1909 S Lincoln Wheat Cent Key Date Woodgrain Surface

Description

The woodgrain effect on this Key Date 1909 S Lincoln Wheat Cent or as it is sometimes called Orange Peel on the surface of the obverse is a common phenomenon on early Lincoln cents, particularly the S mints. There are many theories of why but no real answers, such as improper annealing, poor mixing of alloys etc..etc.. Some find it desireable and others don’t.  First time I picked one up I thought I had found something special but was disappointed when I inquired about it. The reverse of this piece also has a light lamination vertical through United States and the T in Cent so maybe there is something to the alloy mixture theory. It also show some golden colopred straking but much less and lighter than the obverse. Not a bad piece, clean brown with vertical golden streaks obverse. Wheat ears are complete but starting to flatten. A key date, I give it a 35 or 40.