The second edition completely overhauled the doubled die and RPM sections of the 1996 original and updated the OMM listings with new photographs and discoveries. Flynn added newly uncovered National Archives documents to the history chapters, and specialists including Jason Cuvelier, Michael Fahey, Jamie Hernandez, J.P. Martin, and B.J. Neff contributed sections. At 446 full-size pages it is the standard single-volume variety reference for the most heavily collected series in U.S. numismatics.
Key Features
- 446 pages of variety listings
- overhauled doubled die and RPM sections
- National Archives documents
- expert contributed chapters
- full diagnostics and photos
The Authoritative Reference on Lincoln Cents, Second Edition Review
A Serious Reference Guide for Lincoln Cent Collectors and Variety Hunters
The Lincoln cent may be one of the most familiar coins in American history, but it is also one of the deepest collecting fields in U.S. numismatics. From Wheat cents and Memorial cents to doubled dies, RPMs, die markers, minting varieties, and key dates, the series offers far more than most casual collectors realize.
The Authoritative Reference on Lincoln Cents, Second Edition by Kevin Flynn is aimed at collectors who want to go beyond basic date-and-mintmark collecting and start understanding the Lincoln cent series in much greater detail.
This is not a casual pocket price guide. It is a specialized reference for collectors who want attribution help, variety information, diagnostics, and deeper background on one of America’s most popular coin series.
What This Book Covers
According to the listing, the book is a second edition reference on Lincoln cents, published by Kyle Vick, with a listed publication date of January 1, 2009. The product details show a print length of 476 pages, which immediately tells you this is a substantial, information-heavy guide rather than a quick introductory booklet.
The book focuses on Lincoln cents from multiple angles, including:
Lincoln cent history
Date and mintmark information
Varieties and errors
Doubled dies
Repunched mintmarks
Design and die diagnostics
Collector guidance
Reference images and attribution details
For collectors who enjoy searching rolls, checking old albums, or examining inherited collections, a book like this can be especially useful. Lincoln cents are still one of the most accessible U.S. coin series to collect, and varieties remain a major part of their appeal.
Why It Matters for Coin Collectors
Many people begin collecting Lincoln cents because they are affordable, familiar, and easy to find. But the series gets complicated quickly.
Some coins are valuable because of their date and mintmark. Others are valuable because of condition. But many Lincoln cents are collected because of subtle variety differences — doubled lettering, repunched mintmarks, die markers, and other diagnostics that are not always obvious at first glance.
That is where a specialized reference becomes important.
A general Red Book can tell you that a certain date is valuable. But a dedicated Lincoln cent reference can help explain what to look for, how to identify important varieties, and why certain pieces matter to specialists.
Best Uses
This book is especially useful for collectors who want to:
Identify Lincoln cent varieties
Study doubled dies and repunched mintmarks
Learn the history of the Lincoln cent series
Attribute coins more confidently
Build a more advanced Lincoln cent collection
Check old rolls, jars, albums, or inherited collections
Understand why certain cents sell for premiums
It is also a useful resource for coin dealers, online sellers, and collectors who regularly sort through Wheat cents or pre-1982 copper cents.
Strengths
The strongest feature of this book is its depth. At more than 400 pages, it gives the Lincoln cent series room to breathe. That matters because this is not a simple series once you move beyond basic collecting.
The book is also valuable because Kevin Flynn has written extensively on U.S. coin varieties and numismatic diagnostics. Collectors who enjoy cherrypicking and attribution work often benefit from references that focus on the small details that separate ordinary coins from better varieties.
Another strength is that the book appears to remain popular with collectors despite being an older publication. The Amazon listing shows a strong review average, and several visible reviews mention its usefulness as a reference for Lincoln cent collectors.
Limitations
The biggest limitation is age. Since this edition was published in 2009, it should not be treated as a current price guide. Market values, population data, certification numbers, auction records, and variety discoveries may have changed since publication.
That does not make the book obsolete. Historical background, diagnostics, and many variety listings can remain useful for years. But collectors should pair it with current pricing tools, auction results, grading service population reports, and updated variety resources when making buying or selling decisions.
Another point to keep in mind: this is probably more book than a casual beginner needs. Someone who only wants to fill a basic Lincoln cent folder may be better served by a simpler introductory guide. But for the collector who wants to understand the series seriously, the depth is the point.
Verdict
The Authoritative Reference on Lincoln Cents, Second Edition is a strong resource for collectors who want to move past casual Lincoln cent collecting and into deeper study. It is especially useful for variety hunters, Wheat cent collectors, roll searchers, and anyone who wants to better understand the details that make certain Lincoln cents stand out.
It should not be used as a modern price guide, simply because the market has changed since 2009. But as a specialized Lincoln cent reference, it remains a worthwhile addition to a numismatic library.
Recommended for: Lincoln cent collectors, Wheat cent collectors, variety hunters, roll searchers, dealers, and advanced beginners ready to study the series seriously.
Not ideal for: Collectors who only want current values, a basic checklist, or a simple beginner’s folder guide.
