Features a complete history of the Lincoln cent with research of events leading up to the production of the Lincoln cent, the engraver and mint officials who designed it, as well as a biography of Abraham Lincoln. David Lange examines all attributes of the most commonly collected coin series to date, including detailed information concerning rare Lincoln cent errors and patterns. Winner of the prestigious Numismatic Literary Guild award.

Generations of coin collectors have grown up with the Lincoln cent. Now, as the coin nears its 100th anniversary (and the bicentennial of Abraham Lincoln's birth), Q. David Bowers provides a detailed study of this great American classic. "Lincoln cents are among the most fascinating coins in the entire American series," writes Bowers. "Believe it or not, they also offer some of the greatest challenges." In this single volume you'll absorb the history of the coin's two classic reverse designs, take an inside look at the minting process, and learn how to grade your collection, including Proofs. Bowers shares tips on becoming a smarter buyer. He even gives a sneak preview of what the U.S. Mint has in store with a 2009 redesign. The book includes a thorough market analysis for each date and mintmark, and a special appendix on error coins. Read and enjoy, as you gain a better appreciation of America's most popular cent. Book jacket.

Features hundreds of detailed photographs designed to aid the collector in finding, detecting, grading and eventually valuing Lincoln cent varieties.

Volume #19 in Whitman's best-selling Bowers Series covers two of the earliest U.S. coin denominations: half cents and large cents. These classic copper coins were made from 1793 into the late 1850s. In this colorfully illustrated book, America's popular early coppers are given the famous Q. David Bowers treatment: insightful study, rich historical background, and detailed data analysis. Bowersthe "Dean of American Numismatics" and the most prolific numismatic author of all timetells you everything you need to know to be a smart collector: how to evaluate quality, determine value, understand the market, and make good buys. Along the way, he explains why, in all of American coinage, half cents and large cents possess a special charm. You'll learn how the history of the developing nation shaped the coins' designs and production, and the effects the War of 1812 and other national events on their coinage. Bowers provides a wealth of information on each issue: mintages, existing populations, grading standards, values, auction records, keys to collecting and more. Historical background sets the coins in the broader context of American life from the 1790s through the 1850s. Hundreds of full-color images, careful analysis, and Bowers' engaging style make this book a treat for anyone interested in our nation's early history.

To do its part in the war effort, the U.S. Mint changed from a copper cent to a zinc-coated steel version for one year, in 1943. Rumor quickly spread that anyone who found a 1943 copper cent would be rewarded with a car from Ford. Now you can display your collection of the legendary Lincoln cents of 1909 to 1958 in this beautiful four-panel coin folder. Larger in size than the average folder, this unit has room for 144 coins, the most of any similar folder.

Lincoln cents have the most error type coins available than any other coin series. This guide contains a listing of error coins sold at major auctions around the country. In this guide:* Doubled dies * Mint striking errors * RPM's of all types * Error terms with photographs * A chapter with hundreds of off-center cents* Photographs of cent errors