Some where a daddy or, mommy is not happy right now.

While shopping at our local Walmart yesturday I received in my change a 1958 Red Lincoln Cent, in what I would consider a quality condition. What a suprise.

I thought I had won the lottery. All I could think of it of all of the cents that I could have received, I was given this really nice 1958.

As I often do, when I come across a historic find, from my days of being a local historian, I headed to my local high end cigar shop, with a big smile on my face.

Low and behold, in the change I received from the cigar store, a nice 1941 Brown Lincoln Cent. This time, since I knew the cashier, I asked if he would purge his register to see if he had any more Wheat Cents. Sadly, however, we did not find any more of them.

On the way home, I pondered the obvious and somewhat interesting question. Traveling to two separate stores, both on impulse buying, what were the odds of me receiving two Wheat cents?

The only humorous answer was that some teenager got into the coin collection of mom or, dad to buy the latest fad in teenagers life. Parent upset, teen in perminant time-out and I, with two nice coins, a 54 year old coin, followed by a 71 year old Cent.

If anyone is wondering, I did not drive to any other local store to buy a lottery ticket. In hindsight, maybe I should have.

Even today in pocket change a quality aged coin can still be found. It is not hard to imagine where these two coins, and others like them, traveled to in their experienced circulating life.

I do know this, I will pay closer attention to my future pocket change. I will also make sure my Grandchildren stay away from MY coin collection, when I am not around.

Side bar note.

The 1958 Red Lincoln cent that I received has one interesting variation. A double die on the words, Liberty and In God We Trust, on the same coin. As I understand it, NGC states there has only been one 1958 Red Lincoln Cent to have this variation.

Yes, I checked my new find. Nope.

Best wishes,

Jack

If you see a military Veteran look them in the eye and say thanks