How I Navigated the 2025-S Proof Lincoln Cent Boom: 6 Hard-Earned Lessons From Selling ‘Moon Money’ Coins

My White-Knuckle Journey Through the 2025-S Lincoln Cent Craze

Let me tell you about the six months that turned my coin collecting hobby upside down. When I first spotted those jaw-dropping eBay prices for 2025-S Proof Lincoln Cents – $400+ for perfect PR70DCAM coins – I felt like I’d discovered buried treasure in my own closet. But this isn’t just a success story. It’s a raw account of mistakes, panic, and hard-won lessons from riding the coin market rollercoaster.

The Gold Rush That Almost Broke Me

When Pocket Change Became “Moon Money”

I’ll never forget opening my email that January morning. eBay alerts showed NGC-graded PR70s selling for $420. My hands actually shook as I pulled out the proof set I’d bought directly from the Mint for $25. That tiny copper-coated zinc disc might be worth 16 times what I paid? Suddenly, my morning coffee tasted like champagne.

My $340 Mistake

In July 2025, I made my first (and most painful) error. Thinking I was clever, I sold two PR69-graded coins for $30 each – a 500% profit! But when those same coins hit $200 by October, I realized I’d basically given away $340. Collector forums roasted guys like me as “weak hands.” They weren’t wrong.

“Selling those PR69s felt smart… until I watched identical coins sell for six times more weeks later. Never again.”

The Madness Peaks: When Reality Took a Vacation

Market Mayhem in Real Time

By June, the frenzy hit surreal levels:

• APMEX’s inventory vanished overnight
• Sarasota Coin started selling raw coins on Amazon for $289 – more than 100x face value
• PCGS “Advanced Release” labels became golden tickets
• Collectors fought over FDOI (First Day of Issue) designations like they contained secret powers

What Fueled the Fire

Three psychological traps snared even experienced collectors:

• The Rumor Mill: False claims that the Mint would stop making cents
• FOMO Virus: Panic buying of “the last Lincoln cents”
• Get-Rich-Quick Fever: Newbies treating coins like meme stocks

The Wake-Up Call: Reading the Tea Leaves

Subtle Signs Everyone Ignored

While most were still buying, I noticed troubling signals:

• Price tracking apps flashing “downward trend” alerts
• One eBay seller dumping 38 FDOI coins at once
• Whispers in collector groups: “Is this sustainable?”

History’s Harsh Lesson

Old-timers warned me about past flame-outs:

• 1995 DDO Cents: Once $300, now $25
• 2007 Smooth Edge Dollars: Peaked at $400, currently $15

These stories became my reality check. Every collectible bubble follows the same script – euphoria, then collapse.

My Survival Strategy: Trading Panic for Process

The Grading Wake-Up Call

I learned the hard way that tiny differences mean everything:

• PR70DCAM vs PR69: $200+ difference per coin
• NGC vs PCGS premiums shifting weekly
• AR (Advanced Release) labels adding 20% value early on

My eBay Battle Plan

After tracking 127 sales, here’s what worked:


| Condition | Sell Now | Hold |
|--------------------|----------------|----------------|
| PR70DCAM AR Label | $400+ | High Risk |
| PR70DCAM FDOI | $350-$400 | Medium Risk |
| PR69 Any Label | $150-$200 | Low Risk |
| Unopened Sets | $250-$300 | Medium Risk |


The Great Correction: When Gravity Returned

Prices Came Crashing Down

Here’s the brutal timeline:

• Peak: PR70s at $425 (I sold two here!)
• +3 Months: Slow drip to $380
• +5 Months: First big drop to $320
• Today: Steady at $275-$300

How I Played It

My framework guided every move:

• Cashed out 2 PR70DCAMs at $409 (month 2)
• Kept 3 unopened sets (now $225 each)
• Dumped PR69s at $175 before the crash

6 Bloody-Knuckle Lessons

1. Hype Has an Expiration Date

Every boom follows the same arc – recognize where you are.

2. Grading Is Make-or-Break

PR69 vs PR70 meant dinner out vs a mortgage payment.

3. Labels = Temporary Superpowers

AR/FDOI premiums evaporated fastest during the crash.

4. Unopened Sets Are Safety Nets

Those sealed sets I kept? Still gaining value slowly.

5. Triggers Beat Guessing

Set price alerts, not dreams.

6. Detach or Die

When I stopped seeing coins as “special,” profits soared.

Where We Stand Today: Cold Reality

The 2026 landscape looks very different:

• PR70DCAMs settled at $275-$325
• PR69s flatlined around $125
• Raw proofs available for under $100

The painful truth? The Mint never stopped making Lincoln cents. Supply eventually crushed speculation.

Parting Wisdom for Fellow Collectors

This wild ride taught me more than a decade of quiet collecting ever did. If you take anything from my experience, let it be these truths:

• Always triple-check Mint production rumors
• That microscopic difference between PR69 and PR70? It’s everything
• Study past coin crazes – history rhymes
• Set profit targets before buying

Did I catch the absolute peak? No. But by staying disciplined, I turned potential disaster into real profit. To anyone still holding these coins: remember that collectibles always return to their true value. The real winners are those who sell before the music stops.

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