High mintage numbers and major quantities of uncirculated versions of Lincoln Wheat Penny coins means buying any specimens from is not an expensive task — unless, of course, you desire ultra- high grade examples of these coins. Avoid buying spotted or discolored pieces, as there are plenty of Lincoln wheat cents with original, lustrous surfaces. Aside from the regular crop of Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco Lincoln Pennies from , the only other significant variety from is the proof cent of that year.
Blog Forum Community Secure Login. Coin Info Melt Value. Other Years From This Coin Series The odds are long, but they're still well worth searching for. So before you say, "Keep the change," check to see if you have any of these valuable pennies:.
Image: Heritage Auctions, HA. Only a handful of these bronze pennies have been discovered, including the one found by Lutes. In order to preserve copper for the war effort, the U.
Mint switched to making pennies from zinc-coated steel planchets, instead of the usual bronze coin blanks, Stone explained. At least, that's what was supposed to happen. As fate would have it, "some of the old bronze planchets got stuck in the big tote bins that the Mint used to feed the coin presses at the end of ," he said. Today, the bronze Lincoln cent is described as "the most famous error coin in American numismatics" — and the odds of finding one are astronomically against.
Stone estimates that 15 to 20 are known to collectors today, although it's possible that there are a few that have not yet been accounted for. Due to its value, some counterfeits were created with steel cores. If you think you've found a Bronze Lincoln, the Mint suggests testing it with a magnet first. If it sticks, it's not copper. Doubled dies are created when the hub imprints an additional image onto a die — or stamp — causing some misalignment.
Collectors refer to the obverse of a coin as the front or "heads" side — usually bearing a portrait. Also, look for the letter "S" right below the year , which means it was created at the San Francisco Mint.
Because these coins are so old, however, the condition in which they are in is variable. Below, we will outline the different coin grades as well as what these grades mean.
Uncirculated: A coin that is graded as being Uncirculated is one that likely never spent any time on the open market. Having never been circulated, these coins will have been perfectly preserved to the point where they look today much like they did back in The only real noticeable defect is that the coloration of the coin might have faded due to age.
Extremely Fine: If a coin is worthy of an Extremely Fine grade, this means that the piece in question is mostly pristine, but will feature a small imperfection or two. Most often, the flaws on these coins come in the form of a single scratch or other mark. All things considered, these pieces are in excellent shape. Fine: Fine is the grade given to coins that have been circulated extensively, but have not been too heavily damaged during that time. Though you will see plenty of scratching and smoothing thanks to years of exchanging hands, the lettering and imagery featured on the coin will have been mostly preserved.
Good: A coin is determined to be of Good grade if it features a lot of damage. These Lincoln pennies were likely in circulation throughout the whole of their existence, and during that time have been heavily damaged. Some of the imagery and lettering might have been worn away completely thanks to years and years of use.
As far as assigning value to one of these coins is concerned, this is something that can be done by taking into consideration the type of coin you have and the condition it is in. Because there were up to 3 different types of Lincoln pennies produced most years, the type of coin you have will go a long way in determining its value.
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