By Charles Morgan and Hubert Walker for CoinWeek Notes …..
In 1925, the United States Mint struck a complete mixed mintage of 188,909,000 Lincoln Cents throughout all three services. Of this, roughly 74% was produced in Philadelphia. The United States was experiencing a dramatic financial growth time, and the Mint was adjusting manufacturing to match the nation’s demand for coinage.
Whereas coin gathering didn’t permeate into the mainstream consciousness for one more couple of many years, there have been nonetheless various people looking by means of change looking for cash. One such particular person, E.S. Thresher, contributed an article entitled “Cash That Can Be Present in Circulation” to The Numismatist during which he said that whereas he was unable on the time to search out the 1925-D cent whereas looking by means of pocket change, he did discover a good instance of the 1925-P. Twelve years later in 1937, the New York agency Stack’s launched a value catalogue for uncirculated Lincoln Cents. Per this record, Stack’s valued a 1925 cent at $0.25 ($4.25 adjusted for inflation), whereas the 1924 was price $0.50 and the 1926 $0.75.
At present, regardless of the 1925 Lincoln Cent being comparatively widespread in Gem Mint State, it’s, in accordance with PCGS, the Tenth-most-challenging Philadelphia date to gather between 1909 and 1929. Moreover, in accordance with Q. David Bowers, most of those cash are well-struck with sharp particulars. However there are a number of identified varieties. Firstly, as Philadelphia cents struck between 1923 and 1929, the kind is ODV-010 or “Flat Foot to G of GOD”. The numeral “5” within the date has a brief tail, a design oversight that was not corrected till 1950.
One other fascinating remark is that the numerals 1, 2, and 5 are fairly compact and appear misplaced subsequent to the long-tailed 9.
How A lot Is the 1925 Lincoln Wheat Cent Price?
Because of this sort’s widespread nature, the worth of the 1925 Lincoln Cent is closely depending on the piece’s shade designation in addition to base grade. Recent-struck cash that retain at the very least 90% of their unique coloration shall be designated as RD (Pink). Nevertheless, because the copper metallic in a coin oxidizes, the colour begins to darken, and the designation is modified to RB (Pink Brown). Lastly, because it reaches a darkish chocolatey brown, the official designation turns into BN (Brown).
The 1925 is widespread in all grades, and unique rolls of this difficulty probably survive (albeit in diminishing numbers). Cash usually exhibit above-average strikes, however the reverse dies lack the nice element of cents struck earlier than 1918.
There’s loads of provide, and most low-grade examples are price at most $1, whereas items with the BN shade designation in VF vary from $5 to $10. The overwhelming majority of non-Mint State examples are usually not price grading. That mentioned, from MS60 till MS64BN, this sort is price between $40 and $50.
When designated as RB, collectors ought to anticipate to pay between $50 and $60 for examples in the identical grade vary. Alternatively, high inhabitants Pink Brown cash can promote for costs starting from $200 to $500. An MS67RB auctioned off in 2003 by Heritage Auctions realized $503.
Regardless that 24.28% of PCGS and NGC’s complete licensed inhabitants for the 1925 Lincoln Wheat Cent have been graded MS65RD, these cents nonetheless retain a value of between $230 and $250.
Regardless, examples preserved in excessive grades with a Pink shade designation are the place the true worth of this sort sits. Whereas straight MS67RDs have been identified to usually promote for between $800 and $900, one instance bought for $2,400 in August 2022. With solely a handful of cash graded larger, that piece is among the nicest examples obtainable on the open market. At one-half grade larger in MS67+RD, this sort usually brings in between $2,500 and $5,500. The public sale report for this sort was set at $15,172.88 when the Stewart Blay coin bought in January 2023.
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Market Knowledge and Noteworthy Specimens
As of April 2023, PCGS studies one coin in MS68RD; we have now not seen this coin seem at public sale. NGC studies three examples in MS67+RD; likewise, we couldn’t affirm public sale appearances of those three cash.
The primary PCGS MS67+RD coin to be licensed would later change into often called the Jerald Martin specimen. This coin was probably licensed in 2015. A yr later, PCGS would certify their first MS68RD. For the reason that Martin specimen earned its 67+ grade, PCGS has continued so as to add MS67+RD at a brisk tempo of about three per yr.
The Stewart Blay instance introduced an eyebrow-raising $15,172.88 in January 2023. The client probably seen this coin as a powerful improve candidate.
- PCGS MS67+RD CAC #491344397: GreatCollections, June 30, 2024, Lot 723451 – $14,162.62.
- PCGS MS67+RD #39752937: GreatCollections, August 9, 2020, Lot 832904 – View; Heritage Auctions, November 6, 2023, Lot 92063 – $6,300.
