Why do you collect Lincoln Cents ?

[Guest]

I see so many members come and go but some seem at first to be mainly interested in what is the value of the coin . If you have other reasons for collecting other than the $ incentive we would like to know. Is the $ incentive stronger than any other reason.? I am inspired by $ but that is not the only reasons for collecting Lincolns. I used to collect some silver but ended up with too much quarters dimes and nickels. I do keep a few silver eagles but I love Lincolns. Do you have a really great reason to collect Lincoln Cents. Kindly share your experience with us.

PS : Investors are invited to comment

Lucien

[hasfam]

I started with Lincoln's in 1969. Since then I have collected and put together complete or partial sets of Jeffersons, Kennedy's, Washington's, Commemoratives, Winged Liberty dimes, Indian head Cents, Foreign coinage....but always come back to the Lincoln Cent. There is something about it that I love more and more with each year that goes by, especially a beautifully MS toned early Lincoln. To me those are much more pleasing to the eye than any silver. A ton of them minted, abused, thrown away, crushed, bent, stamped, lost, stored away, but when you find one that has kept it's original luster with some natural toning...well, thats a little bit of heaven.

[1sgret]

I am a collector for myself now and an investor for my daughter and grandkids future as they will inherit my collection when I am no longer here to enjoy it as a collector.

I collect all denominations of varieties/errors/Key Date coins but more so in Lincolns now.

[hasfam]

I am a collector for myself now and an investor for my daughter and grandkids future as they will inherit my collection when I am no longer here to enjoy it as a collector.

Will you adopt me Joe?

[seal006]

Growing up as a kid my father had some coins that he had kept from when he collected in his youth. There were no quarters, dimes, or nickels. There were no Morgans, Peace, Walkers, or Franklins. All he had were Lincolns. He did not have many, maybe a dozen or so. They were all in 2X2's, and inside a little pocket size flip folder. It was simulated leather wit one row of three pockets per page. I remember finding them in a drawer one day. He was surprised when I came and asked about them. They were all from the 40's, but were all in perfect condition with the neatest toning I have ever seen that was caused by the 30 plus years in this holder. I remember looking at the awesome detail of each under a magnifying glass. I was awestruck at the beauty in the design of the bust, and the wheat ears. It totally changed the way I viewed my own pocket change. I must have pumped thousands of dollars worth of silver quarters inside of Pac-Man, and Asteroid machines. I always spent every dime and nickel on candy and gum. But with the "pennies" it was completely different. I looked at each and everyone of them I came across. I held onto the ones that looked perfect. I kept them in a cigar box. I was always looking for that buzz of flipping one over and seeing if it was a wheatie. I still get that buzz some 35 years later. Now it is more about the errors and varieties rather than date or condition, but that fire I had seems to be burning hotter today than any other time in my life. I owe this all to my Dad. I have even gotten him interested again. He now looks at every 98,99, & 00 Phillys for a WAM.

The best thing is I still have that fake leather holder and carry it with me to shows to put my purchases in. I do have a website now, and sell on eBay as well. The $ is a nice byproduct of what has become an obsession, a way of life.

THANKS DAD.

[Jim]

I traded my daisy B.B gun for my first 1909 s VDB in 1972-73. I still have it! I have been addicted to the Lincoln cent ever since.The Lincoln cent has always been my coin of choice. I grew up in a family that was always horse trading so I do sell and trade allot of my collection. There are some that are not for sell. My collection of wheat pennies is in the thousands. My collecting is not all about the dollar however as any wise investor would tell you there is nothing wrong with making a few bucks to upgrade your collection. I also love the Kennedy Half and collect Morgan and Trade Dollars.

Jim

[mustbebob]

Cool stories. I collect them mainly to hold my house down in hurricanes and tropical storms, and it has worked beautifully

Seriously though. my Uncle collected rare coins in the 50's and 60's, and he told me about varieties. My Mom gave me 3 cents to go to the corner candy store after I made the honor roll at school, and for some reason, I checked them all with the small plastic magnifying glass my uncle gave me. I mainly used it for burning ants and leaves, but one of the cents my Mom gave me was actually a BU 1956D RPM-001. I had a big choice to make. Save it, or get the candy (which is what I really wanted to do). I found out later that my Uncle had given that coin to my mother as part of a birth year set for me, but my mother did not have the extra money she had promised me if I made the honor roll. (I have 7 other brothers and sisters, and we really were very poor back then). I decided to save the cent, and that started it all. My uncle and mother were so proud of me for keeping it, that I made up for the loss of the penny candy many times over. I do not collect for the $$ aspect of the hobby. I do sell coins occasionally, but the love of the hobby trumps all.

[rlm's cents]

Because as a 6/7/8 year old nearly 60 years ago, I did not have enough money to collect anything much larger. Besides, look at my avatar and ask yourself why not!

[1sgret]

Will you adopt me Joe?

Stand in Line and Take a Number!!!!

