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I love collecting copper pennies.
While some people may think that all pennies are made entirely from copper, virtually every one-cent coin made since late 1982 has a composition consisting of 97.5% zinc and 2.5% copper.
The coppery color of modern-day pennies is merely a thin plating of copper on a 99.2% zinc, 0.8% copper core.
These newer, zinc-based Lincoln cents are often called Zincolns and are widely available in circulation today.
Older copper pennies are 95% copper and 5% something else.
To be precise: Copper pennies made up until 1962 had a 5% balance of tin and zinc, and from 1962 to 1982 the extra 5% of material was entirely zinc.
Why Save Copper Pennies?
What’s the big deal about the copper pennies? Why are they important to many coin collectors?
First of all, they’re worth more than face value. As of this writing, they’re worth 2 to 3 cents each due to their copper value.
Some would debate whether or not copper pennies are worth their weight as scrap metal, but their intrinsic copper value is nevertheless higher than the face value of the denomination itself — making it worthwhile to check your change and hold aside all pre-1982 pennies.
These old pennies are getting harder to find as more and more people are looking for copper pennies and are removing them from circulation.
Which Copper Pennies To Save
Here are some old copper pennies worth saving…
#1 – “S” Mint Lincoln Memorial Copper Pennies
How often have you found an “S” mint Lincoln Memorial copper penny in pocket change?
Among the Lincoln Memorial cents, there were 7 years during which the San Francisco Mint placed its “S” mintmark under the date on business-strike, non-proof pennies.
These include:
- 1968-S, 261,311,510 business strikes minted
- 1969-S, 547,309,631
- 1970-S, 690,560,004
- 1971-S, 528,354,192
- 1972-S, 380,200,104
- 1973-S, 319,937,634
- 1974-S, 412,039,228
Notice that those mintage numbers for the business-strike S-mint Lincoln pennies are in the millions, not billions like most Philadelphia and Denver pennies from that era.
Most of these S-Mint Lincoln Memorial cents have been pulled from circulation, so they rarely turn up in pocket change anymore.
Officially, they’re worth only face value if worn, but I’ve seen many circulated S-mint Lincoln Memorial cents selling at coin shops for 5 to 10 cents. Keep that in mind!
#2 – Other Copper Pennies That Are Valuable
Along with the “S” mint Lincoln Memorial cents, there are several other interesting and valuable pieces to search for.
These include:
- 1960 Small Date, worth $1.50
- 1960 Large Date, 3 cents
- 1960 Small Date Over Large Date, 3 cents
- 1960-D Small Date, 3 cents
- 1960-D/D Small Date Over Large Date, $100
- 1969-S Doubled Die Obverse, $25,000
- 1970-S Small Date, $25
- 1970-S Doubled Die Obverse, $2,500
- 1972 Doubled Die Obverse, $250
*Values are for coins in Extremely Fine-40 grade
#3 – Old Copper Lincoln Wheat Pennies
So far, this article has been mainly centered around looking for copper Lincoln Memorial cents — which were minted from 1959 through 1982.
But that’s doesn’t mean Lincoln wheat pennies (which were minted from 1909 through 1958) are, as they say, “chopped liver.”
In fact, their numismatic values makes them worth more than most Lincoln Memorial pennies. And, yes, they’re made from copper, too — with one exception: steel pennies.
Steel cents were made in 1943, though a few 1944 steel pennies were made by accident. But steel pennies are a topic for another article.
Today, we’re talking about copper coins.
All Lincoln wheat pennies are worth a minimum of 3 to 5 cents each, though many are worth more.
I’ve written extensively about the values of Lincoln wheat pennies and invite you check out a few of these articles:
- 7 Rare Wheat Pennies Worth Collecting & What They’re Worth
- Lincoln Semi-Key Coins Versus Key Coins And Their Values
- Most Valuable Pennies: A List Of The 43 U.S. Pennies Worth Holding Onto
Here ‘s how to tell what a penny is made of — whether it’s a copper penny or a copper-plated zinc penny. And here’s the story behind zinc pennies.
Tips For Finding Copper Pennies
What’s the easiest way to search for copper pennies?
Of course, pocket change still yields plenty of copper cents. In my 3 to 5 weekly cash transactions involving 2 to 4 pennies, I probably find between 2 and 5 copper pennies each week. Sometimes more, sometimes fewer.
Of course, receiving 5 copper pennies weekly isn’t a very efficient way of building a nice hoard of copper pennies. So, that’s why I turn to coin roll searching.
One time, I found about 200 copper pennies among 20 rolls of pennies, or $10 worth of one-cent coins.
That means about 20% of the pennies passing through my hands in those rolls were copper ones. And, that 1:4 ratio of copper pennies to zinc Lincoln cents seems to be about my probability of finding copper one-cent coins in circulation today.
The difference with looking through rolls of pennies is that I’m looking at many more coins that way than I ever would through my cash transactions alone.
