Prism Of Color Collection

The Prism Of Color Collection

Currently or Previously Owned

CAC, PCGS, NGC, ANACS, ICG & Raw Examples

Top Lincoln Cents

Because of my longtime interest in Wheat Cents, I decided to put together a personal ranking of what I consider some of the top Lincoln Wheat cents I have owned, currently own, or simply appreciate within the hobby.

Lincoln cents were the foundation of my collecting journey and remain one of the series I enjoy most today. This list is not based solely on value or rarity, but instead on the overall impact each coin has. Some pieces were selected because of exceptional toning, others because of grade, rarity, eye appeal, varieties, provenance, or simply the story behind the coin. There are many categories and many ways to make your mark in the collecting world.

In many cases, it is a combination of all of those factors together. From original rainbow-toned Lincolns to important varieties and memorable personal acquisitions, these are the pieces that stand out to me most throughout my experience collecting the series. I do not actively collect them the same way I once did, but the Lincoln Wheat cent will always be a major part of my collecting memory. It gave me the opportunity to own some top-tier pieces without taking out a loan.

1935 P Lincoln Cent
Date / Mintmark: 1935-P
Certification #: 24706662
Grade: PCGS MS66BN
Provenance: Jeff Kelble "CopperColor", Daryl Haynor "Ronyahski"
Comments: My number one coin for favorite Lincolns. MS66BN, crazy color and in shades of color that are on the top of my list. Both obverse and reverse show off strong magenta and emerald-green iridescence blankets the surfaces over rich copper-brown patina. The colors shift dramatically under light while retaining a smooth original appearance.
1919 P Lincoln Cent
Date / Mintmark: 1919-P
Certification #: 09762887
Grade: PCGS MS69RD Green CAC
Provenance: Stewart Blay
Comments: The only MS69RD in the entire Lincoln wheatback series. Originated from a roll of 1919-Ps, with many examples scoring grades as high as MS68RD. This one was selected for a regrade and gained the upgrade. Sitting in an OGH holder with a Green CAC. Last sold on Great Collections for $421,000.
1944 S Steel Lincoln Cent
Date / Mintmark: 1944-S Steel
Certification #: 18523808
Grade: PCGS MS66 Green CAC
Provenance: Bob R. Simpson
Comments: The finest known 1944 S Steel and possibly highest graded for all of the 1943 and 1944 off-metal errors. Perfect surfaces, a little color and a Green CAC sticker. Once part of the only fully completed off metal set of 6 pieces. Cool silver-blue surfaces are enhanced by soft lavender and aqua highlights across the reflective fields. The smooth steel composition creates a unique shimmering appearance unlike the copper issues.
1909 S VDB Lincoln Cent
Date / Mintmark: 1909-S VDB
Certification #: 25649848
Grade: PCGS MS67RB
Provenance: Angel Dees, Jeff Kelble "CopperColor", Daryl Haynor "Ronyahski"
Comments: Possibly the only rainbow toned 1909 S VDB. For the toner world this is a crazy combination plus the lofty grade of MS67RB. Warm sunset-orange and golden-red colors dominate the surfaces with subtle flashes of violet and emerald iridescence near the peripheries. The toning remains smooth and original with strong underlying mint luster.
1922 D Lincoln Cent
Date / Mintmark: 1922-D
Certification #: 38216584
Grade: PCGS MS66RB
Provenance: Jeff Kelble "CopperColor", Daryl Haynor "Ronyahski"
Comments: Strong magenta, orange, and lime-green colors blend together in a vivid rainbow pattern across both sides. The vibrant toning and clean surfaces give the coin exceptional visual intensity.
1945 P Lincoln Cent
Date / Mintmark: 1945-P
Certification #: 25059793
Grade: PCGS MS66RB
Provenance: Matthew Orsini, Jeff Kelble "CopperColor", Daryl Haynor "Ronyahski"
Comments: Tissue paper toner that toned with 4 other coins but this was the monster of the group. The obverse is dominated by vibrant electric blues, emerald-greens, and fiery orange-gold hues that blend across Lincoln’s portrait with strong neon-like intensity. Magenta and violet highlights radiate through the fields, creating dramatic color separation and exceptional depth under light. The reverse displays equally vivid rainbow toning with bold aqua-blue and magenta colors concentrated around the legends and central devices, while golden-orange and lime-green hues frame the peripheries. The combination of intense iridescence and strong underlying luster gives the coin a highly original and visually striking appearance.
