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 increase time, and the Mint was adjusting manufacturing to match the nation’s demand for coinage.
Whereas coin accumulating didn’t permeate into the mainstream consciousness for an additional couple of many years, there have been nonetheless quite a lot of people looking by way of change seeking cash. One such particular person, E.S. Thresher, contributed an article entitled “Cash That Can Be Present in Circulation” to The Numismatist wherein he acknowledged that whereas he was unable on the time to seek out the 1925-D cent whereas looking by way 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 worth catalogue for uncirculated Lincoln Cents. Per this checklist, 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 the moment, regardless of the 1925 Lincoln Cent being comparatively widespread in Gem Mint State, it’s, in keeping with PCGS, the Tenth-most-challenging Philadelphia date to gather between 1909 and 1929. Moreover, in keeping with Q. David Bowers, most of those cash are well-struck with sharp particulars. However there are a couple of recognized 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 statement 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 kind’s widespread nature, the worth of the 1925 Lincoln Cent is closely depending on the piece’s colour designation in addition to base grade. Recent-struck cash that retain at the least 90% of their unique coloration will probably be designated as RD (Pink). Nonetheless, because the copper steel 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 problem seemingly survive (albeit in diminishing numbers). Cash usually exhibit above-average strikes, however the reverse dies lack the fantastic 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 colour designation in VF vary from $5 to $10. The overwhelming majority of non-Mint State examples usually are not price grading. That mentioned, from MS60 till MS64BN, this kind is price between $40 and $50.
When designated as RB, collectors ought to count on to pay between $50 and $60 for examples in the identical grade vary. However, prime inhabitants Pink Brown cash can promote for costs starting from $200 to $500. An MS67RB auctioned off in 2003 by Heritage Auctions realized $503.
Though 24.28% of PCGS and NGC’s whole licensed inhabitants for the 1925 Lincoln Wheat Cent have been graded MS65RD, these cents nonetheless retain a worth of between $230 and $250.
Regardless, examples preserved in excessive grades with a Pink colour designation are the place the true worth of this kind sits. Whereas straight MS67RDs have been recognized to usually promote for between $800 and $900, one instance bought for $2,400 in August 2022. With solely a handful of cash graded greater, that piece is among the nicest examples obtainable on the open market. At one-half grade greater in MS67+RD, this kind usually brings in between $2,500 and $5,500. The public sale file for this kind was set at $15,172.88 when the Stewart Blay coin bought in January 2023.
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Market Information and Noteworthy Specimens
As of April 2023, PCGS experiences one coin in MS68RD; we’ve not seen this coin seem at public sale. NGC experiences three examples in MS67+RD; likewise, we couldn’t verify public sale appearances of those three cash.
The primary PCGS MS67+RD coin to be licensed would later develop into often called the Jerald Martin specimen. This coin was seemingly licensed in 2015. A yr later, PCGS would certify their first MS68RD. Because the 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 seemingly considered this coin as a robust 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 colour 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, provided the lot earlier than on the identical 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 prime 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 beneath the date, there is no such thing as a mark right here since this coin was struck in Philadelphia.
Reverse:
Brenner’s “Wheat Cent” reverse. Two sheaves of wheat wrap round the precise and the left aspect of the coin. On the prime 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 prime. The center arm is recessed. Beneath, in the identical font however in smaller sort, is the legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
Edge:
The sting of the 1925 Lincoln Cent is easy 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 pictures of the sixteenth president for the obverse of a brand new cent. On the time of his dying, Brenner had carved over 125 completely different medals, sculptures, and cash (View Designer’s Profile).
Coin Specs
| Nation: | United States of America |
| 12 months of Situation: | 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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