Help with a 1943-S Lincoln

[K6AZ]

I know next to nothing about Lincolns, and especially how to grade them. In clearing out my place I came across this. Is it worth submitting? Any ideas on the grade?

 

 

[RI AL]

Well, if you are hoping for a high value coin when it comes back slabbed, probably not really worth the expense. It is really sharp and original with no discoloration so personally, as a type collector, I did one that came back as an MS 66. It's not worth much, but it nicely fills the space for the "steel cent" in my type set.

 

RI AL

[dooly]

every steel cent i have sent in has come back as cleaned

[pendragon1998]

My gut says no, you wouldn't make any money submitting it. I think that it's an attractive coin (particularly the reverse), but I think there may be too many hits to make it go above 64-65ish and the price doesn't go very high until you're at 66-67.

 

I'd love to see that coin in a raw date set in an album, though.

 

PCGS MS66:

 

[MarkFeld]

Hi Eric,

 

It looks like an MS65 (or perhaps MS66) to me. And without looking up what they have been selling for, my guess is that it's not worth getting slabbed.

[K6AZ]

Mark (and others) thanks, that's what I figured. This coin is currently in a holder that we will not mention as a 67, I suspected it would not actually be that high.

[Just Bob]

every steel cent i have sent in has come back as cleaned

 

Take them out of your pocket before you throw your pants in the washing machine!

[bsshog40]

I agree with Mark here as to it being closer to a 65. It is a nice Lincoln for a Dansco collection but not really worth the money to slab.

[ldhair]

Hi Eric.

It looks 64 to me from the image but a 65 holder wouldn't shock me.

 

 

[Connecticoin]

Mark (and others) thanks, that's what I figured. This coin is currently in a holder that we will not mention as a 67, I suspected it would not actually be that high.

 

A slab collector's sovenir, and a dark piece of grading history that MUST be preserved!

[BillJones]

Here is the steel cent from my type set. It is in a PCGS MS-66 holder.

 

 

The only reason that I bought this piece for $25 is that it filled a registry type set hole. The classic rule of thumb for slabbing is that an item should be worth $200 or more to make it worthwhile. Using Coin Values magazine as a guide (retail prices), here are the prices for the 1943-S cent in the Gem Mint State Grades:

 

MS-66, $ 40

MS-67, $ 100

MS-68, $ 2,500

 

The MS-68 price does represent a condition rarity ... and a bit of registry one up men's-ship, I would imagine. Given the ladder reason I could see a "motivated collector" pushing it higher, although that's not for me.

 

I will say the original finish, high grade wartime cents are important. That zinc coating is fragile and care should be taken in storing this piece. A slab provides as good protection as most any other device, but you should make an effort to preserve this piece.