Seriously! Is this cent real?

[AstroRaider]

Please, only experienced responses...

Is this cent real?

http://www.lincolncentforum.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=100972&stc=1http://www.lincolncentforum.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=100973&stc=1

Once we get a definitive answer, I will tell you where I got it...

Thanks for any responses,

Allan (astroraider)

[willbrooks]

Everything I see in the pictures you provided show a legitimate die #4. The mint mark location and font, the date font, the VDB position, letter slant, and dot locations all look good! Please feel free to add more photos. Full coin shots of both the obverse and reverse, and closeups of UNITED and the wheat stalks, including the tips please.

[AstroRaider]

Here are full shots (no flash)

http://www.lincolncentforum.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=100974&stc=1http://www.lincolncentforum.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=100975&stc=1

[AstroRaider]

Here are full shots with flash...

http://www.lincolncentforum.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=100976&stc=1 http://www.lincolncentforum.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=100977&stc=1

[AstroRaider]

Here is UNITED...

http://www.lincolncentforum.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=100978&stc=1

[AstroRaider]

Here are the wheat stalk tips...

http://www.lincolncentforum.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=100979&stc=1 http://www.lincolncentforum.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=100980&stc=1

[willbrooks]

Thanks for the additional pics. It has a face only a mother could love, but all the diagnostics check out as a genuine die #4. The only thing that is a little bothersome is how strong and clean the mint mark is on an otherwise nasty coin. We've had this debate before here. http://www.lincolncentforum.com/forum/showthread.php?30421-Not-a-good-looking-VDB&highlight=1909+shallow The die 4 mint mark is stronger than the other dies, so this is only a concern and certainly nothing definitive. If it was added, it is impressive work, but I see nothing here conclusive to call it a fake. Send it in for a "genuine" grade.

[AstroRaider]

Okay, thanks! That's super news!

I was worried about the mintmark, as well. I will send it off for "hands on" grading. Who do you suggest I send it to?

Now, here comes the cool part...

Yesterday, I had to go to Wells Fargo and when I was about to leave, I asked for 4 rolls of pennies.

Today, while watching the Stanley Cup Final game, I decided to open two rolls of the pennies and search them while the game was on in the background.

http://www.lincolncentforum.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=101001&stc=1

When I open the rolls, I quickly flip them to their reverses and sort them into separate areas. I put the shields together, I keep the memorials kinda' together and isolate the battered and stained cents, and lastly, if I see any wheats, I look at them first.

There were 2 wheat cents. The first one was a 1953S and then I found this miracle.

Has it been in circulation this long, or did it find its way from someone's stash (cashed in by the evil step-son) or what?

Father's Day comes early this year!

[duece2seven]

Unreal find! I'd like to know the true odds on this! Congrats

[AstroRaider]

Thanks, everyone!

I was really skeptical about this coin.

A few years ago, while searching a hoard of wheaties, I found a 1914D and a few people said the mint mark looked "fishy". I had it checked out by a local dealer and he said the mint mark looked "really bad". I was so bummed, I took that penny with us to the next star party (amateur astronomy event in the desert) and I bubble-gummed it to a cardboard box and put a .357 magnum through it, then buried it. That is one counterfeit that will never be back in circulation or collections.

With this find today, I was worried about the mint mark, but it looks as though it might be a keeper!

I can't imagine that it has been in circulation for 106 years. It must have been in a casual collection or a desk drawer or something like that, until it got gathered up and re-circulated. Needless to say, I am going back to the same bank tomorrow at lunch and grabbing all similarly-wrapped rolls from the same teller (and those rolls had funky old rubber bands around them). I have two rolls left already, and I will check those out shortly.

I'll let you know if anything emerges from them.

[GrumpyEd]

The dot positions look right for an S VDB. The MM position seems ok.

The S looks a bit fatter than it should and the lower serif seems a bit extended beyond the sides of the S.... But that may all be from wear making it flatten out wider.

I think it's worth sending it for TPG grading. I'd do that because if it's real it's better off in a slab, plus if you get it authenticated by an expert you'd want it in a slab and it saves having to send it twice. Wait until you have some others to get graded so the shipping per coin is reduced and give it a shot. (LOL not with a 357) :)

[enamel7]

What a great find! On another note, no offense, but I would have sent the 14D to an attributor before I would have accepted the word of a dealer. I know some dealers know their stuff, but most don't.

[cranky]

A great story and what a find. That one that should be published.Congratulation on your find.

