Smart Buying Guide: How to Buy 1920 Lincoln Cent Without Getting Ripped Off

Understanding the 1920 Lincoln Cent Market

The 1920 Lincoln cent, struck during the early years of the beloved wheat cent series, offers collectors an accessible yet rewarding addition to their collections. With a substantial mintage exceeding 318 million, it’s not considered rare in absolute terms. However, examples exhibiting exceptional preservation or attractive, natural toning can command significant premiums in today’s market. For serious collectors, understanding the nuances of strike quality, surface preservation, and toning authenticity is essential when evaluating these historic coins.

Where to Buy 1920 Lincoln Cents

Reputable coin dealers remain your best source for quality 1920 Lincoln cents, particularly those specializing in early wheat cents with established track records. Major coin shows provide excellent opportunities to examine coins in person before purchase, allowing you to assess luster, strike, and overall eye appeal firsthand. For certified specimens, both PCGS and NGC regularly feature 1920 cents through their auction platforms, offering the security of third-party authentication and grading.

Online marketplaces can yield competitive pricing, but require heightened diligence. When considering raw coins online, always request multiple high-resolution images from various angles, paying special attention to the reverse where quality issues often first manifest. For certified coins, prioritize sellers with stellar feedback ratings and clear, buyer-friendly return policies. Remember that provenance matters—knowing a coin’s history can significantly impact both its numismatic value and collectibility.

Red Flags to Watch For

The numismatic community has identified several concerning indicators when evaluating 1920 Lincoln cents:

• Questionable toning: As experienced collectors have noted, unusual blue or purple toning on these early 20th century coins often indicates chemical treatment, specifically with products like MS70 coin dip, rather than natural toning. This artificial enhancement is particularly suspect for 1920s issues, which typically develop more conventional color patterns.
• Surface contamination: Fingerprints or other handling marks can significantly diminish a coin’s value and suggest improper storage or careless handling throughout its history.
• Quality control issues: Problems visible on the reverse, such as strike weakness or planchet defects, warrant thorough investigation before committing to a purchase.

“The toning is sitting on the coin and you can tell because the fingerprints break up the tone. The 20 toning looks removable and hence why I said it was not original.” – Forum member

Negotiating Tips for 1920 Lincoln Cents

Knowledge serves as your most powerful negotiating tool when acquiring 1920 Lincoln cents. Understanding the distinction between naturally toned coins and those treated with chemical enhancers like MS70 provides significant leverage during price discussions. Coins exhibiting artificially induced toning typically sell for considerably less than their naturally toned counterparts of comparable grade, making this expertise invaluable.

For raw specimens, don’t hesitate to inquire about the coin’s provenance, storage history, and any conservation work performed. Transparent sellers should readily provide this information. When attending coin shows, examine potential acquisitions under proper lighting and magnification before making offers—the investment of time can prevent costly mistakes.

In the certified coin market, comparative pricing across multiple platforms ensures you’re paying fair market value. Be aware that coins with unusual toning may encounter grading challenges at major services, potentially affecting their liquidity and long-term value retention.

Raw vs. Slabbed: Making the Right Choice

Your decision between raw and slabbed 1920 Lincoln cents should align with your collecting objectives and level of expertise. Raw coins often present better value opportunities and the excitement of discovering exceptional specimens, but demand greater knowledge for proper evaluation. Slabbed coins offer authentication and grade assurance, albeit typically at premium prices.

Beginners should consider starting with PCGS or NGC-certified examples, as these third-party certifications provide confidence in both authenticity and grade determination. As your expertise develops, you might explore raw coins, particularly for common dates like 1920 where attractive, problem-free examples occasionally surface at reasonable prices.

The community discussion highlights a crucial consideration: even slabbed coins displaying attractive toning may have undergone chemical treatment. This reality underscores the importance of purchasing from reputable sources regardless of whether coins are raw or certified.

Authentication and Grading Considerations

The 1920 Lincoln cent, like all early wheat cents, requires evaluation across several critical dimensions:

• Strike quality: Examine for full detail in Lincoln’s hair and the wheat stalks on the reverse—weak strikes can significantly impact both aesthetic appeal and market value.
• Surface preservation: Scrutinize for marks, scratches, or evidence of cleaning, which can dramatically reduce a coin’s desirability among serious collectors.
• Toning authenticity: Natural toning typically exhibits gradual color transitions, while artificial enhancement often appears more abrupt or unnaturally uniform.
• Metal composition: The 95% copper, 5% tin and zinc alloy makes these coins particularly susceptible to environmental damage if improperly stored over decades.

Recent developments indicate PCGS has adopted a more lenient stance regarding coins with MS70-induced toning, though naturally toned examples remain preferred. NGC appears even more accepting of such treatments. This evolving grading landscape should inform your purchasing strategy, especially if you intend to submit coins for certification.

Storage and Preservation

Proper storage proves essential for maintaining your 1920 Lincoln cent’s value over time. Raw coins benefit from appropriate holders that prevent contact with other specimens while protecting against environmental factors. Certified coins in their plastic slabs offer excellent protection, though you should still maintain them in stable environments away from extreme temperatures and humidity fluctuations.

The collecting community employs various storage methods—some prefer traditional albums for their convenience and display capabilities, while others opt for airtites that provide individual protection for each coin. Your choice should reflect your collecting style and the specific preservation needs of your coins. Regardless of method, consistency in storage conditions remains paramount for long-term preservation.

Conclusion: Building a Quality Collection

The 1920 Lincoln cent provides collectors an accessible gateway into early wheat cent collecting. By developing market knowledge, recognizing potential issues like artificial toning, and understanding where to acquire quality specimens, you can assemble a distinguished collection without overpaying for problem coins.

Remember that the most valuable 1920 cents combine excellent eye appeal with problem-free surfaces. While attractive toning can enhance a coin’s visual impact, artificially induced colors may actually detract from value for discerning collectors. Whenever possible, prioritize coins with original surfaces and natural toning patterns.

Whether you’re a seasoned numismatist or just beginning your collecting journey, the 1920 Lincoln cent remains a fascinating artifact of American monetary history. With proper research and careful acquisition decisions, you can add exceptional examples to your collection that will be appreciated for generations to come.

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