1916 D Lincoln Cent
Date / Mintmark: 1916-D
Certification #: Unknown
Grade: PCGS MS67BN
Provenance: Heritage Auctions, Skrabalak, "Jeffrey"
Comments: Not a lot of info is known about this coin. IMO it is the closest to an MS68BN. The last known cert is now invalid. Cool steel-blue and silver-gray iridescence blankets the surfaces with subtle lavender and aqua undertones. The toning is smooth and even, producing a unique almost monochromatic appearance.
1917 D Lincoln Cent
Date / Mintmark: 1917-D
Certification #: 04517702
Grade: PCGS MS66RB
Provenance: Eliasberg, Adironack Collection, David Gaines "Lincolncentman"
Comments: Warm copper-gold surfaces transition into olive-green and pale aqua iridescence along the borders. The subtle color progression gives the coin a highly natural and original appearance.
1943 D Bronze Lincoln Cent
Date / Mintmark: 1943-D Bronze
Certification #: 40273607
Grade: PCGS MS64BN
Provenance: Bob R. Simpson
Comments: Warm chocolate-brown surfaces are accented by soft copper-red and olive undertones with faint blue iridescence near the borders. The coin displays a rich and original appearance with excellent depth of color. Little fragments of zinc from the dies embedded into the coin to really show its authenticity.
1958 P DDO Lincoln Cent
Date / Mintmark: 1958-P DDO
Certification #: 44549597
Grade: PCGS MS65RD Green CAC
Provenance: Stewart Blay
Comments: The 1958 Lincoln Cent Doubled Die is one of the rarest and most mysterious Lincoln cent varieties ever discovered. Featuring dramatic doubling on “LIBERTY” and “IN GOD WE TRUST,” only three examples are known today, all certified by PCGS. The first pieces were reportedly discovered around 1960 by Philadelphia collector Charles Ludovico in a $50 bag of 1958 cents, though the exact timeline remains somewhat unclear. The variety later gained wider recognition after appearing in Coin World in 1966 and being featured in John Wexler’s *The Lincoln Cent Doubled Die* in 1984. Known diagnostics include micro-pitting on Lincoln’s portrait, strong die polishing lines, weakness in parts of “ONE CENT,” and a small die spike near the second “A” in “AMERICA.” Two examples are well documented online today: the Stewart Blay specimen (PCGS MS65RD) and the ESM specimen (PCGS MS64RD). The finest known example from the Stewart Blay Collection sold through GreatCollections on January 22, 2023, for $1,136,250, making it one of the few Lincoln cents ever to surpass the $1 million mark.
1943 S Lincoln Cent
Date / Mintmark: 1943-S
Certification #: Unknown
Grade: PCGS MS68+ PL
Provenance: Unknown
Comments: During World War II, copper became a critical strategic metal needed for military production, prompting the United States Mint to experiment with several alternative cent compositions before ultimately selecting zinc-coated steel for circulation in 1943. Among the experimental materials considered were plastics, tempered glass, fiber compounds, white metal mixtures, and various low-copper alloys, all intended to reduce the nation’s dependence on copper during wartime. The final steel composition produced a bright, highly reflective coin when freshly struck, though the zinc coating often oxidized quickly in circulation, leaving many surviving examples dull gray in appearance. Despite the massive production numbers, premium-quality Steel Cents with original luster remain highly desirable today, especially those with exceptional eye appeal or prooflike surfaces. By mistake, a small number of leftover bronze planchets from 1942 were accidentally struck using 1943 dies at all three mints, creating what would become some of the most famous and valuable off-metal errors in American numismatics. The example featured here is particularly significant as a top-population prooflike 1943-S Steel Cent, displaying unusually reflective surfaces and remarkable preservation rarely encountered for the issue. The combination of elite condition, prooflike flash, and historical importance places it among the finest surviving representatives of the wartime Steel Cent series. PCGS Plate coin but nothing else is known.