So searching coin rolls is a much faster way to build your hoard of copper pennies than by simply pulling old coins out of spare change alone.
Can You Melt Pennies For Their Copper Value?
Here’s the short answer — the one you probably don’t want to hear: “NO!” As of this writing, anyway.
The United States government banned melting copper pennies in 2006. Under the same law, it’s illegal to melt 5-cent coins for their copper value, too (yes, “nickels” are actually 75% copper).
If you get caught scrapping pennies, you could end up paying $10,000 in fines and spend 5 years in the slammer — prison, that is.
So, don’t do it. Don’t even think about trying to sneak a “few” copper pennies over to the scrap yard. It’s just not worth it.
Many people who hoard copper coins these days are simply waiting for the penny melting laws to change, which may happen someday.
I, on the other hand, am simply holding onto my copper pennies with no particular plans except to perhaps search them someday for varieties, errors, and other interesting numismatic aberrations.
More About Old Pennies
- 7 Reasons NOT To Buy Copper Pennies
- What Is An Old Penny Worth?
- How To Make Money Off Of Copper Pennies
- Double Your Money Selling Copper Pennies By The Pound
- A Penny Hoarded Is Two Earned
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!
I have a large one cent penny dated 1833. I was wondering how much it is worth?
Hi, Sandra —
A well-worn but undamaged (and uncleaned) 1833 large cent is worth about $15 to $30, though more if it’s in better condition. Damaged or cleaned pieces are worth about half the lower amount listed above.
My 6 year old has 1927 wheat penny. No mint mark what so ever. He and I were both curious about why there is no marking and what these are valued at. Thank you!
Elaine
Hi, Elaine —
Great questions! First, that 1927 Lincoln cent is worth about 10 to 15 cents. You should also know that the coin is worth more with its original brown color than if it’s cleaned. So, my best advice about taking care of that old coin is to simply not clean it and keep it in a cool, dry place.
As for the reason there is no mintmark is because the coin was struck at the Philadelphia mint. The first “P” mintmark from Philadelphia wasn’t used until 1942, and even to this day, virtually all one-cent coins without a “P” mintmark were made at the Philadelphia mint.
Here’s some more info that you may find useful: https://coins.thefuntimesguide.com/mint_marks_letters_on_coins/
Hi. I have a 1987 s proof constitution bicentennial silver dollar, and it is in the original, unopened seal that it came in. I was wondering how much this would be worth.
Hello, Connor —
Given the condition of the coin, I’d put the value right around $20 to $22.
Thanks for your question!
Josh
I have these 1990 what do you think?
I have a 1943 penny and it sticks to a magnet but when i drop it sounds different then other pennies
The fact that is sticks to a magnet would certainly indicate you have a standard steel cent from that year. The sound is another matter, though:
If you mean different from copper or zinc cents, that would be reasonable because the metals have different characteristics.
If you mean different from other 1943 cents, you’d need to have someone look at the coin in person.
In 2009, the U.S. mint released an anniversary set of Lincoln pennies. The set contained each of the 4 different reverses issued that year. But what I found most interesting and appealing about the set, was the fact that they were minted using the original 95% copper formulation that the original 1909 coins consisted of. I liked them so much, I bought sets for each of my nieces and nephews for Christmas that year. As a side note, I tend to give them different coins every year, usually with some silver content. I’m pretty sure they don’t much care for them now (Money you can’t spend!? Ug), but I hope some day they will. Also, I want them to think about money and savings. I like the fact that after the clothes have been outgrown, and the toys broken, my coins are still there squirreled away somewhere.
Great commentary, Ryan! Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
Joshua, I have a lot of pocket change that I need to cash in. Can you tell me what change I should absolutely hold on to and what change I can go ahead and spend?
Hi, Momo —
Great question! There are really too many coins to list here, so I’ve got a link that may answer all your questions about this: https://coins.thefuntimesguide.com/us-coins/
In the post, you’ll find links to the most valuable cents, nickels, dimes, quarters, halves, and dollars.
Good luck!
Josh
Thanks Josh, I’ll check it out but I was certain you’d tell me to at least hang on to my pre82 pennies.
Hi, Momo —
Absolutely, I think you should hang onto all pre-1982 pennies. If you can determine the weight of your 1982 pennies, keep the heavier (3.11 gram) pieces, too!
