1920-D Lincoln Cent. MS-65 RD (NGC). OH. Otherwise deep orange surfaces are enhanced by intermingled blushes of powder blue and pinkish-rose. The Mint saw numerous budget cuts and staff reductions in the post-World War One years, despite the overall prosperity in the economy. While 49,280,000 cents were struck at the Denver facility in 1920, the belt-tightening began to show in the overall mediocre quality, especially at the branch mints, which in many cases had to keep dies in service longer than they probably should have. As a result, while widely available in circulated grade levels and even the lower end of the Mint State spectrum, most 1920-D cents have uneven striking characteristics and definition. Sharply struck specimens with full mint color such as this are quite rare; most specialists can only find a MS-64 within the full Red category. This is a truly a memorable example of this conditionally challenging Denver Mint issue. From the Larry H. Miller Collection. From the Larry H. Miller Collection.