Cool stories. I collect them mainly to hold my house down in hurricanes and tropical storms, and it has worked beautifully

Seriously though. my Uncle collected rare coins in the 50's and 60's, and he told me about varieties. My Mom gave me 3 cents to go to the corner candy store after I made the honor roll at school, and for some reason, I checked them all with the small plastic magnifying glass my uncle gave me. I mainly used it for burning ants and leaves, but one of the cents my Mom gave me was actually a BU 1956D RPM-001. I had a big choice to make. Save it, or get the candy (which is what I really wanted to do). I found out later that my Uncle had given that coin to my mother as part of a birth year set for me, but my mother did not have the extra money she had promised me if I made the honor roll. (I have 7 other brothers and sisters, and we really were very poor back then). I decided to save the cent, and that started it all. My uncle and mother were so proud of me for keeping it, that I made up for the loss of the penny candy many times over. I do not collect for the $$ aspect of the hobby. I do sell coins occasionally, but the love of the hobby trumps all.

Now I see why you like FL so you can test the theory how many cents does it takes to hold the house down and I also now know why you like Halloween.

Great Stories from the Forum members and keep them coming!!!!!

[atarian]

Cents are easy to get fun to search the color is warm. Finds are plentiful without going nuts. ( reason i dont tackle nickels is cause i NEVER find anything worth a hoot. I liked halves till the banks stopped ordering them BUT lincolns u can get whenever so im happy there

I first did WAM searches ( still do ) and did pretty well
Then with my book I did assorted other finds and did well there too.
Then I store copper cents for the future. ( well to search down the road and IF i can turn a profit on copper more power to me). I still need to search these for RPMs.
Plus another reason to store coppers and wheats separately is in case a discovery is made i have coins to double check for it.
Then again where else can you start a collection with finds on the street. People dont care about pennies anymore so thats where i come into play

[copperlover]

I have to say that the reasons provided so far have exceeded my expectations with a lot of humor to boot. So far so good. I am looking forward to much more. Thanks for the great contributions.

Lucien

[rick0921]

I’ve been collecting off and on since I was a kid. My dad and his dad before him had been collector’s since before I was born so I’ve always been around it. Even at 40, I am still grateful for the time this hobby gives me with my dad while we discuss our collections and recent discoveries. I’ve collected in albums for about the last 20 years and within the last couple years I’ve really been getting into the varieties and errors. My first variety find was a 1979-S wide rim SBA a few years ago and, while I thought it was neat and interesting, I didn’t think much about it. Then towards the beginning of 2010 I came across my second variety, a 1960-D RPM-001, while searching rolls and I’ve been hooked ever since. I’m not in it for the money (although I wouldn’t kick a 1969-S DDO-001 off my desk, if you know what I mean), or even to complete sets of RPM’s, etc. I just want to learn how all these little buggers come to life and the causes behind their existence. It intrigues me. Lincoln cents have always been my passion and they are a rich playground for collecting!
Rick

[pennies4pennies]

Wow deep subject. I don't even know where to start. I'll make this short. I can't remember the year when I first really started looking for error coins. When ever I found something that was odd looking I threw it in a shoe box. My kid had one of those Intel Play microscope. I decided to look at my shoe box of coins. There was not many in there at that time. Thats when I first saw my first RPM.1960D/D I don't remember what the rpm was but I sold it to some one here on the LCR for $8.00. This one RPM that got my heart pumping so fast that I ran to the bank (well drove) and bought my first brick.I thought I was going to get rich LOL. I must say I enjoy the hunting and searching. I do like the $ too but my trill is finding DDOs and RPM and other errors. When I get more then one of the same error I sell them. I have many books filled with all the coins which eacy one of my boys will get.The most thing I want to do is open this one roll I bought about 35 years ago from a dealer out west. It is a OBW from S.F. CAL. There's a 1909S on one end and a VDB on the other end. I gave a 1971 Dodge challenger for this roll. I have had it check out and the roll is a real roll from S.F. To this day the roll is still in a plastic container in a safety deposited box out side of Phoenix AZ. When I moved back here I really for got about the box. My Mom was dying and I had to get back to MD fast. Well It's safe and I am still paying for the yearly rental for the bank box. I think this box will stay closed until I am gone. If it was here I would of had it open years ago. Better were it is. I made a trip out there to see friends a couple times and check and look and see if the roll is still there. It is and it's a killer leaving it every time. But for my house here now I must say BOB watch out because I am loosen space to put my coins.LOL I don't even know how many I got and more come in every week. My wife says I need to build another room on the house for my coins. So
YES I LOVE THE TRILL OF SEARCHING Just like looking for treasure. I also get a smile when some one buys from me and they say they want it for there collection. It makes me feel good knowing I help some one out.

ONE QUESTION WHEN DO YOU STOP BUYING COINS TO LOOK AT THAT YOU WILL NEVER GET TO? thats MY PROBLEM.

Frank

http://stores.ebay.com/pennies4pennies

[Maineman750]

I'm told it's because I have a screw loose...sounds fair to me

[DoubleYou]

I'll simply say that...

1. It keeps me sane.
2. It's insanely fun.
3. I like to learn, and there's lots to learn about coins, and it's fun to know a lot about something, something that most people don't know about.
4. It gives you a sense of accomplishment.
5. Can keep you away from doing a lot of other stupid things.