Cents with mintages under 5 million

[uthminsta]

I have a lifelong fascination with cents. Probably in pretty good company admitting something like that around here. And I also know many of you have endeavored not just to accumulate copper, or accumulate wheat cents, but to "build the set." And it always comes down to those last few, and barring the freak luck of finding one in your sorting, the decision becomes whether you're willing to shell out the money to get the "keys."

So here's the thing. There are 5 Indians...
1871 (3,929,500)
1872 (4,042,000)
1877 (852,500)
1908-S (1,115,000)
1909-S (309,000)
...and 11 Lincolns...
1909-S-VDB (484,000)
1909-S (1,825,000)
1911-S (4,026,000)
1912-S (4,431,000)
1914-D (1,193,000)
1914-S (4,137,000)
1915-S (4,833,000)
1924-D (2,520,000)
1926-S (4,550,000)
1931-S (866,000)
1931-D (4,480,000)
which have mintages UNDER 5 MILLION. I'd just like to see what people have to say about those select cents.

- Have you ever found any of them in your copper searching?
- If you're a set-builder, what experiences do you have with buying/trading/selling any of those dates?
- Are there any of those which you would only want to buy "slabbed?"
- Do you consider a set complete with or without errors such as the 1922 "plain" and 1955 doubled die?
- And other such discussions. The last thing I want this thread to become is just another place to report findings. Although those are still fascinating to me, I thought this could be a place where we talk about the numismatist in us, and how we weigh that against the "intrinsic value guy."

PS: There are 6 more Indians (1866, 1867, 1869, 1870, 1876, 1878) and 6 more Lincolns (1910-S, 1913-S, 1933-D, 1922-D, 1923-S, 1932) with mintages between 5 and 10 million. I suppose these are worth honorable mention as well. So yeah, let's hear what you think.

[NHsorter]

I have found a 1914-D while copper sorting. I might also have a 31-D that I found, but I would have to go and check, not certain on that one. I got the 14D slabbed. Had intended to sell it, but it's the crown jewel of my sorting endeavors and I have kept "strong hands" on it so far

I would not buy a S-VDB unless it was slabbed. Well... unless the price was right of course. One way or another, I have acquired all of the Lincolns with the exception of the SVDB and the error coins. Until I found the 14D I never had the intention to build a set, but now I am tempted. Still just hoping to find a SVDB in a roll. I know how unlikely that is. But the hope is still alive. Alive enough that I am not ready to crack open the wallet to buy one any time soon.

[uthminsta]

Nice find on the 14D, and good call on having it slabbed.

I would not buy a S-VDB unless it was slabbed. Well... unless the price was right of course.

Do you feel confident enough in your ability to attribute and recognize a counterfeit? Would you still feel confident when you're counting out the hundred dollar bills to hand over? This is the heart of my problem on the 9Svdb. I would never trust MYSELF that what I bought was real... unless it was encased.

[Thogey]

I found a vf+ 26 s when I first started searching.

[hobo finds]

Looking thru the pre 40 tracking area I found this info…

1909 S VDB 1 found in 2012
1909 S 1 in 2010, 2 in 2012
1911 S 1 in 2010, 1 in 2011, 2 in 2012
1912 S 2 in 2010, 2 in 2011, 2 in 2012, 1 in 2013
1914 D 1 in 2010, 2 in 2011, 2 in 2012
1914 S 1 in 2010, 1 in 2012, 1 in 2013
1915 S 1 in 2010, 1 in 2011, 1 in 2012, 1 in 2013 and 1 so far in 2014
1924D 1 in 2011, 3 in 2012, 2 in 2014 so far
1926 S 1 in 2010, 3 in 2011, 3 in 2012
1931 S 1 in 2010, 1 in 2012
1931 D 3 in 2010, 3 in 2011, 5 in 2012

[NHsorter]

Nice find on the 14D, and good call on having it slabbed.

I would not buy a S-VDB unless it was slabbed. Well... unless the price was right of course.

Do you feel confident enough in your ability to attribute and recognize a counterfeit? Would you still feel confident when you're counting out the hundred dollar bills to hand over? This is the heart of my problem on the 9Svdb. I would never trust MYSELF that what I bought was real... unless it was encased.

Yes, I also don't have enough confidence in my own counterfeit detection skills and that is my issue. But the right coin at the right price, from a trusted source I would probably still consider buying unslabbed. Treading carefully for sure.

