PCGS The Standard for the Rare Coin Industry

SJ Cohen Collection

About this set: I am very proud to own this complete 93 coin PCGS Set Registry of Lincoln Proof cents with Major Varieties (1909 thru 2012). They represent over one century of production of Lincoln proof coins.The obverse of the coin features a portrait of Abraham Lincoln. The original reverse used thru 1958 had a design of two wheat stalks with ONE CENT printed in the center. Both sides of the coin were designed by Victor David Brenner, a Russian immigrant. A second reverse design was made by Frank Gasparro to celebrate the 150th Anniversary of Lincoln's birth in 1959. That design showed the Lincoln Memorial located in Washington, DC and was used thru 2008. To celebrate the centenial of the Lincoln cent, the Memorial reverse was replaced by four new reverse designs made for the 2009 issues representing Lincoln's Childhood in Kentucky, his Formative Years in Indiana, his Professional Life in Illinois and his Presidency in Washington, DC. In 2010, a new Shield reverse was designed to represent the unity of our country. This Shield reverse is intended to remain on the Lincoln cent into the future. Thru all the years, from 1909 to the present the portrait of Lincoln on the obverse of the coin has remained the same. That portrait of Lincoln binds the collection thru the years of Matte proofs, Satin proofs, Brilliant proofs and now Deep Cameo proofs (DCAM's). The 9 Matte Proof coins from 1909 thru 1916 had a total issue of just 15,314 and is highlighted by the rare 1909 VDB with an issue of only 420. I have now had these nine MPL's "TrueViewed" by the PCGS photographic group and I can honestly say the pictures fairly represent what the coins actually look like. The 8 coins from 1936 to 1942 feature the Satin and Brilliant Finish versions from 1936. With only 5,569 of both of these versions sold by the US Mint in 1936, these two coins are almost as difficult to acquire as the Matte proofs. Starting in 1950 the US Mint has produced proof cents for each year with the exception of 1965 thru 1967 when special mint set (SMS) coins were made. Although these coins are technically not proof, they look like a proof and deserve to be included in this Set Registry. Starting in 1968 the proof cents have been minted in San Francisco and they contain the "S" mint mark. Since the early 1970's the Brilliant proofs have been improved in manufacture and are now called Deep Cameo Proofs because of their strong cameo contrast on Lincoln's portrait. All my Set Registry proof cents since 1938 grade PR65RD or higher and all since 1972 grade PR68DCAM or higher. Among the later date DCAM's in this collection is the scarce 1990 no S error coin in PR68DCAM and my 1992 which is graded PR70DCAM perfect. The collection also includes the 1960 large date/small date and small date/large date doubled dies, the 1971 doubled die error coin and the 1998 and 1999 close AM varieties. I am very happy to display these 93 coins for everyone to see. While the photography is not the best,(except for the TrueViews) the pictures do fairly represent what the coins look like. This collection has been a labor of love for me. It is not the finest set out there, but to me, it is complete to date and I love my Lincoln cent proof coin collection! Steve
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