Could a local Lincoln cent expert weigh in here? Lately I’ve acquired a lot of proof Lincolns, and there are some that have (to my taste anyway) a gorgeous rich red-orange color. Typically, they are late fifties to mid sixties. I’m wondering: was there something…different… done during those years, whether by the mint or by collectors? Or do some proof cents just look like this and it just so happens that mine are from that narrow date range? The attached pic suffers from typical new-guy photo syndrome, but it DOES come pretty close to capturing the color.
Late 50's into early 60's the proof sets offered some sweet looking coins. I call this a wet proof, not frosty but an sweet strike with a natural wet copper toned color. I've been told as I an not a Lincoln cent collector, that it was how the platchets were treated, as well their composition, and mint packing. No matter the cause these are some of the nicest specimens I've seen, and over the years kept all that came my way.
That is one pretty penny!! @Paddy54 , I have some proof sets from 57 to 64. I need to dig them out to look but I don't remember the Lincoln's looking as nice as this posted one. Did the special sheen only apply to the single Lincoln proof?
Here we have the 1960 Large Date and the Small Date proofs. You are right, they have both attained a deep color and a watery smoothness. They are downright beautiful in my estimation. Edit: I cannot find that I ever posted animated versions of these cents, so I have added them here.
Recently purchased sealed boxes of 1955,1959 & 1960 proof sets. Really hesitating to open them, have decided to open a random selection of 20 from each box. would like to find a proof small date. Semper Fi
I don't know about the other 1960 proofs, as I acquired these as individual cents...I have a 1958 proof set though, and the color is not as rich as the 1960 one pictured, but redder than my modern proof cents.
Indeed, tough to find any coins that are aesthetically comparable to this era of cent specimens. There are some toned ones that really knock your socks off.
I'm leaning towards the above mentioned planchet theory. What ever the true case may be, I specifically seek those out and pay a premium accordingly. Simply beautiful finish.