[coindood]

Talk about frustrating, since 1986 I've needed only the three biggies (1877, 09S Ind, 09SVDB). There's something that's prevented me from plunking down multiple c-notes for the others, slabbed of course. I toyed with the idea of buying the 09SVDB and turning around and selling it immediately, that way I could still say I had a complete set at one time, but I'm still hesitant. I'm really sorry I didn't invest in an 1877 or an 09S Indian back in the 80s. They've appreciated the most in value it seems.

Speaking of value (historic and monetary) here's a list of the other under-5-mils, when I bought them, and for how much. Did I get my money's worth over the course of time? You be the judge. All were bought raw, none have been slabbed since.

Indians

1871 - Bought Aug 1986 - Solid Good, one small obv pit - $26
1872 - Aug 1986 - AG/G - $28
1908S - July 1986 - VG - $24

Lincolns

1909S - Jan 1985 - VG+ - $50 (Purchased from an honest elderly couple who did the New England coin show circuit in the 80s. They were extremely helpful in my formative collecting years)
1911S - June 1984 - Good - $10 (Mail order purchase)
1912S - Apr 1984 - Good (w/ an obv scrape) $8.95 (mail order, then traded to a nice chap here on Realcent )
1914D - Feb 1986 - Good - $55 (Bought from Nevada Coin Mart, Las Vegas's most reputable coin biz back in the day. When I asked to see one, the guy slid about a half dozen out of an envelope for me to choose from)
1914S - 1983/84 - a super ugly cull I got as a hole filler for $1.50 (which also went to the same chap mentioned above) - Upgraded to a nice Good example in Dec 1996 from a hoard of casino wheaties (see here viewtopic.php?f=10&t=19764#p260798)
1915S - Oct 1983 - Nice chocolaty, problem-free Good - $8.85 (Mail order)
1924D - July 1984 - $10 - Good, some obv spots - Found another casino searching
1926S - 1981/82 - $2-$3 - Good but many tiny obv & rev nicks - Found four more (G & VG) in above-mentoned casino hoard
1931D - 1981/82 - $2-$3 - Fine details but several vertical obv scrapes (guess I was a sucker for culls back then)
1931S - Sept 1984 - $55 - Ex Fine - My first foray into high grade Lincolns.

[TwoAndAHalfCents]

My collection is more of an accumulation of what I have found while roll searching and picking through bulk lots of coins. I'm not ready to commit to assembling a complete set. The information I gather from threads like this one will be helpful in the future if I ever decide to. Thank you for starting the discussion and for all the informative responses.

[uthminsta]

1912S ... traded to a nice chap here on Realcent
1914S ... which also went to the same chap mentioned above)

Yep! So... anyway...

The 1911S should be my next addition. There is a guy in my church who thinks he may have an extra of it. Then I don't know where I will go next. Either start dreaming about the 31S and 9S Lincolns, or maybe slowly shortening the Indian wantlist.

[coindood]

The 1911S should be my next addition. There is a guy in my church who thinks he may have an extra of it. Then I don't know where I will go next. Either start dreaming about the 31S and 9S Lincolns, or maybe slowly shortening the Indian wantlist.

The two schools of thought are -

1) Go for the inexpensive ones first and save the biggies for last

2) Buy the biggies first since they tend to rise in price more quickly and will cost more in the long run if you wait

You're doing your key date shopping at the right time it seems. I just looked at values for the first time in months (my interest tends to wane) and they look lower than I remember from earlier this year. A nice high grade 31S (EX/AU/MS60, the best grades to get for that key IMHO) and a solid Good 14D will each set you back about the same amount. I can't believe the 09S is significantly under $100 of late. Wild.

If you go native, 1861 should be first. Gotta complete that fatty collection! Then 1878, 1868 and on up the ladder.

[uthminsta]

If you go native, 1861 should be first. Gotta complete that fatty collection! Then 1878, 1868 and on up the ladder.

Yeah, looking strictly at mintage (not market prices), I am still missing two which have mintages over 10 million: 1861 (10,100,000) and 1868 (10,266,500) Their price tags seem high compared to other cents with mintages in that range. That's probably why I haven't pursued them.

PS, for those interested in which ones I'm still missing, check out my signature just below.

[uthminsta]

Just got an 1869 Indian in a trade... but yeah, I'd sure like to knock those two 10M+ coins off the wantlist.

[TheJonasCollegeFund]

You need a 13S?????

[uthminsta]

You need a 13S?????

I don't, but I bet someone here would like to add it to their collection.
You can check out a link to my wantlist in my signature.