By Charles Morgan for CoinWeek ….
For a generation of Americans, 1929 was a year of shock. The year began with a strong market, a booming economy, and a sense of optimism. This abruptly ended with the stock market crash in October, which tore through the global economy and set the stage for a decade-long depression. It would take a world war for the American economy to recover fully.
The decline in economic activity was reflected in the year-to-year mintages of dimes, quarters, and half dollars. Halves would not be struck again until 1933. The mintages for the Lincoln Cent and Buffalo Nickel would not fully bottom out until 1931.
The Philadelphia Mint struck 185,262,000 1929 Lincoln Cents, its highest output of the penny since 1920. The coin was saved in significant numbers and remains plentiful, even in Mint State. That’s why a nice Choice BU example can be acquired for $20 to $25.
Coin certification and precise professional grading have transformed the market for 20th-century circulating coins. In Mint State Red, the value of the 1929 Lincoln Cent ranges from $50 in MS63 to $5,000 in MS67+RD.
The example offered by GreatCollections comes from the Biwald Collection and is graded PCGS MS67RD CAC. The coin has bright, shimmering surfaces with minimal contact marks. To date, the firm has certified only 89 coins in this grade, with just 21 finer.
At the time of publication, the highest bid is $1,065. Bidding ends on August 31, 2025, at 4:09 PM Pacific Time.
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GreatCollections has offered high-quality examples of thousands of Lincoln Cents over the years, including many top population pieces. To search through GreatCollection’s archive of over 600,000 certified coins and notes that the company has sold, please visit the GreatCollections Auction Archives.
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Good article