1935 S Lincoln Cent
Date / Mintmark: 1935-S
Certification #: 42607888
Grade: PCGS MS66BN Green CAC
Provenance: Jason Wendt "Vivid_Coins", Michael Mayeda "Curry"
Comments: One of those coins that would be extremely difficult for me to part with. Jason Wendt offered it to me after acquiring it at a show. Rich multicolored toning covers the coin in vivid lime-green, fiery gold, neon pink, and turquoise-blue hues that flow evenly across both sides. The surfaces display a glowing, almost liquid-like iridescence that gives the coin a remarkably vibrant and eye-catching appearance.
1913 D Lincoln Cent
Date / Mintmark: 1913-D
Certification #: 25381159
Grade: PCGS MS66BN
Provenance: Jeff Kelble "CopperColor", Daryl Haynor "Ronyahski"
Comments: Soft golden-brown surfaces are layered with subtle champagne, aqua-blue, and pale green iridescence. The understated pastel toning gives the coin an elegant and highly original appearance.
1916 P Lincoln Cent
Date / Mintmark: 1916-P
Certification #: 35071106
Grade: PCGS MS67BN
Provenance: Skrabalak, Paul Hubanks "WingedLiberty", Daryl Haynor "Ronyahski"
Comments: Electric blue, violet, and magenta colors radiate across the surfaces with flashes of emerald-green near the rims. The vibrant iridescence and strong luster create outstanding visual depth.
1936 S Lincoln Cent
Date / Mintmark: 1936-S
Certification #: 31717673
Grade: PCGS MS64RB
Provenance: Jeff Kelble "CopperColor", Daryl Haynor "Ronyahski"
Comments: Brilliant rainbow bands of magenta, aqua-blue, lime-green, and orange radiate outward in a vivid target-toned pattern. The strong luster beneath the colors creates outstanding depth and vibrancy.
1913 S Lincoln Cent
Date / Mintmark: 1913-S
Certification #: 84910343
Grade: PCGS MS66BN
Provenance: Jeff Kelble "CopperColor", Daryl Haynor "Ronyahski"
Comments: Cool electric blues and turquoise hues dominate the surfaces with subtle lavender and magenta accents throughout. The smooth, even toning creates a striking icy appearance with strong originality.
1912 S Lincoln Cent
Date / Mintmark: 1912-S
Certification #: 25059790
Grade: PCGS MS64RB
Provenance: Jeff Kelble "CopperColor", Daryl Haynor "Ronyahski"
Comments: Fiery orange and deep rose-magenta colors flow across the surfaces with flashes of emerald-green and electric blue near the rims. The vivid target-like toning gives the coin exceptional eye appeal and depth.
1914 P Lincoln Cent
Date / Mintmark: 1914-P
Certification #: 25381160
Grade: PCGS MS66BN
Provenance: Jeff Kelble "CopperColor", Daryl Haynor "Ronyahski"
Comments: Muted bronze-gold surfaces are enhanced by soft olive-green and faint blue iridescence near the peripheries. The coin displays a mellow, original look with pleasing even coloration.
1938 P Lincoln Cent
Date / Mintmark: 1938-P
Certification #: 37553757
Grade: PCGS MS65RB
Provenance: Jeff Kelble "CopperColor", Daryl Haynor "Ronyahski"
Comments: Electric pinks and deep violet tones blend into fiery orange and emerald-green highlights across the surfaces. The bold neon coloration gives the coin exceptional visual presence. Once graded Questionable Color but after a couple attempts it made it into the right holder.
1915 S Lincoln Cent
Date / Mintmark: 1915-S
Certification #: 82320617
Grade: PCGS MS66BN
Provenance: Add Here
Comments: Muted bronze-gold surfaces are enhanced by soft olive-green and faint blue iridescence near the peripheries. The coin displays a mellow, original look with pleasing even coloration.
1909 P VDB Lincoln Cent
Date / Mintmark: 1909-P VDB
Certification #: 41437722
Grade: PCGS MS67+RB
Provenance: Add Here
Comments: Explosive rainbow toning blankets both sides in vivid magenta, electric blue, emerald-green, and fiery orange hues. The intense target-toned appearance and exceptional luster give the coin remarkable visual impact and originality.
1935 D Lincoln Cent
Date / Mintmark: 1935-D
Certification #: 26203284
Grade: PCGS MS66RB
Provenance: Jeff Kelble "CopperColor", Daryl Haynor "Ronyahski"
Comments: Bold violet, electric blue, and magenta colors spread across both sides with flashes of fiery orange near the rims. The vivid neon contrast gives the coin a striking and energetic appearance.
