1988 Lincoln cent

[Marine]

Greetings everybody I've been out of the loop for a while due to health reasons but I'm back with a vengeance LOL. I recently submitted this coin to cointalk.com and was told it was an RDV 006. Two questions, first should I send it in to get graded and two isn't the initials FG a lot closer to the memorial then they're supposed to be? I compared them with other 1988 and I can't find any that are as close as mine. Hope everybody had a nice Thanksgiving IMG_20231109_130114223.jpg IMG_20231109_130627064.jpg IMG_20231110_144501621.jpg IMG_20231109_130536409.jpg IMG_20231109_130610256.jpg IMG_20231109_130545685.jpg

[hollandpoint]

Check out varietyvista coppercoins.com or coincommunityforum there is very detailed description of the 1988 P and 1988 D Flared G AKA FS-901 AKA wide AM. The bottom of G of FG will be nicely flared and since it was a proof reverse die and very strong strike I've never seen a weak mushy or grease filled example that kinda sorta looks like it. That flared G Pops and there is no mistaking it. Additionally there are subtle but very different positioning for the FG on the RDV-006 that once you study them its a no brainer.
Your pics seem to show a flared G but there is a problem as the top of your G travels the full length of the G forming an even line with the bottom portion of G and thats a tell tell sign it's the common RDV-005.
Your pics are not clear enough for me to discern the RDV-006 I'm undecided because I do see a flared G but that could be die deterioration mechanical doubling or your scope/lighting doing this.
Check out coincommunityforum a very knowledgeable fellow named coop has coverd this with very detailed photos scales illustrations and comparisons many times. Go to (modern doubled dies and varieties) then in upper left corner search box type in 1988 D FS-901 and about 10 real life examples will show along with about 50 no it ain't it.
Good luck I've found and sold both the 1988 P and 1988 D FS-901 you may have one its $400 + coin if in low MS.

[hollandpoint]

oops my mistake the 1988 P goes for about $170 - 240 in lower MS its the 1988 D that brings the $400-500 in low MS. A 1988 P FS-901 sold at Greatcollections last Sunday for $601.00 in ANACS MS67. Ebay has these listed for ridiculously high premiums avoid those sellers these are out there for 1 cent if you search hard enough. My haul has been 3 1988 P and 1 1988 D in 1,400,000 (approximately) coins searched last 6 years. I sold mine to buy better coins LOL my weakness is Barbers and Standing Liberty Quarters. Again check out the forum and you will learn about the 1988 RDV-006 FS-901. Warning! I have seen in my own hands common 1988 RDV-005 Cents in PCGS holders labeled FS-901 Legend has it that PCGS looked at the AM and decided yep its Wide so gave them the FS-901 Wide AM.
Well then someone showed them the 1988's had nothing in common with the 1998, 1999, 2000 Wide AM Cents...but apparently the name has stuck as 1988 Wide AM and it makes die variety people cringe (me anyways). The spacing between AM on normal 1988 and true FS-901 1988 is nearly imperceptibly small. Its all about the flared G nothing more.

[hollandpoint]

Welcome to CONECA marine. I served in the largest Marine Reserve Division in the United States...the United States Army! Ahhhh haaaheee I got a million of them. Im pushing it I better settle down so seriously welcome to CONECA.

[Marine]

Now that's good stuff. Here's what snowman said on cointalk.com... Screenshot_20231125-031624.png I'm thinking of sending it in and money is not the issue and I think the only way to put this at rest is by letting the professionals sort it out. JUST KIDDING. One thing I have learned from coin professionals if they have a sense of humor, well some of them. I want to thank all the people that were involved with this not that it's a life changer but it's good to know exactly what you got. PS, I wonder who's better you guys or cointalk.com
..

[Marine]

It was a few more pictures in different lighting different angles showing the FG. My question is why are the initials on my coin very close to the Lincoln memorial and I mean very close then all the other ones I've looked at shouldn't they be the same distance not on wide or close am that I understand but it seems that these initials are right up against the memorial and if you look at others there's nothing that is closer. Thanks again IMG_20231128_121540807.jpg IMG_20231128_121548658.jpg

[hollandpoint]

This is a picture of the flared G on a PCGS graded 1988 P FS-901 Flared G. look closely at the positioning of the top of G it stops exactly 1/2 the way through the thickness of the bottom portion of G. Also look how the F sits in relation to the G take a normal 1988 Cent and examine the FG and notice the G is not flared and the different positioning of the FG compared to photo.
image courtesy of PCGS coin facts.

[Marine]

I see the difference but the 88 regular strike has the straight g mine's got the flare of the horizontal part of the g but not the vertical line