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 Replies: 19 / Views: 3,802 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2764 Posts |
I am working on my Lincoln Album. I can't afford to buy them all, right now. I just started and have limited resource (a few hundreds dollars a month). I am curious to know which of the coin that I should buy first and any "undervalued" date-mintmark-grade coin that I should pay attention to.
In your opinion, which Lincoln Cents are undervalued? Please include date, mintmark, grade and your reasoning for thinking it's currently undervalued.
My next question would be: If you have the option, would you buy multiples coins of one of the key date or rather buy only one of each key date/mintmark, in the perspective of collector/investor, not just collector alone? For example: The 1909 S VDB in VF would cost multiple time the 1909 S, which mean instead of only able to get one 09S-VDB, you can get a few good 09S in very nice grade - In the long run you may also be able to sell those extra 09S for a better margin gain.
In another word, within those key & semi-key date/mintmark coins, which had seen the fastest price change/gain and which coins still have room to move in price? Also, are there any "conditional rarities"
Thank you for your reply.
Bruce Edited by SA4H
11/05/2007 2:29 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
750 Posts |
save save save, Buy the keys first. They are the first ones that will increase or have increased on a consistent basis over the years. One that I watch for is the 1924D. They are alot harder to come by in decent grades than one thinks. The obvious choices are the 09s, 09svdb, 14d and the 31s.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3233 Posts |
I don't have an explicit answer for this, but I will say that the usual culprits are definitely NOT undervalued in this series. There probably are some S/D mints that deserve a bit more spotlight.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7123 Posts |
The other thread started by Thad dealt with the proof Issues , The Business strikes in the lincoln series are a completely different story .
My advice is to buy the keys and semi keys first and to buy the best examples you can afford , the movement on these coins gains momentum in the VF grades and accelerates in grades above that level .
These coins include the biggies 09-S VDB,09-S 14-D , 24-D ,31-D and S .
I also include most of the teens twenties and thirties branch mint coins D and S.
These coins are due for an adjustment IMO buy with the same criteria as the keys ,,the best examples VF or above that you can find and afford .
Metalman
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
2764 Posts |
Thanks guys, for your answer.
My next question would be: If you have the option, would you buy multiples coins of one of the key date or rather buy only one of each key date/mintmark, in the perspective of collector/investor, not just collector alone? For example: The 1909 S VDB in VF would cost multiple time the 1909 S, which mean instead of only able to get one 09S-VDB, you can get a few good 09S in very nice grade - In the long run you may also be able to sell those extra 09S for a better margin gain.
In another word, within those key & semi-key date/mintmark coins, which had seen the fastest price change/gain and which coins still have room to move in price? Are there any "conditional rarities"?
Edited by SA4H
11/05/2007 2:29 pm
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Valued Member
United States
314 Posts |
Bruce, I know the Keys are tough in those sets. I learned from trying to build serval sets. I think sets on ebay are undervalued for what you get I am learning . In the 1960 and 1970 the babyboomers built tons of sets 1909 thru 1974 sets. On ebay after buying maybe 10 sets to strip out for keys like 1909 thru 1915 s, 1924d, 1922d, 31s, 1914d, . I learned its cheaper buy incomplete sets than single coins on ebay. I got the idea from an dealer in houston. They buy sets and sell coins as singles in there store. My last strip out set I bought I paid 24 bucks after shiping. I pulled the 1910s, 1911d, 1912d, 1913d, 1913s, 1915d 1921s, 1923s, . It was almost complete 1909 thru 1940. After pulling the semi keys from set. I still have maybe 35 coins lefht. All the keys above would cost 69 dollars from an mail ordor coin shop that sells the cents. Serval monlths ago I bought an set for 100 bucks that had an 1914d cent in set. It was incomplete set. The 1914d cent would cost 225 to 399 at any coin dealer on ebay or there retail store. The key words to search for on ebay are to find those sets. Collection, whitman, foldor, set to find those lots of pennies. So if was you I would be buying sets to strip out coins to build your set. My strip out sets later I will dump on ebay since they are no use to me anymore. Its all common date junk in wore out old blue foldors . Its an lot cheaper buying single coins to build sets. Chevrolet454ss |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
62064 Posts |
I would only buy when you can get BU coins. These will increase in value over the long haul. I agree with Metalman. The teens, twenties, D & S coins in the highest grade you can find will bring in the most money in the long run. Everyone want to buy the best in these years, the best they can find so there will always be a big return on those coins. The coins from the late 30, the 40's 50's, 60's in BU are easier to find. So concentrate on the older BU coins with mint marks. The BU Philly ones are easier to find, but the D & S are the harder to find.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
764 Posts |
semi-keys.. 10s, 11s, 12s, 14s, 15d, 15s, 21s, 22d, 23s, 24d, 24s, 26s, 31d, 33d
