You’ve probably come across many 2006 Lincoln pennies in your pocket change.
Chances are you either spent them or tossed them into a coin jar for a rainy day.
But did you know that some 2006 pennies are worth more than face value? Yep, a lot more than face value!
Here’s how to distinguish a 2006 penny worth face value from one that could fetch more than $2,600 at auction…
2006 No Mint Mark Penny Value
The 2006 penny with no mint mark was struck at the Philadelphia Mint to the tune of 4,290,000,000 pieces. That’s more than 4.2 billion pieces… with a big old “B!”
You might think that with a mintage of over 4 billion, the 2006 no mint mark penny isn’t a very rare or valuable coin. And, it’s true — most 2006 pennies that you find in pocket change are worth only face value, or just one cent.
However, uncirculated specimens that appear to be fresh from the mint and have no wear are typically worth 10 to 30 cents apiece.
The most valuable 2006 no mint mark penny was graded by Professional Coin Grading Service as MS68RD and sold for $2,640 in a 2020 auction.
2006-D Penny Value
The 2006 penny with a “D” mint mark was made at the Denver Mint, where a staggering 3,944,000,000 of these coins were struck.
The 2006-D penny is an extremely common coin — especially given its production output of some 3.944 billion coins! This might lead you to think that all 2006-D pennies are worthless, since there were so many made. But, ah, contraire, my fellow coin collectors. Many 2006-D pennies are worth a pretty penny!
So… How much is a 2006-D penny worth?
A circulated 2006-D penny that you find in loose change is generally worth just one cent.
Uncirculated 2006-D pennies have a value in the range of 10 to 30 cents.
The most valuable 2006-D penny to ever sell in a public offering was graded MS68RD by Professional Coin Grading Service and fetched $1,292.50 in a 2016 auction.
2006 Satin Finish Penny Value
What’s a satin finish penny?
It’s a special kind of Lincoln cent that was included in 2006 mint sets — which were made at the United States Mint and sold to coin collectors for a small premium.
The 2006 mint sets include one specially minted example of each coin that was struck for and used in circulation.
Among these coins was a satin version of the 2006 no mint mark penny from Philadelphia.
What does a satin finish penny look like?
The term “satin” really just refers a type of matte finish that isn’t too shiny or reflective and is somewhat frosty looking — unlike the more brilliant finish typically seen on the regular-issue 2006 pennies that were struck for circulation.
The 2006 mint set was originally issued by the U.S. Mint for $16.95 and a total of 847,361 were assembled. Consequently, that’s how many of the 2006 satin finish pennies were made, too.
These mint sets can be bought from coin dealers today for around $8 to $10.
An individual 2006 satin finish penny can be purchased for $1 to $2.
The most valuable 2006 satin finish penny was graded SP70 by Professional Coin Grading Service and sold for $1,725 in a 2010 auction.
2006-D Satin Finish Penny Value
The 2006 satin finish penny with a “D” mint mark was included in the 2006 mint set alongside its 2006 Philadelphia Mint cent cousin, mentioned above.
As with the 2006 penny from Philly, the Denver Mint produced a total of 847,361 examples of the 2006-D satin finish penny.
Most specimens of the 2006-D satin finish penny are worth $1 to $2 each.
The most valuable 2006-D satin penny was certified SP69 by Professional Coin Grading Service and commanded $300 in a 2008 auction.
2006-S Penny Value
The 2006-S penny was included in United States Mint proof sets for collectors.
What does a proof penny look like?
Modern proof coins exhibit mirror-like surfaces with frosty designs and lettering. This affect is achieved by polishing the coin blanks at least twice by specially prepared dies on high-tonnage presses. The end result is extraordinary detail on the coin that is appealing for collectors.
The U.S. Mint branch facility in San Francisco produced 3,054,436 proof pennies in 2006, and these were included in various types of proof sets that year.
How much is a 2006-S penny worth?…
A typical 2006-S proof penny sells for around $3 to $5.
The most valuable 2006-S penny was graded PR70DCAM by Professional Coin Grading Service and sold for $518 in a 2008 auction.
IMPORTANT: What Is The Grade Of Your 2006 Penny?
To determine the true value of your 2006 Lincoln cent, you first need to know what condition (or grade) your coin is in.
Grab a coin magnifier and a copy of the U.S. Coin Grading Standards book. Then, watch this video to see how to grade coins yourself at home:
These coin grading apps make grading coins yourself SO much easier!
A List Of Rare 2006 Penny Errors To Look For
Some of the most valuable 2006 pennies are those that were made with mistakes.
Be sure to keep your eyes open for these 2006 error and variety pennies:
2006 Doubled Die Penny Error
Some 2006 pennies show evidence of having been struck by a die that was impressed by the hub twice and at different angles or positions.
A 2006 doubled die penny may show either really obvious or really discreet doubling — depending on the error at hand.
The 2006 doubled die penny value depends on the demand for and scarcity of a particular type of doubling error. Many 2006 doubled die pennies are worth anywhere from $25 to $100.
2006 BIE Penny Error
This type of variety is unique to Lincoln cents and shows the appearance of a raised, vertical line roughly resembling a capital letter “I” between the letters “B” and “E” in the inscription “LIBERTY.”
The raised line is caused by a type of defect known as a die break — which can occur on any coin.
Die breaks (also known as die cracks) can take on many forms. But collectors will often pay premiums for coins with die breaks in particular shapes or on certain areas of the coin.
In this case, the BIE variety is highly collectible — with 2006 BIE pennies typically selling for $5 to $15.
2006 Off-Center Penny Error
Some 2006 pennies are missing part of their design — because the coin wasn’t struck exactly on center as it should have been.
Off-center errors can range from 1% to 99% off-center, and values for such coins are all over the map.
A 2006 penny that’s missing 10% to 20% of its design can go for anywhere from $15 to $25.
One of the most valuable types of 2006 off-center pennies would be missing about 50% of its design, yet still show a complete date. Such a piece could trade for $100 or more!
READ NEXT: All Of The Most Valuable U.S. Pennies
I’m the Coin Editor here at TheFunTimesGuide. My love for coins began when I was 11 years old. I primarily collect and study U.S. coins produced during the 20th century.
I’m a member of the American Numismatic Association (ANA) and the Numismatic Literary Guild (NLG) and have won multiple awards from the NLG for my work as a coin journalist. I’m also the editor at the Florida United Numismatists Club (FUN Topics magazine), and author of Images of America: The United States Mint in Philadelphia (a book that explores the colorful history of the Philadelphia Mint). I’ve contributed hundreds of articles for various coin publications including COINage, The Numismatist, Numismatic News, Coin Dealer Newsletter, Coin Values, and CoinWeek.
I’ve authored nearly 1,000 articles here at The Fun Times Guide to Coins (many of them with over 50K shares), and I welcome your coin questions in the comments below!