1910 P Lincoln Cent
Date / Mintmark: 1910-P
Certification #: 37485114
Grade: PCGS MS67RB
Provenance: eBay, Daryl Haynor "Ronyahski"
Comments: Rich orange-gold surfaces are accented by vibrant magenta and aqua-blue iridescence concentrated around Lincoln’s portrait and the reverse legends. The colors blend seamlessly across the coin, creating a bold but natural appearance.
1940 S Lincoln Cent
Date / Mintmark: 1940-S
Certification #: 43050986
Grade: PCGS MS67BN
Provenance: Jeff Kelble "CopperColor", Terry Burns.
Comments: Original group of tissue paper toners. The only MS67BN from the group. Cert is now invalid.The obverse displays rich violet, magenta, and electric blue toning flowing across Lincoln’s portrait with flashes of emerald-green near the rims. The colors transition smoothly over deep underlying brown surfaces, creating strong contrast and exceptional visual depth. The reverse is equally vibrant, featuring blended neon blues, rose-magenta, and golden-orange hues surrounding the legends and wheat ears. The intense iridescence and clean surfaces give the coin a bold yet highly original appearance with outstanding eye appeal.
1941 P Lincoln Cent
Date / Mintmark: 1941-P
Certification #: 42607879
Grade: PCGS MS66+BN Green CAC
Provenance: ILikeTonedCoins, Paul Hubanks "WingedLiberty", Michael Mayeda "Curry"
Comments: A true monster-toned Lincoln and one of my personal favorites. It was one of the first major toned coins I ever purchased, and seeing it in hand completely hooked me on toned Lincolns. Paul wrote to me in an email when asked about more info on it back in 2020. I bought it from an eBay seller IlikeTonedCoins in St Clair Shores, Michigan in April 2016. It was NGC MS66BN when I bought it. I sent it in for a PCGS crossover and pcgs agreed and put the same MS66BN grade on it. I sometimes wonder if this should be MS67BN as it seems so pristine with so few flaws. Eye appeal is off the charts and the smoothness of the color transitions truely rare.Soft pastel iridescence blankets the surfaces in blended shades of aqua-blue, rose-magenta, lavender, and warm champagne-gold. The smooth, flowing color transitions and underlying mint luster give the coin an elegant and highly original look with understated but captivating eye appeal.
1942 P Lincoln Cent
Date / Mintmark: 1942-P
Certification #: 42607880
Grade: PCGS MS66+BN Green CAC
Provenance: Jason Wendt "Vivid_Coins", Carl Unger "Abe’s Coloring Book", Michael Mayeda "Curry"
Comments: One of five coins originating from the same source. Quite possibly the finest of the group and easily one of my personal favorites in the collection. One is in Dave Green's "Phoenix collection", one is in Bob Campbell's Spectra II Collection, the other is in Daryl Haynor's Lincoln set. The final piece used to belong in AvidHikers Lincoln set but was retired early 2025 and unknown as of now.Soft yet vibrant iridescent toning blankets the surfaces in electric turquoise, aqua-blue, magenta, and lime-green hues over warm underlying copper-gold luster. The colors flow seamlessly across Lincoln’s portrait with a neon-like glow, creating a highly original and visually captivating appearance that becomes even more dramatic under angled lighting.
1940 P Lincoln Cent
Date / Mintmark: 1940-P
Certification #: 33955988
Grade: PCGS MS65BN
Provenance: Nashua Coins And Collectibles, Paul Hubanks, "WingedLiberty", Michael Mayeda "Curry", Dave Green "Phoenix Collection".
Comments: From Paul Hubanks, this coin was purchased raw from Nashua Coins through an open eBay auction in December 2015 for just $68.Brilliant multicolored toning blankets both sides with vibrant electric blues, neon magentas, icy violets, and flashes of emerald-green flowing across the surfaces. The intense iridescence is balanced by strong underlying luster, giving the coin a bold yet highly original appearance with exceptional eye appeal.
1935 S Lincoln Cent
Date / Mintmark: 1935-S
Certification #: 29628942
Grade: PCGS MS65RB
Provenance: Jeff Kelble "CopperColor", Daryl Haynor "Ronyahski"
Comments: Rich multicolored toning covers the coin in vivid lime-green, fiery gold, neon pink, and turquoise-blue hues that flow evenly across both sides. The surfaces display a glowing, almost liquid-like iridescence that gives the coin a remarkably vibrant and eye-catching appearance.
