Goldberg Coins and Collectibles

Sale 63

The Pre-Long Beach Auction of US, World Coins and Currency

Lincoln Cents

Lot	Photo	Description	Realized
Lot 651		1909-S. VDB. PCGS graded MS-65 Red & Brown CAC Approved. Lots of mint red color. A serenly attractive Gem Mint State example and a Premium Quality coin for the grade. On the original models for this coin, Victor David Brenner had spelled out his name. Mint officials rejected this, so Brenner placed just his initials, VDB on the lower reverse. The White House quickly approved this, and forced the Mint to start production immediately. Naturally, the boldness of the initials worried officials, and soon the press was against the audacious signature. To attempt a compromise, the initial "B" was suggested for Lincoln's shoulder, but Mint Engraver Barber (who normally used his initial "B" to sign coins), vehemently rejected this. Soon Brenner's initials were dropped altogether, until Barber's death in late 1917. Starting in 1918, a small VDB was restored on the lower part of Lincoln's shoulder, where they remain to this day. Once the public realized that coins with the VDB would be replaced due to the outcry of the bold initials on the lower reverse, many were hoarded. Hence, these have always been popular with collectors, and they have always found feverish demand (PCGS # 2427) . Estimated Value $2,600 - 2,800. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $3,795
Lot 652		1909-S. VDB. PCGS graded MS-64 Red & Brown. CAC Approved. Housed in an Old Green Holder. A popular key date and a sharply struck example with a mostly red appearance overall. Only the slightest mellowing of color is seen on each side. A bright, near-Gem example of this key date Lincoln Cent (PCGS # 2427) . Estimated Value $2,500 - 2,700. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Unsold
Lot 653		1909-S. VDB. PCGS Genuine, questionable color. Our grade is MS-64 RB. An excellent looking example of this popular Key Date. With only 484,000 minted, collectors quickly realized back in 1909 that the 'S-VDB variety would be the one to acquire. It's popularity has grown all the more in the 100+ years since (PCGS # 2428) . Estimated Value $2,100 - 2,200. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $1,553
Lot 654		1909-S. VDB. ANACS graded Fine-15 Details. Cleaned. A popular key date (PCGS # 2428) . Estimated Value $550 - 600. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $719
Lot 655		1912. PCGS graded MS-66 Red. A fiery mint red gem! Despite the moderate population in this grade, it might take years if one were inclined to to "hoard" 5 pieces similar to this one, let alone 10 out of a total census: Pop 84; 10 finer with 3 in 66+, 1 in 67 (PCGS # 2452) . Estimated Value $700 - 800. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Unsold
Lot 656		1912-D. PCGS graded MS-64 Red. A beauty with full firey mint red color (PCGS # 2455) . Estimated Value $500 - 550. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Unsold
Lot 657		1915-D Improper Alloy Mix MINT ERROR. NGC graded MS-63 Brown. Estimated Value $500 - 600. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 658		1917-S Struck 15% Off Center MINT ERROR. NGC graded MS-64 Brown. Very unusual in such high grade. Estimated Value $500 - 550. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 659		1918-S Double Struck Flipover in Collar MINT ERROR. NGC graded EF-40 Brown. Estimated Value $500 - 550. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $575
Lot 660		1919-S Struck 30% Off Center MINT ERROR. NGC graded MS-63 Brown. Estimated Value $500 - 600. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 661		1920-D. NGC graded MS-65 Red. Fiery mint red. As with most D-mint issues from the 1910s and 1920s, a scarce date in Gem condition displaying full mint color. How few were saved! How elusive these are, as indicated by the NGC census: Pop 19; 1 finer by a point. Estimated Value $1,400 - 1,500. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 662		1922. No D. Strong reverse. NGC graded AU-58 BN. Chocolate brown surfaces with an excellent strike and full reverse. Only a tinge of light friction keeps this piece from mint state status. Choice smooth surfaces on both sides without the usual little problems like marks or carbon: exactly what the doctor ordered, and on display here! All around a pleasing coin worthy of the specialist's consideration. Pop 33; 32 finer, 10 in 61, 10 in 62, 10 in 63, 2 in 64 . Estimated Value $6,000 - 6,500. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 663		1922. No D. Strong reverse. PCGS graded EF-40 Brown. Often, a collector might wait six months to a year before finding a 1922 No D example in this grade. Lower grades are the norm, the the census of available pieces dwindling swiftly once the Extremely Fine level is reached (PCGS # 3285) . Estimated Value $1,700 - 1,800. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $1,783
Lot 664		1922. No D. Strong reverse. PCGS graded VF-35 Brown. Several marks on the face of Lincoln. Brown to steel brown patina with the rims choice and complete, and all legends visible (though weak since the obverse die was well past its time for retiring). Scarce (PCGS # 3285) . Estimated Value $1,600 - 1,700. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Unsold
