1911 Lincoln Cent. Proof-66 RD (PCGS). OGH.This is a gorgeous Satin Proof Lincoln cent, both sides fully original in preservation with blended highlights of pinkish-red to otherwise dominant deep orange color. Fully struck over even the most intricate design features, a silky smooth appearance that borders on pristine is also a noteworthy attribute for this extraordinary condition rarity.<p>While most Proof dies from earlier years were produced from highly polished dies, the early Lincoln cents were instead struck from dies with an ever so soft satin finish designed in part to help reduce glare, but also preferred by many medalists and sculptors of the era. Among numismatists used to the brilliant Proof coins of previous years and who may not have shared the same aesthetic tastes as the coins artists, this finish proved to be quite unpopular. It was felt by the numismatic community a the time that the muted finish did not sufficiently set these specially prepared coins apart from coins intended for circulation. As a result, sales dropped off sharply in 1911; only 1,725 Proof cents were struck compared to 4,118 the previous year. For the modern Lincoln cent enthusiast, the early Satin Proof specimens have stood the test of time and are in considerable demand. However, most surviving examples are often very colorfully toned due to the high sulfur content in the paper wrappings that the coins were enclosed in at the Mint, further subduing the overall appearance. Only those few specimens that were removed from these wrappers soon after receipt from the Mint display the glorious full Red color as originally intended. Only a scant few such coins from an already limited number of Proof 1911 cents struck were conserved thusly, making those specimens with the coveted Red designation few and very far between. An opportunity to add any early Red Proof cent, let alone one from a rarer issue such as the 1911, should not be taken lightly. Among the finest known and a certain prize for any advanced collector of Lincoln cents.