1923 S Lincoln Cent
Date / Mintmark: 1923-S
Certification #: 45367385
Grade: PCGS MS65BN
Provenance: eBay, David Gaines "Lincolncentman", KYCopperCoins
Comments: Blue-violet and rose-magenta iridescence spreads evenly across the surfaces over warm underlying brown patina. The coin displays a smooth, original appearance with attractive layered color.
1922 No D Lincoln Cent
Date / Mintmark: 1922 No D
Certification #: 34106929
Grade: PCGS MS65+RB
Provenance: Unknown
Comments: Not found in any registry sets, so we only a cert number and that's it. Warm rose-gold and copper-orange tones dominate the surfaces with soft pastel aqua and green highlights near the rims. The coloration is balanced and highly original with strong eye appeal.
1925 P Lincoln Cent
Date / Mintmark: 1925-P
Certification #: 35072255
Grade: PCGS MS64BN
Provenance: Jeff Kelble "CopperColor", Daryl Haynor "Ronyahski", Michael Mayeda "Curry", Dave Green "Phoenix Collection"
Comments: Vibrant violet, electric blue, and rose-magenta toning concentrated across Lincoln’s portrait and upper obverse. Emerald-green and golden-orange highlights emerge beneath the colorful iridescence, creating a dramatic multicolored appearance with exceptional contrast and originality.
1926 S Lincoln Cent
Date / Mintmark: 1926-S
Certification #: 50824487
Grade: PCGS MS66BN
Provenance: David Gaines "Lincolncentman"
Comments: Golden-orange and copper-red colors dominate the surfaces with faint emerald and rose iridescence throughout. The coin retains a warm, original appearance with attractive even toning.
1951 S Lincoln Cent
Date / Mintmark: 1951-S
Certification #: 46972572
Grade: PCGS MS65BN
Provenance: Dave Green "Phoenix Collection"
Comments: Rich olive-green and golden-bronze colors dominate the surfaces with subtle flashes of aqua-blue and rose-magenta iridescence. The smooth, even toning gives the coin a mellow but attractive appearance.
1928 P Lincoln Cent
Date / Mintmark: 1928-P
Certification #: 82688814
Grade: PCGS MS65RB Green CAC
Provenance: L&C Coins, Paul Hubanks "WingedLiberty", Michael Mayeda "Curry"
Comments: The centerpiece of the set, this coin displays vibrant and beautifully original rainbow toning that immediately commands attention. It was the first true “monster toned” Lincoln added to the collection and remains one of my personal favorites to this day. In September 2018, during my first year collecting toned Lincoln Wheat Cents, I began communicating with Paul Hubanks. Around that time, he sold me several important pieces that helped shape the collection, including this coin. Vibrant rainbow target toning radiates across the surfaces with intense magentas, electric blues, emerald-greens, and golden-orange hues blending seamlessly together. The bold neon iridescence and strong underlying luster create a dramatic, highly original appearance with exceptional eye appeal.
1943 S Lincoln Cent
Date / Mintmark: 1943-S
Certification #: 30355367
Grade: PCGS MS67
Provenance: David3142
Comments: Brilliant steel-gray surfaces are accented by vivid olive-green, icy blue, and soft champagne-gold iridescence that shifts smoothly beneath the frosty luster. Subtle lavender and pale teal highlights emerge throughout the fields, giving the coin a highly original appearance with attractive multicolored toning for a steel cent.
1957 D Lincoln Cent
Date / Mintmark: 1957-D
Certification #: 26042067
Grade: PCGS MS67+BN
Provenance: DJDiliodon, GreatToning, Aaron Keena, Paul Hubanks "WingedLiberty", Terry Burns, GreatCollections, Faisal
Comments: It was originally an MS67RB* NGC piece 2553945-002 that was crossed over back in 2012. This was the 2nd MS67BN and the 1st MS67+BN. WingedLiberty tried to cross it from the NGC holder but failed to do so. He then cracked it and sent it in raw, a bold move that proved effective. Vivid magenta, orange-gold, and electric blue colors sweep across the surfaces in bright neon bands. The dramatic contrast and glowing luster create exceptional visual energy.