in 2009, with the new cent designs, lincolns will become more and more popular, driving up demand, which wont affect common dates much, and keys are already high in demand, so the semi-keys will have the greatest value increase percentage.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
If I was just starting a Lincoln Cent set I would just try to make one set complete and not worry about multiples of anything. If you start accumulating multiples of just the expensive coins it becomes to much of an investment, not a hobby, and to much fun evaporates. Then as already mentioned it becomes how much, how much, how much. Where can I sell it, trade it, etc. I suggest just trying to get one nice, complete set and if some are high grades and some low, so what. They are yours and it's supposed to be a hobby. Supposed to be fun. Way to many turn a hobby into a thing of money, money, money. Of course this all sort of depends on your age I guess. I remember way, way back when I used to wonder how much my collection is worth. Now after well over 60 years of collecting, someone else soon enough will be trying to figure that out. As to odd things with coins. I spent many years trying to find a 1920D Lincoln Cent in an MS grade. Of course I only buy at coin shows. |
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Valued Member
United States
101 Posts |
If I had a few hundred a month to spend I would get the 1910-s, 1911-s, 1912-s, 1913-s, 1914-s, 1915-s, 1922-d, 1924-d, 1926-s, 1931-d, 1932, 1932-d, and 1933-d in as good of condition as possible the first month possibly two if you go very high grade. Then the next month I would go for a 1909-s and 1931-s in as high of condition as possible, and finally the next two months I would save up for a 1914-d. The reason I would do it in this order is that the early teen s mints that are semi keys are going up almost daily in price. 8 months ago you could get some nice examples for maybe 12-18 dollars. Now it is hard to find nice grades like VF+ for under 30-50 bucks on a few. The keys 1909-s, 1931-s, 1924-d to some extent and 1914-d are holding their own or only very slightly increasing right now. This is all based on my own research on ending auction prices on ebay. I watch these very closely as I play the buy and resell game on ebay and want to maximize my profit margin. The common dates are always available and they are rising slightly but nothing big. The other thing that I would suggest acquiring as soon as possible after the keys and semi keys is to get the Gem BUs from 1934-1940 as this set is going up pretty quickly. I have built one for around 120ish before but that number is going up every month. This is all for raw coins btw I do not deal or even keep track of graded coins at all. Hope this makes some sort of sense and can help you out at all! Steve |
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Valued Member
138 Posts |
Hi, The 1931 S is the most under value Penny due to low mintage. I found if you go to your local coin shop you may more than likely get a better deal if you negotiate in person for the 1909 S VDB. This coin will only increase as time go's by. Bring coins you don't need for a trade off that will reduce cost.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2764 Posts |
Thank you very much guys. All your information are very helpful. I wished I started this hobby earlier. I started set aside some coins in 1999 and 2000 as the State Quarter program started but then I didn't know what I was doing and did not continue...... I just started to get back since the beginning of this month. But then I was on the wrong track again, I bought 2 set of State Quarter Silver Proof (1999-2006) and a whole bunch of other slabbed coin. I guess I have to start selling them off for my Lincoln Album. I wish I know this forum sooner!!  |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
19935 Posts |
I'm going to say don't worry about multiples, unless you're investing and not collecting. As a consequence of building a complete collection, you're going to end up with multiples anyway.
If you're a collector....I'm going against the grain a bit here...but an easy and cheap fast start is to buy a BU 1959-current complete roll. Less than $20 anywhere and it ends the memorial part part. If you get any duds, buy another roll, replace.....they're cheap.
I agree with the key dates focus. The prices are going up. Another good idea is the BU 1930-1933. I've been working on those for the past few months and they are TOUGH to get all in BU at a reasonable cost. The 31D BU price has gone up a LOT lately.
Lincoln Cent Lover!VERDI-CARE™ INVENTOR https://verdi.care/
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
19935 Posts |
I forgot to add my undervalued, rising, hard to get. LOL
BU Coins:
Amazingly cheap. I know the mintages don't make your eyes pop out, but these are almost 100 years old!
1909 VDB
1909
Going up everyday!
1932D
1933
1933D
1934D
Sleepers for now:
1944S
1945S
1946S
1947S
1948S
1949S (My favorite sleeper Lincoln, lowest mintage 40's coin)
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2764 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
717 Posts |
quote:
If you're a collector....I'm going against the grain a bit here...but an easy and cheap fast start is to buy a BU 1959-current complete roll.
I bought a nice BU set on ebay 1954 to current for minimally more than the 1959 set. Well worth it. Re Undervalued: I've been told by many, & I agree, that the most undervalued Lincoln is the 1931-S & it's available in AU-MS condition for a great price. The 1909-S is almost the exact same price from G to F. Then the 1909-S price begins to skyrocket & the 1931-S price increases minimally in comparison, especially in MS condition |
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Replies: 19 / Views: 3,802 |
Posted 11/05/2007 09:40 am
