Lincoln Cent. Just for fun.

Years ago a good friend brought me a group of old Whitman folders. They were found in his grandmothers attic. He just wanted me to check for anything of value. The hole for the 1909-S VDB was empty but I found this in the 1909-S hole. The guy was really happy when I gave him the good news. Not in very good condition but it was really fun to find.

 

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A good honest coin...and friend!

 

Helping a friend is a great feeling of trust and loyalty. Thanks for sharing.

 

Nice catch

 

I almost missed it. I only took it out of the folder to see the reverse for grading.

 

Very nice. An honest example. And an honest friend

 

F12?

 

I'm thinking 8 but don't feel it would ever get a straight grade.

 

Maybe an 8 net graded. There is still plenty of detail in the stalks and some definition to Lincolns ear.

 

I agree. Some verdicare is in need here to slow progression.

The Reverse has much better detail than the Obverse. I find it interesting when a coin shows such an imbalance to overall wear-and-tear. Because of the Reverse, I had it pulling the coin into Fine (details).

 

Cool story. Do you know what the friend did with it?

 

Full wheat lines, I'm at F12. It's a very honest coin as it stands, I would NOT perform any conservation. It is not corroded, this is just normal residue from circulation.

 

Nice discovery for your friend.

 

Hard to believe someone put that in the wrong hole, considering how famous it was very early on. Good to have friends like you!

 

The first time I read that, I missed the V.D.B.... When I read that again,

 

He gave me the coin and all the folders as well. I told him just the one coin was worth $200 to $300 but he just wanted me to have it all and would not take no for an answer. I'm sad to say he passed away about a year later.

 

I agree. Trying to mess with it would kill the coin. I'm not a big fan of messing with copper.

 

I would get it slabbed - exactly how it is. If someone were to foolishly remove the residue, it would likely come back as cleaned. It already has a bit of a cleaned look just from circulation but the residue cements the fact it has not been.

 

The area of concern for me is above the right wheat stalk. The lighter pink and the appearance of an uneven surface (in hand, it might not).

The suggestion to preserve it as-is by getting it slabbed is probably the safest approach.

If not slabbed (with/without professional conservation), I would use some of your 'elixir' to stabilize the coin before putting it in an airtite/flip (without disrupting any of the residue). It is a valuable specimen as it sits, so the decision needs to be made carefully.

 

Not to slight my own product, but I wouldn't let VC near this coin. It will almost instantly remove most that black, gummy residue. As a collector, I LIKE THAT TYPE OF RESIDUE on my coins. It demonstrates the untampered, originality of the surfaces. As long as the coin is well protected (I like airtites personally) that residue should not be corrosive. At this stage I consider it stable if you use sound storage techniques.

Maybe I'm a freak - but when I'm at a dealer or show I gravitate to coins that look like this. I especially like them when they're in an ancient 2x2 with all kinds of dust inside and out, rusted staples and weathered cardboard.