1996 年林肯美分：一枚普通硬币如何在拍卖会上拍出 20,250 美元的非凡价格

在钱币学领域，即使是最普通的硬币有时也能在拍卖会上拍出惊人的价格。一个典型的例子是 1996 年的林肯美分硬币

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 年的林肯美分硬币在 2023 年 11 月的拍卖会上以 20,250 美元的惊人价格售出，尽管发行量很大，但最近还是成为了头条新闻。这就引出了一个问题：为什么这枚特殊的美分能够在拍卖会上拍出如此高的价格？

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.

答案在于硬币的特殊状况，专业硬币评级服务公司 (PCGS) 将其评级为 MS-69 RD。这一近乎完美的等级表明该硬币保存完好，没有明显的磨损或损坏。

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.

在钱币学领域，评级在确定硬币的价值方面起着关键作用。 PCGS 分级系统被广泛认为是该领域最可靠、最权威的分级系统之一。硬币的评级范围为 1 到 70，其中 MS-69 RD 属于特殊等级，这意味着硬币几乎完美无瑕，在放大镜下只有最轻微的瑕疵。

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.

对于寻求最佳样本的收藏家来说，像 MS-69 RD 这样获得高等级的硬币被认为很有价值，即使硬币本身是相对常见的铸币量。这正是 1996 年林肯美分硬币所发生的情况，尽管该硬币的发行量超过 66 亿枚，但由于其原始状态，仍能拍出令人难以置信的拍卖价格。

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 年林肯美分是在费城造币厂铸造的，尽管其发行量很高（6,612,465,000 枚），但硬币的价值取决于其质量而不是稀有性。该硬币的设计者是弗兰克·加斯帕罗（Frank Gasparro）和维克多·D·布伦纳（Victor D. Brenner），前者设计了林肯纪念堂的背面，后者的正面设计以亚伯拉罕·林肯总统的著名侧面为特色。

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 年的便士重量仅为 2.5 克，直径为 19 毫米，尺寸虽小，但具有重大的历史和钱币意义。它由铜锌合金制成，这是 1982 年之后铸造的美国便士的标准。与银币或金币不同，这枚林肯美分的价值并非源自其金属含量，而是源自其原始状态和硬币的稀有性。如此优秀的形式。

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.

这枚 1996 年林肯美分硬币的拍卖价格令人难以置信，高达 20,250 美元，这可归因于其完好无损的稀有性。虽然当年铸造了数十亿便士，但几十年来大多数都出现了严重磨损。保持近乎完美状态的硬币非常罕见，受到收藏家的高度追捧，尤其是当它们的发行量很大时。

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 年的林肯美分硬币可能不是特别古老，也不是由贵金属制成，但硬币的品质及其近乎原始的状态使其成为 2023 年拍卖会上的佼佼者。欣赏硬币状况细微差别的收藏家总是会寻找像这样的硬币，因为他们知道从长远来看，最高质量的硬币往往是最有价值的。

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.

总之，1996 年林肯美分币的售价超过 20,000 美元提醒我们，在钱币学中，状况往往胜过稀有性。虽然这枚便士的发行量远非独一无二，但其无可挑剔的状态使其与数百万其他 1996 年便士区别开来。对于收藏家和投资者来说，这次拍卖结果凸显了保存硬币最佳状态的重要性——有时，推动硬币价值达到破纪录水平的不仅仅是稀有性，还有质量。