1913 1C Lincoln Cent NGC PR67 Red

1913 1C Lincoln Cent NGC PR67 Red--$8,300.00 "Finest known" "Registry" "Conditional Rarity"

      Rarely, and we at AUCM mean rarely, is a trophy coin such as this ever offered. The last time a 1913 matte proof graded PR67 by NGC crossed the auction block was in July of 2017 at the Summer FUN show by Heritage Auctions. Superb Gem specimens such as this offer a great challenge to specialists in this ever-popular series. This would be the perfect addition when building a complete set of Proof Lincoln Cents. Or it would be great addition to a type set of proof cents--or important proof coinage throughout American history.

      In 1908 sculptor Victor David Brenner (1871-1924) was called from New York City to the nation’s capital to meet President Roosevelt and craft his image for a Panama Canal medal. “Mr. President, permit me to make a suggestion,” Brenner said to Roosevelt. “Please let the Lincoln head be adopted for the poor little cent piece. Let us thus try to endear Lincoln into the hearts of all our fellow beings in this country…To reverence him and become more familiar with that which he has done for us.” Without realizing it, Brenner, with his simple, heartfelt appeal, was requesting something quite revolutionary. The image of a president had never appeared on regular U.S. circulating coinage. Up to that point, it was Miss Liberty, in various forms and styles, that graced the obverse of American issues. Roosevelt liked Brenner’s idea of featuring Lincoln on the one cent piece. The centennial of Lincoln’s birth (1809-1909) was approaching, and the Indian Head cent was more than 50 years old.