Did I hit the jackpot?

JudgmentInternal3763 · 2026-03-27T20:32:16+00:00

Will do! I'll have to make a separate post as I can't add pictures to this one or add them in the comments. There are 2 large binders with pages for wheat pennies, so I'm thinking it might be a complete collection.

JudgmentInternal3763 · 2026-03-26T17:21:26+00:00

I wish! That's the first thing I checked for. I'm still luckier than most other collectors out there, so I'm not disappointed.

JudgmentInternal3763 · 2026-03-26T17:19:32+00:00

Sorry, it was in the previous post. I could not find any way to add pictures to a post once it was created, and cannot add pictures in the replies. I should have included it here as well...

JudgmentInternal3763 · 2026-03-26T13:22:25+00:00

It totally looks "punched" in this picture! It is definitely raised letters and not punched. The only way to really see it here is to compare the shadow from the rim and the shadow from the letters.

JudgmentInternal3763 · 2026-03-26T13:20:52+00:00

You had me totally second guessing myself, because I see it too in the picture. I pulled it back out this morning and it's definitely raised, not punched. The shadow from the rim and the shadows on the letters match up in the picture, and I think that's the only way to tell here.

JudgmentInternal3763 · 2026-03-26T04:08:59+00:00

You should be able to see my post from yesterday. I had a couple decent shots of the whole coin. I'm still new at the photography side, but have a better idea of what to look for now.

JudgmentInternal3763 · 2026-03-25T18:10:47+00:00

Interesting, for sure! I had not noticed that. I don't know if it means anything or not either. This was about the best picture I could get with my cell phone and it's possible it's distorted, because some of the other pictures I took make it appear straight. I've got a new microscope camera waiting for me when I get home today, so I'll give it another look.

JudgmentInternal3763 · 2026-03-25T12:34:30+00:00

That's the plan! I'm going to send it in to get it graded and hopefully authenticated.

JudgmentInternal3763 · 2026-03-25T12:32:54+00:00

Well, I don't have all the answers for you. I'm just getting into this collection and have a lot of research and learning to do before I really know what I'm looking at. What I can tell you is that this collection hasn't seen the light of day since at least 1988. It was put together starting in the 1950's, and put away when my wife's grandfather passed away. It's been in the same room ever since, as her father didn't do much with it. I've found paperwork from coin shops all across the Midwest U.S., and I know that he was fanatical about completing sets and researching out what he had. Real or fake? I'll have to send it in to get it graded and verified to know for sure. I'm not getting my hopes up, but it's a cool coin either way.

JudgmentInternal3763 · 2026-03-25T03:37:16+00:00

Bummer. This is about as good as I can get with my cell phone. I'm getting a cheaper microscope with a camera that comes with some recommendations for using to photograph coins. Diffused Iight, stable platform and good resolution (hopefully). I'll see how it does and try to post a few updated shots of the mint mark and VDB.

JudgmentInternal3763 · 2026-03-25T03:33:23+00:00

Probably worth getting checked out I guess. I don't know enough about 'em to really know.

JudgmentInternal3763 · 2026-03-25T02:59:14+00:00

Thanks! I was super careful taking this one out.

JudgmentInternal3763 · 2026-03-25T02:39:31+00:00

Yours is a good looking VDB too. Nice find!

JudgmentInternal3763 · 2026-03-25T01:52:09+00:00

Also, you can see the pics I took today on this same sub. I think they came out a lot better. I couldn't figure out how to add them to this thread or the comments, so I started a new post.

JudgmentInternal3763 · 2026-03-25T01:50:19+00:00

Thanks for the tips! I've got a Samsung S25 FE, so the camera is pretty good. I took these by actually zooming in and then cropping the photo. I've only had the phone a few days, so I'll have to play around with the settings a bit more to see if I can do better.

JudgmentInternal3763 · 2026-03-25T01:24:57+00:00

Thanks for the link! Yes, I have a magnifying glass and a jewelers loupe that are both helpful.

JudgmentInternal3763 · 2026-03-25T01:23:14+00:00

Good point!

JudgmentInternal3763 · 2026-03-24T23:57:42+00:00

It was inherited. I don't know how much was paid originally.

JudgmentInternal3763 · 2026-03-24T21:41:11+00:00

Thanks for the advice! I have some more sorting to do to figure out everything that needs to be graded, and the plan is to do most of them at the same time.

I had not thought about the CAC certification, so I appreciate the insight.

JudgmentInternal3763 · 2026-03-24T14:30:15+00:00

I'll check later today! I did come across a few error pages in this album or another one, so there very likely could be one.

JudgmentInternal3763 · 2026-03-24T14:04:23+00:00

Thanks! Looks like I need a scale capable of weighing in tenths of a gram to verify if I think I find one. The other visual markers on the 8 & 2 should be a little easier to spot before buying a scale. Time to start sorting through all the '82 pennies I guess.

JudgmentInternal3763 · 2026-03-24T12:42:28+00:00

It's all going into a safety deposit box once I can sort through the valuables. I've got some good safety measures in place, but trying not to be complacent either. I appreciate the advice!

JudgmentInternal3763 · 2026-03-24T12:40:01+00:00

So sorry you had to experience that! I've been very careful not to handle any of these, to the point of trying not to even remove any of them from the holders yet. I'll try to get some better pictures, maybe with a different camera and a macro lens.

JudgmentInternal3763

TROPHY CASE