Lot 665		1922. No D. Strong Reverse. PCGS graded VF-30 Brown. Sharply struck reverse (PCGS # 3285) . Estimated Value $1,200 - 1,300. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $1,093
Lot 666		1922. No D. ANACS graded VF-25. We note that this is the Strong Reverse variety. Always popular. Estimated Value $750 - 800. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $863
Lot 667		1922. No D. Strong reverse. PCGS graded Fine-15 Brown. Evenly worn (PCGS # 3285) . Estimated Value $700 - 725. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $805
Lot 668		1922. No D. Strong Reverse PCGS graded Genuine. Some marks on both sides. Our grade is sharpness of Fine (PCGS # 3287) . Estimated Value $450 - 500. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $604
Lot 669		1923-S. NGC graded MS-65 Red. A gem example with fiery mint red color throughout. A very rare date in this high grade. The present offering is one of the more well respected grade rarities from third party grading services. The mintage of 8.7 million pieces while low, it not out of the ordinary for the Roaring Twenties. Circulated examples can readily found at coin shows. When it comes to Uncirculated pieces, regrettably, these tend to be more brown than red while the quality of strike is often poor. Once third party grading arrives it soon became apparent that the 1923-S Lincoln rare with full red color and with sharp devices as here. This exceptional coin displays a sharper than average strike in most areas and only the slightest softness is seen on the wheat lines and kernels. Not a single carbon fleck; full mint color. One of the most important Lincolns cents from the early days and in the remarkable state of preservation. Pop 2; none finer at this service. Estimated Value $8,000 - 9,000. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $7,188
Lot 670		1926-S. NGC graded MS-65 Red & Brown. A lovely glossy mint example of this scarce date in such high grade. The surface fits squarely within Gem parameters while the main devices display sharp to very sharp definition. Pop 26; 2 in 66 RB. Estimated Value $3,800 - 4,200. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 671		1931-S. PCGS graded MS-65 Red. Housed in a First Generation Holder. Beautiful vivid red with billowing fresh-from-the-roll luster. There is a small tick in the field above the first 1 in the date (PCGS # 2620) . Estimated Value $500 - 525. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $552
Lot 672		1943-D. PCGS graded MS-68 CAC Approved. A near perfect gem example. Pop 122; none finer (PCGS # 2714) . Estimated Value $2,000 - 2,200. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Unsold
Lot 673		1955. Doubled die obverse. NGC graded MS-64 Red & Brown. Boldly struck. A shortage of circulating Cents during the summer of 1955 set the stage for the creation of this unusual error, perhaps the most famous error in all of 20th century U.S. numismatics. The increased demand for Cents this year compelled the Philadelphia Mint to speed its production schedule and, correspondingly, to lessen its quality control. As a result, an obverse die that had accidentally rotated between blows from the working hub slipped past the inspectiors and ended up in the press. Paired with a correctly made reverse die, this obverse struck between 20,000 and 24,000 Doubled Die Cents between midnight and 8 o'clock in the morning one day during the summer of 1955. The error was not discovered until after these coins had been integrated with other properly produced 1955 Cents. Since he did not want to destroy 10 million Cents in order to stop the Doubled Die examples from leaving the Mint, Chief Coiner Sydney C. Engel decided to let them pass. The first example was discovered by the public in Massachusetts late in 1955, and the error became popular within a few years. While obtainable with patience in the XF-AU grades, the 1955/55 Doubled Die is truly rare at the finer levels of Mint State preservation. This is one of the finest certified "R&B" Gems, Both obverse and reverse retain brilliant mint red to orange hues, original, spot-free, gleaming, with a few tiny marks scarcely out of the ordinary. The coin has never been dipped or wiped by former owners, nor in any way kept other than in its original state of preservation. Few other challengers have been seen. The rarity and quality are both undisputed. Estimated Value $3,500 - 3,600. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $4,485
Lot 674		1955. Doubled die obverse. PCGS graded MS-64 Brown PQ. CAC Approved. Some mint red visible, a lustrous coin with original mint gloss throughout most of the field. Pop 166; 6 finer in 65BN (PCGS # 2825) . Estimated Value $2,400 - 2,500. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $3,278
Lot 675		1955. Doubled die obverse. NGC graded MS-62 Red & Brown. Faded mint red. One of the most popular 20th century mint errors and always in demand, the major devices are strongly doubled on the obverse -- the most notable being IN GOD WE TRUST, LIBERTY, and of course the date, but also seen is strong doubling on Lincoln's coat front and lapel along with his bow tie and eyelid. (We will refrain from saying anything about his doubled Hot Lips since that would be undignified.). Estimated Value $2,200 - 2,300. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 676		1995. Doubled die obverse. NGC graded MS-67 Red. Estimated Value $700 - 800. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $403