1909 Lincoln Cent, PCGS Proof 67+ RD, Bolt Collection

Great Collections - The 1909 Lincoln Cent in Proof was struck at the Philadelphia Mint with a proof mintage of 2,618 pieces, in the first year of Victor D. Brenner's design and without the V.D.B. initials that had been removed from the reverse. The obverse carries Brenner's bust of Abraham Lincoln, modelled for the centenary of his birth, and the reverse two wheat ears flanking ONE CENT. Struck in bronze of 95% copper with 5% tin and zinc, the coin weighs 3.11 grams and measures 19 mm. These are matte proofs rather than mirrored ones — the Mint adopted a matte finish for its bronze proofs from 1909, following European practice, and abandoned it in 1916.

The matte proofs of 1909 to 1916 are a distinct and challenging specialty: the finish is subtle, resembling a well-struck business strike to an untrained eye, and the surfaces mark easily and cannot be restored. The Red designation requires at least 95 percent of original colour, which on a matte proof is scarce, since the granular surface toned readily and many were handled as curiosities rather than kept sealed. A full Red matte proof of the first year is a coin of real distinction within the series.

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Check out Proof Wheat Cents on ebay

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