I was looking at my 71S proof set when I noticed a group of wavy lines running down Lincoln's cheek. They look like the mint was trying to improve on Lincoln's beard. Has anyone seen this on their proof sets?
I have not seen or read anything about these! You may have stumbled onto a new Variety similar to the "Accented Hair" Kennedy Half. This one would be "Accented Beard". After getting some more responses and searching for more information on this, you might want to send it in for attribution. Frank
What Frank said. I have been looking at this thread all morning, and couldn't decide. Nice comments, Frank.
I would say it is the beard area and the rest of it was wipped out by grease if you look at the left and right of the object there;s no beard so that portion was only left a greased filled die I would saya greased fllled die on a proof are very rare ,and bring a nice premium since these coins even make make it through the careful proof quality process. Jazzcoins Joe
1971 proof Lincoln I think I remember reading somewhere that they did dress the dies up esp. after 1969 on the Lincolns and reducing the size of the bust somewhat both on buisness strikes and proofs. I will look today to see if I can find my source. Remember much more importantly that there are 2 BIG! doubled dies in that proof Lincoln year - I have found both once - one is a $2000 coin and the other a $1000 coin in Proof 67 or above - search every 70 and 71 proof set you can get your hands on as there are not only these but rare coin in every denomenation in those sets - just don't search the ones in E-Tennessee please???? Ben Peters ("by the time you gain real wisdom your to tired to do anything about it")
Ben, So what you are saying is, that this maybe a new Variety, right? If the sprucing up was done after the Production year started and was a Mint approved modification of the Dies, then it is a Variety, right? I have several 1970-S Proof "Doubled Die" Cents but have had a lot of trouble identifying which Varieties that they are due to the subtle similarities that some of them have! I will have to bring them down sometime and let you look at them. I must search coins and sets here in East Tennessee but I promise that I will save some for you! Frank
These are the changes - 1968 Lettering thickness revised 1968 cents have an extraordinarily smooth and featureless effigy of Lincoln. The lettering is measureably thicker in cross section than for prior years. Not noted in the reference books. VDB is very sharp on coins of this year, unlike those prior. 1969 Obverse revised, effigy smaller, low relief This new effigy is similar to the original 1909, but not identical. Much detail restored, but the relief is very low so that the coins and dies wear poorly. 1970-1972 Obverse revised, higher relief portrait Virtually identical to the above, but appears to be higher relief to me. Not noted in reference books, excepting the 1970-S high vs low 7. Note how some collectors use the low relief of the lettering as diagnostic for the 1970-S high 7 (not reliable, since an overpolished low 7 die will also have low relief lettering) 1973 Obv & Rev revised, FG larger 1974-1982 Obv? & rev revised, FG smaller 1982-1985 Zinc, with revised obverse Color changes to pink-red. Full red bronze vs copper-coated zinc cents are very obviously different colors when viewed under a good light source. All of the combinations of die changes and planchet changes exist.
Hi ocopr48, I have ten 1971S Proof Lincolns which look very much like your picture. However, your coin has much more definition in the top and bottom of the beard than any of my coins. I also notice the 1972 S Proof cent in my album looks very much like these. Don't know if this helps or not. jeankay
Lincoln with sideburns. I never saw anything like that before, and it's not listed in Cherrypickers... Where did you find this photo?
David, I got the pic from the Lincoln Cent Resource. It is listed under Featured Varieties. It is a 2006 double die 4,double ear. I just used this pic for comparison.
