1898 1c PR RB

1898 Cent Production: This issue is similar in mintage to the cent of 1897. The cent was by far the most abundant coin in the country. It was probably the most useful coin at the time to the average American. This was the era when the novelty games in penny arcades actually cost a cent.

Survivability: These coins circulated to a great extent and served the nation for at least 50 years. Examples are readily available in all grades except full red gem.

Collecting Challenges: Search out an attractive problem-free example.

Collecting Circulated Pieces: The optimal collecting grade for circulated coins is AU-50 to MS-63RB. The only challenge should be to find the best coin to match the other coins in your collection. The colors of bronze coins vary so much that matching a certain shade of red-brown, if desired, can be very diffcult.

Collecting Mint State Pieces: The optimal collecting grade for Mint State coins is MS-65RD. Search out well-struck, problem-free examples. All gem full red Indian Head cents are scarce.

Collecting Proof Issues: Although this is another lower-mintage Proof issue, 1898 Proofs exist in average to higher-than-average quantities, so there should be little problem in finding an attractive specimen. Some of the prettiest gem cameo coins are found for this date; extra care must have been taken in their production. (In fact, all denominations of this year can be found with outstanding cameo contrast.)

36 varieties of specialist interest are known for this year. These are mostly repunched dates, none of which are particularly dramatic.