[unc-usf-fsu]

Awesome find.

[mrmike916]

Simply amazing!

[Maineman750]

Wow...if this is real we definitely want to make a sticky of this thread. I don't see anything that screams fake....but....I'm a little leery of the surfaces and some of the colors, but that may just be the pics....I'd feel better if you have a in-hand examination done....maybe Bob or Jason can take a look....or if I were to send to a TPG it would probably be ANACS simply because of price and that it would probably come back as "genuine"

[DCW]

Without checking any of the diagnostics like Will did, I am concerned about the mint mark area. I can't think of a reason why the S escaped the extreme wear that the rest of the obverse got. Looks out of place.
Hoping for the best. It's not an impossible find, as I believe two other forum members found the S vdb in rolls over the last 2-3 years.
Good luck!

[joel]

Allan, This is a remarkable find to say the least!! You give hope to all roll searchers!!

[mustbebob]

I would agree with the die-004 analysis. I also would not be too concerned that the area around the mintmark is not totally trashed. I see other small areas on the coin that are not so beat up. In addition, you can see some complete wheat lines. Those would normally show hits pretty well. As was mentioned, the coin is 106 years old! IMHO this is a great find. I would tend to want to send it in for a 'Genuine' grade also.

[Brad]

Didn't we create a thread for "best LCR finds" long ago? Or something like that. This belongs there if it is real!

[Maineman750]

Wow...if this is real we definitely want to make a sticky of this thread.


Didn't we create a thread for "best LCR finds" long ago? Or something like that. This belongs there if it is real!


Yes..and we will :D

[DCW]

If real, this truly is an awesome find. Can anyone remember the last member to find one? Was it Magers??

[jcuve]

That's one heck of a find - super congrats!

[Maineman750]

If real, this truly is an awesome find. Can anyone remember the last member to find one? Was it Magers??

Magers found one on 07/16/13 and grnwavdav found one on 01/25/14

[DCW]

Thank you. Isn't it amazing that three members in our small community have found the 1909svdb?

[AstroRaider]

Update:

I went back to the same teller and picked up 6 more (similar) rolls. I also had 2 rolls left from when I picked up the original 4 (one contained the 1909S VDB).

I finished searching them and there was nothing of interest in them.

Allan

[jfines69]

Are you going to send it out for verification and grading??? If you do keep us updated!!!

[willbrooks]

Allan, If you still have this coin, just for :WVP-BS01: and giggles, can you get a picture of the EDGE of the coin adjacent to the mint mark area? Not the rim, but the flat part of the edge. Maybe you have sent it off already?

Allan, what I wanted was the EDGE of the coin there, not the rim. You know, the surface the coin would roll on.

Edge: The circumferential “third surface” of a coin on which the coin could roll or spin. On a Lincoln cent, the edge is always smooth, not reeded like on some other coinage. This term is sometimes mistakenly used to refer to the “rim (http://www.lincolncentforum.com/terminology-list-q-r/#Rim),” which is a different part of the cent. The rims are the raised portions that encircle and are part of the obverse (http://www.lincolncentforum.com/terminology-list-o/#Obverse) and reverse (http://www.lincolncentforum.com/terminology-list-q-r/#Reverse). The edge is the surface between the obverse and reverse.
http://lincolncentforum.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/edge-150x150.jpg (http://lincolncentforum.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/edge.jpg)

[AstroRaider]

No, I haven't sent the coin off yet. I'm still trying to figure what to do. I am open to any suggestions. Who/what is the best venue to send it to? What is the cost of such a service? What is the best way to send it? How much should I insure it for?

Meanwhile (to willbrooks), I took three shots of the area you were interested in seeing.

http://www.lincolncentforum.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=101116&stc=1http://www.lincolncentforum.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=101117&stc=1http://www.lincolncentforum.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=101118&stc=1

Thanks for your assistance...

Allan

[grnwavdav]

Absolutely an astounding find!!! Congratulations!


Magers found one on 07/16/13 and grnwavdav found one on 01/25/14

I found mine in a wheat bag from a dealer but Makers found his in a bank roll.

[AstroRaider]

Here is a photo of the rim/edge. This was not easy to shoot (without getting too much glare off the edge).

http://www.lincolncentforum.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=101171&stc=1

[wapa]

That is one amazing find. Congrats!!

[Magers]

I haven't been around in a while, but I have to say congrats! Welcome to the small group of us who got our S vdb's for 1 cent! What an awesome find!