1996 年林肯美分：一枚普通硬幣如何在拍賣會上拍出 20,250 美元的非凡價格

在錢幣學領域，即使是最普通的硬幣有時也能在拍賣會上拍出驚人的價格。一個典型的例子是 1996 年的林肯美分硬幣

The 1996 Lincoln Cent recently made headlines after selling for an astonishing $20,250 at a November 2023 auction, despite being part of a massive mintage. This begs the question: why was this particular cent able to fetch such an extraordinary sum at auction?

1996 年的林肯美分硬幣在 2023 年 11 月的拍賣會上以 20,250 美元的驚人價格售出，儘管發行量很大，但最近還是成為了頭條新聞。這就引出了一個問題：為什麼這枚特殊的美分能夠在拍賣會上拍出如此高的價格？

The answer lies in the exceptional condition of the coin, which was graded MS-69 RD by Professional Coin Grading Services (PCGS). This near-perfect grade indicates that the coin was meticulously preserved, with no visible wear or damage.

答案在於硬幣的特殊狀況，專業硬幣評級服務公司 (PCGS) 將其評為 MS-69 RD。這一近乎完美的等級表明該硬幣保存完好，沒有明顯的磨損或損壞。

In the world of numismatics, grading plays a pivotal role in determining a coin’s value. The PCGS grading system is widely regarded as one of the most reliable and authoritative in the field. Coins are graded on a scale from 1 to 70, with MS-69 RD being an exceptional grade, signifying that the coin is nearly flawless, with only the slightest imperfections visible under magnification.

在錢幣學領域，評級在確定硬幣的價值方面起著關鍵作用。 PCGS 分級系統被廣泛認為是該領域最可靠、最權威的分級系統之一。硬幣的評級範圍為 1 到 70，其中 MS-69 RD 屬於特殊等級，這意味著硬幣幾乎完美無瑕，在放大鏡下只有最輕微的瑕疵。

For collectors seeking the best examples, coins that earn a high grade like MS-69 RD are considered valuable, even if the coin itself is from a relatively common mintage. This is precisely what occurred with the 1996 Lincoln Cent, which despite being part of a mintage of over 6.6 billion pieces, was able to achieve an incredible auction price due to its pristine condition.

對於尋求最佳樣本的收藏家來說，像 MS-69 RD 這樣獲得高等級的硬幣被認為很有價值，即使硬幣本身是相對常見的鑄幣量。這正是 1996 年林肯美分硬幣所發生的情況，儘管該硬幣的發行量超過 66 億枚，但由於其原始狀態，仍能拍出令人難以置信的拍賣價格。

The 1996 Lincoln Cent was minted at the Philadelphia Mint, and despite its high mintage number—6,612,465,000 pieces—the coin’s value was determined by its quality rather than its rarity. The coin’s designers were Frank Gasparro, who created the reverse featuring the Lincoln Memorial, and Victor D. Brenner, whose obverse design features the famous profile of President Abraham Lincoln.

1996 年林肯美分是在費城造幣廠鑄造的，儘管其發行量很高（6,612,465,000 枚），但硬幣的價值取決於其品質而不是稀有性。這枚硬幣的設計者是弗蘭克·加斯帕羅（Frank Gasparro）和維克多·D·布倫納（Victor D. Brenner），前者設計了林肯紀念堂的背面，後者的正面設計以亞伯拉罕·林肯總統的著名面向為特色。

Weighing just 2.5 grams and measuring 19 mm in diameter, the 1996 penny is small in size but large in historical and numismatic significance. It is composed of a copper-zinc alloy, which is standard for U.S. pennies minted after 1982. Unlike silver or gold coins, this Lincoln Cent’s value isn’t derived from its metal content, but from its pristine condition and the rarity of coins in such excellent form.

1996 年的便士重量僅為 2.5 克，直徑為 19 毫米，尺寸雖小，但具有重大的歷史和硬幣意義。它由銅鋅合金製成，這是1982 年之後鑄造的美國便士的標準。稀有性。

The incredible auction price of $20,250 for this 1996 Lincoln Cent can be attributed to its rarity in mint-state condition. While billions of pennies were struck that year, most have seen significant wear over the decades. Coins that remain in near-perfect condition are rare and highly sought after by collectors, especially when they come from large mintages.

這枚 1996 年林肯美分硬幣的拍賣價格令人難以置信，高達 20,250 美元，可歸因於其完好無損的稀有性。雖然當年鑄造了數十億便士，但幾十年來大多數都出現了嚴重磨損。保持近乎完美狀態的硬幣非常罕見，受到收藏家的高度追捧，尤其是當它們的發行量很大時。

The 1996 Lincoln Cent may not be particularly old, nor is it made of precious metals, but the quality of the coin and its near-pristine state made it a standout piece in the 2023 auction. Collectors who appreciate the nuances of coin condition will always seek out coins like this one, understanding that the highest-quality examples are often the most valuable in the long term.

1996 年的林肯美分硬幣可能不是特別古老，也不是由貴金屬製成，但硬幣的品質及其近乎原始的狀態使其成為 2023 年拍賣會上的佼佼者。欣賞硬幣狀況細微差別的收藏家總是會尋找像這樣的硬幣，因為他們知道從長遠來看，最高品質的硬幣往往是最有價值的。

In conclusion, the sale of the 1996 Lincoln Cent for over $20,000 serves as a reminder that in numismatics, condition often trumps rarity. While this penny is far from unique in its mintage numbers, its impeccable state set it apart from millions of other 1996 pennies. For collectors and investors alike, this auction result highlights the importance of preserving coins in top condition—sometimes, it’s not just the rarity, but the quality, that drives the value of a coin to record-breaking levels.

總之，1996 年林肯美分幣的售價超過 2 萬美元提醒我們，在錢幣學中，狀況往往勝過稀有性。雖然這枚便士的發行量遠非獨一無二，但其無可挑剔的狀態使其與數百萬其他 1996 年便士區分開來。對於收藏家和投資者來說，這次拍賣結果凸顯了保存硬幣最佳狀態的重要性——有時，推動硬幣價值達到破紀錄水平的不僅僅是稀有性，還有品質。