Having Trouble Finding An 09s Lincoln

Yes, I have been trying to go with coins that are 50-75% red, since as you said, there is a very wide range. I have made a couple of purchases where the coin is probably browner than I would prefer, but in some cases they were great deals (and nice coins in their own right). I can always upgrade them later.

I have learned that for the really tough coins, it is best to hold out until you get the coin you would really like. I have been tempted a few times with RB or even BN coins that have some flashes of red, but when I get them next to the others, they don't quite fit in.

As you said, the search is really most of the fun, as torturous as it can be some times.

Here's a couple of coins to illustrate the look I am hoping for:

This 23-S is browner than I would like it to be:



It has hints of red, some decent luster, typical weak strike with a little woody action going on. I'd love to get something with more red, but they are really really expensive and hard to find. I have seen coins at coin shows not as nice as this one priced $600, $800, etc. I got mine for under $100.

This 27-D is a really nice coin, but on the brown side. Another one to maybe upgrade some day:



I was very very happy to add this 09-S to my collection recently. It is really the look I am going for and if all the coins in my Lincoln collection could have this look, I'd be very very happy:











This came out of an old green PCGS holder, MS63RB, definitely more towards the red side.

I do agree with your prior post that the two coins I posted earlier are not quite "it". I posted them meaning, here's a couple for reference, as I like to collect a bunch of data points when I am zeroing in on a particular date/mint mark. The Angel Dee coin is too expensive and the picture is difficult to see what you would be really getting. The David Lawrence coin is pretty nice, but looking up close, it seems more like it could be a 63, not a 64. And so at that price, again, a pass. As you said, sometimes you can snag an RB that is just as nice or nicer than an RD and the price is nicer too usually.

Good luck with your quest! Your collection will be something really special from the sound of it.

I have it at 64BN. There's a couple of spots that hold it back a little I think.

Very nice coins ken. It's really crazy how the color of the copper coin can change a coin completely. The 27's you posted while from the looks of the photo the 27D is a bit better grade than the 27, but sitting next to the redder 27 it looks like a "dog". Please don't take offense to that statement as both coins are nice coins, but initial looks the red coin has more of the wow factor.

I went back to the coin show today to pick up the 09s RB I had the dealer set aside. When I walked up to his table he started to smile and said he had some good news for me. He then pulled out an 09s in MS64RD

He said yesterday about an hour after I left a guy came in and sold it to him with a bunch of other slabbed cents. The best part about it is he sold it to me for the same price he quoted me for the RB one.

Here is the reunited "family portrait"


Now on to the 1910's.

md, I know of no way to remove those types of carbon spots. Once there, they are there as far as I know.

Is your plan to go RD on all of them? Based on my experience so far, the P mints should be pretty easy; it is the D and S mints that get really tough. 13-S, 14-D (of course), 14-S, 15-S, 23-S, 24-D, 26-S especially so. After about 1928, the path should be much easier.

As nice as that 09 is, I really need to stay focused on the priority coins. If you see a 15-S or 24-D in 63/64 RB, let me know for sure. The 09-S VDB will most likely be last. That one is pretty easy - plenty available so long as you are willing to open up the wallet. Waiting for some type of special occasion or milestone for that one perhaps.

Well the 1910 was much easier to find than the 09s.


Working on a deal right now for the 10s. Then on to 1911.

I'm not too worried, I like a challenge.


population report
10 S - 390
11 S - 98
12 S - 180
13 S - 153
14 S - 136
15 S - 60
16 S - 108
17 S - 62
18 S - 67
19 S - 135
20 S - 93

May have to do some searching and submit my own.