The 3 Most Valuable Pennies Worth Keeping
A single cent could be worth hundreds or thousands of dollars. A lot of old coins which are in circulation these days are actually valued more than they were before. We call these coins die varieties – a variation from the usual design of the coin. They are typically caused by errors in the manufacturing and maintenance of coin dies. They are extraordinarily rare and precious. Let’s get to know 3 of the most valuable coins in America and find out why they are worth collecting.
1) 1969-S Lincoln Cent (Doubled Die Obverse) The Secret Service had ordered confiscation of the early pieces of this coin, until the US Mint confirmed their authenticity. To spot this rare coin and differentiate it from the others, find an obvious doubling of the obverse – the front of the coin, or the “heads”. The mint mark is not included, which doesn’t cost anything. This coin is priced at around $35,000.
2) 1970-S Small Date Lincoln Cent (Doubled Die Obverse) Only one side of this coin displays doubling. If two sides are doubled, it’s actually called strike doubling – a manufacturing issue during the striking of the coin. This is not as valuable as the one-sided doubling. To identify this rare specimen, look for the following: the “LIB” in “LIBERTY” is doubled, as well as the words “IN GOD WE TRUST”. The value for this one is approximately $3,000.
3) 1972 Lincoln Cent (Doubled Die Obverse) All elements of this coin demonstrate doubling. Easy to spot, hard to validate. A “die marker” is needed to aid you with verifying. In this coin, look for a small groove near the edge above the letter “D” in the word “UNITED”, that would be your die marker. Approximate price is around $500.
If you are into coin collection, these 3 coin varieties are truly priced pieces. So go ahead and check your pockets and purses, one of them might just be sitting there.
Brian Sutherland is a lifelong juggler, magician, and yoyo fanatic. Experience his amazing how-to videos and articles on benefits of juggling and yoyo history today and watch your skills and knowledge of these arts grow.
