Owner Comments:
Total Graded: 75918
Total Prooflike: 148
Percentage: 0.1949%
Modern coins have a higher percentage of prooflikes graded, in general, than most classic series. Higher technical standards at the mint, and better polishing techniques, are generally responsible for this. In addition, the mint began chrome plating new dies in an effort to extend their life. Just like the chrome on your car, these chrome plated dies are often polished to a high shine – and hence a prooflike coin is struck. This change occurred in the mid-1980’s, and the modern prooflikes begin (depending on the series), around 1984.
The first of the modern coins in the type set is the Lincoln Memorial cent. Modern prooflikes are often highly reflective, looking more like proofs than many of their classic counterparts. The mirrors are not quite as deep as a true proof, and there is a distinctly “business strike” look to them. They generally have more textured fields than the proofs often display. Cartwheel luster is usually present, and the strike is not quite as good as the double-struck proofs. There is very rarely any cameo effect on these prooflikes – they are almost always fully brilliant. However, comparing the strike of prooflike coins to the normal coins, the prooflikes generally have very clear, crisp strikes. This is because these coins are the true “first strikes” from early dies.
A note on the statistics for this series: after watching the numbers for several years, it seems the ratio of prooflikes is fairly stable. Since I started watching the memorial Lincolns, the total graded number has increased from 55,000 to 75,000 – but the percentage of prooflikes has remained fairly constant (it is only slightly lower than when I started watching them).
My Lincoln Memorial is a bright red, fully reflective Superb Gem. While there are a few 69’s graded PL, 68 represents a great value to price point on the later coins (after 2000). Prior to that, I would recommend a 67PL coin. 2004 is one of the most common dates for PL strikes, with the other most common dates being 1999D and 2003. Perhaps this is why I was able to obtain this one on Ebay for $35 (which is a very good price). The coin is a bright cherry red, and possesses very strong mirrors. There is a light sheen of unidirectional die polish on both sides, but close magnification is required to see it. The strike is full and crisp – the most detailed strike I’ve ever seen on a late-date Lincoln. This is clearly one of the very first strikes from a set of new dies. For a modern Lincoln, this is a beautiful coin.