS makes money here on postage and ebay makes plenty on ebay and PayPal fees and commissions, but PCGS is the true winner in this scenario since they rake in the fees to grade these coins. Another auction sold at $152.50 for a single PCGS first day of issue MS66RD cent, but that was for the Presidency cent and I think your cent would be of an earlier design given the date of February 12, 2009. Your coin is likely the Birthplace cent. The other auctions that I found were for the 95% copper specimen coins in MS69RD, which again is not your coin since you have the zinc cent business strike. Also, MS69 is mighty high grade and you can't realistically expect to have that grade within your roll. My gut feeling is that these are a fad and that there is a definite crest you need to ride in order to make money on these coins with the first day of issue designation. I have seen this in the modern coin market previously where the first folks who offer an item for sale do well then the price goes up quite high for a little while only to fall hard and remain there. If you sit on these I would imagine they would be worth less as time went on, but if you were to certify them all I would also imagine that you would likely not make any real money on the group. You need to know very well how to grade and then use the bulk grading tier, if available, to maximize your return, which will not be guaranteed.
