Looking for a little advice searching $1000 of Lincolns

[ndgoflo]

Hi all, well, after 13 or so years of accumulating Lincolns, I've decided it's time to sort and search. I've read Chuck's book, and I have adopted his sorting techniques, I have already sorted close to $100 worth. Now my question becomes, Is it worth my time to look closely at every stained, damaged and corroded Zincolns? I enjoy searching for doubled dies and the like, but sometimes it seems to be too much of a chore to try to look through the corrosion and such. Any tips and/or advice is appreciated, as I seem to have my work cut out for me.

[eagames]

If they are sorted by date and mintmark then I would start by searching the years with big varieties (even ugly coins).

That way if you get tired of searching you're likely to have found most of the good stuff.

With wheats start with 1936 and 1941. Then maybe looking for 1955 die-2 and years with big RPMs maybe 1956 then look for OMMs on 1944-D, 1946-S, 1951-D, 1956-D and 1944 OMMs.

For memorials I'd look at the 1971, 1972, 1983, 1984, 1995 for DDOs. Maybe 1992, 1998, 1999, 2000 for the different AM types.

Then in the end I'd still look at the other dates There are many varieties worth finding. The reason I'd start with the best years is just in case you stop before being done so you at least looked for the "easy pickings".

If they are not sorted by year and MM it might be worth sorting them before searching.

[ndgoflo]

Thanks for the fast reply and solid advice. I guess maybe I should be a little more precise, as these are all Memorials (a few wheats may have made it through the cursory glance as they went into coffe cans). I really don't have much trouble looking at each and every copper cent, as they hold up to time fairly well. It's these dang zincs that seem to just rot away after a relatively short time. Looking for the widely recognized varieties is a given, ex. '83, '84, '95, wide AM's, etc.

I guess I was more curious about how more experienced searchers go about looking for lesser known/respected varieties such as minor doubled dies, RPM's, wavy steps, die trails etc. I mean, some of those varieties are hard enough to pick out on BU coins, let alone having to look through stains and corrosion.

Thanks again!

[eagames]

If it's an ugly zincoln I might only glance to see if it's a big easy to see variety.

Put anything you are not sure about aside so you can look closer later if needed.

[ndgoflo]

Thank you for the advice. I figure all it will take is a few good finds to keep me excited through the hunt. It's been several years since I've spent much time hunting for those little treasures, but I remember the thrill when I would come across a RPM or wide AM's.

I will be sure to post pics here of anything interesting that I come across. Come to think of it, I'm sure I have some Lincolns set aside somewhere from previous hunts that I could use some insight with. I'll have to dig them out and see if I can get some decent pics.

Again, thank you!

[coppercoins]

First thing I would say is that I check everything except the obviously corroded, stained, and badly damaged coins. I don't even check those.

Second thing - I don't look TOO hard through circulated coins for the minor stuff. It's more a "if I happen to see it, I pull it" thing. I stare a little harder at the nicer coins (AU or better).

This would also depend for me whether I was searching one coin at a time, or many coins in a row at a time. It would also matter wheter I was using a binocular microscope or a loupe.

I would be less and less precise about just how ugly and circulated I would bother with if I were looking one at a time with a loupe.

[ndgoflo]

Thanks for the reply.

One at a time and with a loupe is how I search. I used to use a microscope w/ my PC when I found something, but now its outdated and can't use it.

Glad to say that I've been separating the "rotten" coins as I'm sorting so that the hunt will be more pleasant.

[Dick]

FWIW, I'll add my 2-cents.
I agree with Ed, All my cents are sorted bt date, and MM, then go into tubes. That way, when I want to check for certain varieties or whatever shows, I will be able to concentrate on that "date, and MM".
Like Chuck says, if it is black and so corroded tha there is nothing to waste time on, "toss it"! I do.
I have tried the "strip search' as Chuck has done, and also use the stereo-zoom scope. In my case, it is necessary to have a lot of magnification, in order to see all of the coin, parts at a time. i can't see the whole image at once. One of the "blessings of being legally blind, but that does not stop me from being a variety collector.
Bottom line: Sort them into solid date/MM rolls, and in tubes. As you go thru them the first time, the obvious ones will be found, usually. If not, then when you make the "real search, later, then they will be seen.
Happy hunting!

[coppercoins]

Only difference with me is that when I sort memorials I just sort them into ten different gallon-size zip lock bags by last digit. When it's time to look through some of what I've sorted, I separate them by decade on my board as I'm orienting them to slide them under the scope. Mintmark is wholly unimportant.

I personally wouldn't waste the time or expense of sorting circulated memorials into tubes by exact date and mint. It's not important to the searching process, nor is it going to cut any time from the process.

[Dick]

I agree. I have ried both methods, and Chuck's is best, time/result considered.
I do it my method, only because I keep all that i obtain, and one day they will be available for "someone on down the line".
We each use that which serves us best.

[ndgoflo]

Thanks again for the advice/insight, each of you. Sorting through 100,000 cents seems like a daunting task (although it may be a drop in the bucket to some) and I feel more at ease now that I have somewhat of a "map" to follow. I can't wait until I get through the sorting and start into the seaching.

[coppercoins]

dgoflo - Please go read the following linked thread. I responded to the other collector there with a LOT of information you could really use to your advantage.

http://www.coppercoins.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5572

[ndgoflo]

Thanks Chuck, very useful information. I especially liked the part about being able to tell the difference between a '78 and a '98 without looking at the date. I have caught myself trying to guess the date while sorting just by the reverse, or the look and feel. I remember way back when I used to weigh every '82 to determine copper/zinc, now it is blatantly obvious. I suppose that trait can only improve/expand with more and more coins searched.

[coppercoins]

You are correct. I generally find it easy to tell zinc from copper without even looking at the obverse of the coins...but then again, I have been through a LOT of coins in my time, and I started all this the year they changed.

[Dick]

Phil, You are in good hands!


They say you can't teach an old dog, new tricks. I argure the point. Mainly, because I am an "Old dog", and havwe been around for a long time. Now during the time I have been a member od this site, (forum), I have learned more than one can imagine. It doesn't come overnight, or in a week, but it comes! If it weren't for those with lots of patience, I would not have learned many things,i didn't have the faintest idea avbout, due to Chuck, and m,any others like him, who share what they know, and repeat it over, and over many times for those like me that need that extra bit of time. I owe all my expertise,(if one could call it that), to Chuck, and others. You will do well here, and if you keep the site at hand, when checking, you will find it is easy to find several that look all alike, but aren't. There is where the marker photos come in handy.. Just remember that the MM has no particular place, unless it was minged adter 1990. Beforethat, you can find them everywhere! Look at the 1960-D for example. The CPG is nice, but too limited. Here is where you will find the answers, looking, and asking. You are new, and blessed with the photo ability, to make your images easy to tell what you are asking about. I had to go thru many peoples patience while learning some of the techniques, but I have. Not perfect, but acceptable. Tghat is what this hobby is all about. Helping others, and If I can help someone, sometime, then i will have started re-paying my debt!
WELCOME aboard, If I haven't said so before.
Dick