Okay I said I would challenge you'all. Tell me the 4 toughest common mint state "P" Lincoln's especially as it relates to planchet quality plus die state????. The clue : "all was right with the world for a time". Ben Peters "if I ever come with one to stump you 'all I will feel proud, very proud". You guys, (and gals) are good on here!!!!!! BHPIII
One has to be the 1922- "P". Aside from that, I do not understand the rest of your criteria. "toughest"? "common mint state"? "as it relates to planchet quality"? "plus die state"?
There are no 1922-P Lincoln cents! The whole point of the 1922-D cents is that there is no "P" mint cents from that year only "d" were made resulting in 1922-D "no D" being like there was a 1922-P which is die pair #2. FS#013.2 The rest of the criteria is - toughest means "hard to come by". Die state is how crisp the finished coin is as it relates to die life, earlier is of course better. Planchet quality is the source and quality of the material used during a given year of Lincoln Cent stock, or blanks, (the supply of copper). Ben Peters, (home of The Knoxville Coin Show)
Have I finally stumped you'all??? Come folks you can do it the clue is in the "time" and "common". Ben
And the answer is,,, The common mint state "P" mint Lincoln's I was thinking of are - 1954, 53, 52, & 51. Invariably people who are putting together sets come to me and ask "do I have these in problem free MS-64 RD or above" and I tell them I have never seen a really nice roll of these. Sure you can find PCGS and NGC 64 & 65 Rd's in these dates but they always look a little inferior compared to their "D" or "S" counterparts - at least that is my experience with them. All others experience's are always welcome. Thanks, Ben Peters
So what about the clue "all was right with the world for a time". Wasn't that Robert Browning that published that in 1841?
The 1950's It was the 1950's - one of the most prosperous times in this countries history. Sure there was Korea and many other things but the 1950's generally were considered by many folks to be a wonderful time of growth and prosperity. Ben
I am still not understanding your criteria. Most any of the teens (and probably 20's) are rarer in MS63 than these are in MS65. Even ignoring that, the rarest of that era (MS64/65) is probably the 1948. I will give you the 1954 (from that era), but then, what about the 1949 and 1947? BTW, try getting any from 1954 to 1946 in MS66 - or if you have deep pockets, MS67.
It's not a big deal just an opinion and for learning. It's just for learning and fun - yes the criteria may be a bit broad but I said common mint state "p" mint. Those coins I identified are from my experience and I handle thousands of Lincoln's each month. What I don't see are rolls (or many singles) of any 1920's, 30's "P" mint red coins with the strike and planchet problems like I do these early fifties coins. That combined with customers request and with experienced Lincoln collectors agreement that those are indeed very tough to find nice. A few of the 40's are tough but who sees many rolls of those either anymore? Next time I will fine tune my trivia to a tee! But please if you are any-type of engineer don't ask for more and more clarification on these questions - we don't think that a way in the south, (except for engineer's bless their hearts). "it's more fun leaving a little to the imagination" Ben Peters
I have absolutely no idea where those statistics came from. Lincoln Cents is one of my favorite coins to collect. I presently have 10 completed sets from 09 to present. Set #1 is almost all MS and the sets get progressively less in grades as the sets go on so that by the time I get to set #10, it is almost all just fine grades. Over the years the toughest ones I found in MS grades were the 20D, 15D and 21S. Not much of a problem with any of the ones in the 50's at all in any MS grade you want. Possibly your statistics are based on where you live. Not by me that's for sure.
Carl easy, you be right, I'll be happy! It's not that serious Carl, easy does it. That was my experience not anyone else's - I do have people each and every month ask me for those coins in problem free mint state - I have never opened a roll of those dates (and I have searched thousands of BU wheat rolls) that were as nice as their "D" and "S" counterparts - maybe you have and that's great. I tell you what, you be right - I'll be happy. And oh ya - are you an engineer???? Sincerely, Ben
My first set is all certified MS66 or better (except 35-S and 34-D) and mostly MS67. I will never (barring some fantastic luck) own a MS67 "P" 1946 - 1954. Per the PCGS list, the cheapest of those in 67 is the 1950 @ $4250. The cheapest MS66 is $215. I have even seen MS65 coins from 48 and 54 go for $40. I have no idea just what was going on at the mint, but virtually none of the coins from that era were well struck at Philadelphia.
