2002 Penny Value (Some 2002 Pennies Are Worth Over $6,000!)

Did you know lots of 2002 pennies are actually worth more than just a penny?

That’s right — many 2002 pennies have a value of more than just one cent.

Some 2002 Lincoln cents are worth $150… to $375… to $6,000… and even more!

So, which 2002 pennies are the valuable ones that are worth keeping?

And how can you tell an ordinary 2002 penny worth just 1 cent apart from a rare and valuable 2002 Lincoln cent that’s worth hundreds or even thousands of dollars?

Here are the answers you’re looking for…

2002 Penny Value (no mintmark)

The 2002 Lincoln penny with no mint mark is one of the most common pennies you will find in pocket change.

A total of 3,260,800,000 were struck at the Philadelphia Mint, and none of them have a mintmark. Therefore, if you find any 2002 pennies without mint mark under the date, those coins are not rare. They are perfectly normal and quite common.

Because 2002 pennies are common, worn examples with no errors or varieties have no additional value above one cent. They’re worth face value — 1 cent.

That doesn’t mean there aren’t 2002 Lincoln cents worth saving, though. In fact, there are plenty of 2002 pennies that you should be looking for!

For starters, if you find any 2002 uncirculated pennies…. those are worth keeping.

Uncirculated coins have never been used as money and have no wear. They will generally look like they’re brand new, as if they were just minted yesterday.

A typical 2002 uncirculated penny is worth 10 to 30 cents.

One of the highest prices for a 2002 penny with no mintmark is $156. That’s the amount paid for a specimen that was graded MS69RD by Professional Coin Grading Service and sold in 2019.

2002-D Penny Value (“D” mintmark)

The 2002-D penny was struck at the Denver Mint, as signified by the “D” mintmark just below the date.

The 2002-D Lincoln cent saw an even higher number struck than its Philly counterpart. A total of 4,028,055,000 pennies were made in Denver.

As with the 2002 no mintmark pennies made in Philly, 2002-D pennies are extremely common and none of them are rare pennies.

There is no additional value above face value with circulated 2002-D pennies — so unless they have an error or variety, they have no value above 1 cent.

Even while most 2002-D pennies you find in circulation aren’t worth more than face value, there are still some examples you should keep your eyes peeled for:

• Most uncirculated 2002-D Lincoln pennies, which show no signs of wear and appear as though they just left the mint, are worth about 10 to 30 cents.
• 2002-D pennies in extremely good condition are obviously worth more. For example, the most valuable 2002-D penny was graded by Professional Coin Grading Service as MS69RD and sold for $376 in a 2015 auction.

2002-S Penny Value (“S” mintmark)

The U.S. Mint in San Francisco produced a relatively small number of special 2002 pennies for coin collectors only.

These proof pennies were minted on highly polished blanks and struck by specially prepared dies on high-tonnage presses. The coins have mirror-like surfaces, frosted designs and lettering, and outstanding detail.

• The San Francisco Mint produced 2,277,720 of the 2002 proof pennies with its “S” mintmark under the date. These are usually worth $2 to $5 each.
• The all-time record for a 2002-S penny goes to a strange error, with the penny dies accidentally striking a blank intended for a Roosevelt dime. This unique error coin, graded PR66DCAM by Professional Coin Grading Service and classified as a 2002-S Lincoln error cent struck on 10-cent planchet sold for $6,613 in 2003.

IMPORTANT: Do You Know The Grade Of Your 2002 Penny?

To determine the true value of your 2002 Lincoln cent, you first need to know what condition (or grade) your coin is in.

A List Of Rare 2002 Error Pennies To Look For

While most 2002 Lincoln pennies were made without mistakes, some were made with errors and are worth a ton of money!

Of course, it can be kind of confusing to distinguish valuable error pennies apart from those that were simply damaged in circulation.

So, how do you know when you have a bona fide 2002 error penny, rather than one that just has post-mint damage?

Here’s what to watch for if you’re hoping to find valuable 2002 error pennies:

2002 Doubled Die Error Penny

Doubled die pennies are among the most popular of all error coins.

They involve doubling of some part of the design and/or lettering on one side of the coin.

Not all coins with doubling are doubled dies, however. In fact, most coins with evident doubling are not really doubled dies (which are created in the process of making the dies that strike coins).

The most typical reason a 2002 penny may contain doubling is because of machine doubling, which is caused by dies becoming over-worn or damaged during use.

There have been reports of genuine 2002 doubled die pennies with minor hub doubling in the lettering, Lincoln’s eye or tie, or in the columns and other details of the Lincoln Memorial. Such 2002 doubled die pennies are generally worth $20 to $50.

2002 Off-Center Error Penny

Want to find a drastic 2002 penny error? Start looking for off-center coins!

The 2002 off-center penny is caused by misaligned dies or the blank not being seated squarely on the presses during striking.

• Most 2002 off-center pennies you’re likely to find are going to be only 1% to 3% off center — which doesn’t really warrant any extra value above face value.
• However, 2002 pennies that are 5% to 10% off center or more tend to be worth anywhere from $10 to $20.
• The most valuable 2002 off-center pennies are those that are about 50% off center yet still show a complete date and mintmark. Such pieces are worth anywhere from $75 to $150.

2002 BIE Error Penny

A most interesting kind of error that is unique to Lincoln pennies is the so-called BIE error.

A BIE error involves a small, vertical die crack in between the letters “B” and “E” of “LIBERTY” — just to the left of Abraham Lincoln on the penny.

This small die crack will characteristically take the shape of a blobby capital letter “I,” and these are highly collectible among both Lincoln penny collectors and error and variety enthusiasts. Values range from $5 to $15 — with higher prices going for BIE pennies with sharper-looking die breaks that more closely resemble an “I.”