- PCGS MS67+RD CAC #21463373: “Stewart Blay’s Pink Copper Assortment of Lincoln Cents,” GreatCollections, January 15, 2023, Lot 1272853 – $15,172.88.
- PCGS MS67+RD CAC #46479217: GreatCollections, January 15, 2023, Lot 1270169 – View.
- PCGS MS67+RD CAC #38287083: “The GL & SL Stonebarger Assortment,” Heritage Auctions, June 18, 2021, Lot 3341 – $5,520.
- PCGS MS67+RD #39891094: Stack’s Bowers, November 12, 2020, Lot 5051 – $2,640.
- PCGS MS67+RD #39062957: Stack’s Bowers, August 7, 2020, Lot 2426 – $2,640.
- PCGS MS67+RD CAC #35372003: Heritage Auctions, June 14, 2008, Lot 3195 – $5,280; “The Dr. and Mrs. Steven Duckor Assortment of Lincoln Cents”, Heritage Auctions, April 23, 2020, Lot 3110 – $3,960.
- PCGS MS67+RD #36183928: Stack’s Bowers, August 13, 2019, Lot 1064 – $1,800 Reserve Not Met. Pale in shade with darkish patches on the reverse.
- PCGS MS67+RD #81352305: GreatCollections, July 24, 2016, Lot 377574 – $2,004.20; “Charlie O’s Assortment,” Heritage Auctions, June 7, 2019, Lot 3445 – $1,140.
- PCGS MS67+RD #25670223: Heritage Auctions, October 30, 2015, Lot 3844 – $2,585. Prime pop, pop one when bought. First PCGS MS67+RD licensed. “Jerald L. Martin Assortment”, Heritage Auctions, January 10, 2019, Lot 4067 – $2,280. Jerald L. Martin on insert. Darkish across the periphery. Splotches on the obverse.
- PCGS MS67+RD #25792614: Heritage Auctions, August 10, 2016, Lot 3204 – $1,997.50.
- PCGS MS67+RD CAC #37476954: Heritage Auctions, July 24, 2016, Lot 3446 – $2,880. Introduced considerably greater than the “Charlie O” specimen, supplied the lot earlier than on the similar sale!
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Design
Obverse:
Designer Victor David Brenner’s portrait of the beloved former president Abraham Lincoln depicts the president from the shoulder up. Lincoln is wearing a interval swimsuit and is carrying a bow tie. Brenner’s initials V.D.B. seem in Lincoln’s shoulder truncation. On the high of the design, wrapping across the rim is the motto IN GOD WE TRUST. The phrase LIBERTY seems behind Lincoln’s neck, on the left aspect of the coin. The date 1925 seems barely decrease on the coin’s proper aspect in entrance of Lincoln’s portrait. Whereas Lincoln Cent mintmarks seem under the date, there isn’t a mark right here since this coin was struck in Philadelphia.
Reverse:
Brenner’s “Wheat Cent” reverse. Two sheaves of wheat wrap round the suitable and the left aspect of the coin. On the high of the design, the motto E · PLURIBUS · UNUM wraps across the rim. ONE CENT is inscribed in massive sans serif letters, and the underside arm of the “E” extends past the arm on the high. The center arm is recessed. Beneath, in the identical font however in smaller kind, is the legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
Edge:
The sting of the 1925 Lincoln Cent is clean or plain, with out reeding or edge lettering.
Designer
Victor David Brenner, born in Lithuania in 1871, immigrated to New York on the age of 19. Among the many classically educated sculptor’s clientele was the long run President Theodore Roosevelt. Having beforehand created a medallion of Lincoln, Brenner was contracted by Roosevelt in 1908 to make use of one of many designer’s earlier photographs of the sixteenth president for the obverse of a brand new cent. On the time of his loss of life, Brenner had carved over 125 totally different medals, sculptures, and cash (View Designer’s Profile).
Coin Specs
| Nation: | United States of America |
| 12 months of Subject: | 1925 |
| Denomination: | One Cent (USD) |
| Mintmark: | None (Philadelphia) |
| Mintage: | 139,949,000 |
| Alloy: | .950 Copper, .050 Tin and Zinc |
| Weight: | 3.11 g |
| Diameter: | 19.00 mm |
| Edge: | Plain |
| OBV Designer: | Victor David Brenner |
| REV Designer: | Victor David Brenner |
| High quality: | Enterprise Strike |
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Sources
Bowers, Q. David. A Information Ebook of Lincoln Cents. Whitman Publishing. (2021)
Lange, David W. The Full Information to Lincoln Cents. Zyrus Press. (2005)
https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/book/327
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