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1916 1C PR66 Red NGC. By the time of the Lincoln cent's introduction in 1909, collectors were well a

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money Start Price:NA Estimated At:1,215.00 - 1,620.00 USD
1916 1C PR66 Red NGC. By the time of the Lincoln cent's introduction in 1909, collectors were well a
1916 1C PR66 Red NGC. By the time of the Lincoln cent's introduction in 1909, collectors were well acquainted with the cameo proof coinage that had characterized the Mint's products for many decades. The technique required to provide a proof coin with reflective fields and frosted devices worked well on coins that the Mint's staff designed on their own. On the contrary, Victor David Brenner, an outsider, introduced contemporary features to his cent design. Unlike the flat fields that characterized earlier issues, Brenner's design carried contoured fields that rose to meet the borders. The Philadelphia Mint judged that the matte finish used on the revolutionary gold designs of 1907-1908 would be more applicable to the contoured cent. After receiving their new proof sets in the spring of 1909, however, collectors soon thought otherwise. Despite the superiority of strike on the proofs, finicky collectors were unwilling to pay a premium for a coin that looked curiously similar to the easily obtainable business strikes. Although collectors continued to purchase minor proof sets to obtain the more attractive Liberty Head nickels, their disenchantment grew. The introduction of James Earl Fraser's Buffalo nickel in 1913 with its matte proof finish put the final nail in the Mint's coffin. After a peak of 4,083 coins in 1910, the Mint's output of matte proof Lincolns fell steadily to a record low of 1,050 pieces in 1916. In the latter year, new designs for the silver coins monopolized the time of the Mint's employees. The Philadelphia Mint suspended all gold coinage that year and also shelved the proposed proof deliveries for the silver denominations. While matte proof minor coins emerged in limited numbers, the mounting collector interest and increased workload prompted the Mint to issue the following circular on January 1, 1917: "Owing to the designs of gold, silver, and minor coins not being adapted to the striking of proof coins readily distinguishable from the regular issue, the manufacture of proof coins has been discontinued." It would be 1936 before the federal government once again offered proof Lincoln cents (of a very different look) to collectors. Although a few matte proof Lincoln cents dated 1917 have emerged from time to time, the purists among Lincoln cent collectors recognize the 1916 issue as the last of its kind. The few examples of this issue that have survived over the years are largely impaired, heavily spotted, and/or in low grades. This stunning gem, however, is in a class all its own. Both the obverse and the reverse display smooth orange-red luster with intermingled blushes of cherry-red and gold highlights throughout. The strike is superb and does full justice to the modified portrait details that the Mint introduced this year. With pristine surfaces and hardly a distraction worthy of mention, this elusive piece is of obvious importance to the numerous collectors who specialize in this series. NGC has only certified this single PR66 with one piece (almost unbelievably) finer. PCGS has also certified three PR66 coins with none finer. Frankly, we doubt if any of those pieces could compare to the technical and aesthetic perfection of this gorgeous specimen. Important notice: We expect to be auctioning lots at the rate of 200-250 per hour. On occasion eBay live bid software cannot keep up with the pace of the auctions where 4-5 lots per minute can hammer down, so we recommend that you place a realistic absentee bid now as insurance to avoid disappointment. Also please note that all Heritage/CAA lots purchased through eBay Live carry a 20% Buyer's Premium. Please make sure you read the Terms and Conditions.