Best,
Josh
Hello Joshua. It is good to know someone else shares this kind of unique hobby. I’ve been hoarding copper pennies for about two years now. I do it strictly by hand, so I am limited to sacrificing some of my limited and valuable free time. It is kind of odd, but I enjoy it. I’m in Northern Virginia and I suspect the rates may vary geographically. I keep pretty good stats and am pulling about 22% copper. I’ve collected close to $1,000 by now. I have separated about $20 worth of wheat pennies, $8 of canadian, and about a dozen Burmuda/Bahama; a dozen Panama; a couple dozen dimes that have gotten mixed in; but am really happy to have found 3 Indian Head Pennies doing this (2 1907s and 1 1904). The boxes don’t vary greatly, but I’ve noticed a very very very slight and gradual decline. I suppose this is due to pennies being lost in time and perhaps more people are hoarding than I realize. I’ve managed to go through an average of just a little over two $25 boxes a week. I’ve got a bank that has a change machine free to use for customers… so dumping the pennies I don’t want isn’t too much of a hassle. I had one question, I have come across a box (NOT Customer Wrapped and NOT all new uncirculated pennies) But the box contained literally less than 1% copper. I am certain that this had to have come from a huge batch that had already been sorted, but somehow that batch stayed pretty much together when they were machine wrapped at whatever facility does that. Have you ever come across a “dead” box like this of virtually NO copper? Just curious. I’d like to exchange notes sometime if your interested. Thanks!
Brian,
Thank you so much for sharing your keen insights with us here. It’s always wonderful when collectors write in with their circulation observations. While I have yet to find a dead box of pennies, I’ve come across completely zinc rolls, which is frustrating. I have also seen fewer worthy finds in rolls, and this also extends to half dollars, which seem to be yielding less and less silver these days, at least in my experience.
Hi Joshua,
I have a 1914 D penny that is in pretty good condition. What might this coin be worth?
Hi, Bret —
I am sorry for the delayed reply. I didn’t see this message until just now. If you are still interested in learning about your 1914-D Lincoln penny, please feel free to upload a photo here and I would be glad to help.
Best,
Josh
Hi , Joshua . would take a look at this 1960 D the date and tell me if there any thing . And thanks for all ..#1
Hi, David —
This is a 1960-D Large Date penny, and it’s worth about 5 cents in what appears to be About Uncirculated/Uncirculated.
Best,
Josh
I have 2 1968 s pennies, and 5 of 1969 s pennies is there any value to these coins
Hi, Jeanna —
Each is worth two cents for their metal value, assuming none of your coins have any valuable die varieties or errors (possible, but unlikely — I can check if you post photos of your coins here!).
Thank you for your question,
Josh
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/19161b020402c47aa3caecde44ca602e673d955f2869f2a4441b38d0a045ff92.jpg
Hello, Jeanna —
I don’t see any evidence that this coin is a doubled die or has any other varieties/errors at this photo resolution, aside from what may be on the un-pictured reverse.
Best,
Josh
I also have this quarter https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/c4940a45aef41fe0f03d7b5281331bc6c6ba102ef29699b9ff1455d024bb1b17.jpg
Hi, Jeanna –
The groove on the left side of the coin is post-mint damage; this piece is worth face value.
Best,
Josh
Hello I found this quarter is it worth anything https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/c4940a45aef41fe0f03d7b5281331bc6c6ba102ef29699b9ff1455d024bb1b17.jpg
Looks like the mint made the little ring. I believe it is only face value.
Hi,
The ring is a circular groove caused by post-mint damage. As Gulinky points out, it is worth face value.
Best,
Josh
Hello! I have a good question, What Percentage of 1982 pennies are copper VS zinc???
Hi, Adam –
That IS a good question! I have not been able to find any conclusive information on exact mintage figures, but what I can tell you is the following:
*The West Point Mint (no mintmark in 1982) made the first zinc Lincoln cents on January 7, 1982
*About 1.6 million zinc Lincoln cents were made at the San Francisco Mint in 1982 (not denoted by an “S” mintmark)
*The Denver Mint began production of zinc Lincoln cents on October 21, 1982
In all, about one-third of the Lincoln pennies made in 1982 were zinc-based.
I hope this helps!
Josh
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/e2499329d16bfab716827b15ced9219c73682db009d1847ed68502ea1fb2ede2.jpg
i have this penny 1969s apparently the letters are double not dubling and some are just like cut in some points… can youu help me?
Hi, Maria —
Would you please upload a photo of the entire coin, too? I’ll need to see the entire surface to deduce what’s going on. Thanks!
Best,
Josh
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/09ab9f62526234a33ded63aba980ef363255ecde58a7c108cb1274a0b703d605.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/cf17e0a10aaf6faa32d67e9c1ee883f032a59b51be6cf7aeb04dbde6b9a70f43.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/c122199aefd0e58ca9d2c78d7b1c008f1ae090c33eea1d81eaa4f074dc7b9bbb.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/e5d6044e8b3b3534be25ee6339d4e8fc5fb980b3e0066f14c8eee9016f2045ca.jpg
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/5f96fd8892beb8e1dd7496f0916f095c5af7431d002997998c79fd4d04af88e1.jpg
thanks to take the time to look in to my coin and give me your opinion..
Hi, Maria —
I do see some minor signs of doubling in the date, but it looks like machine doubling. Also, the 1969-S doubled die should exhibit strong doubling in the word LIBERTY, and I don’t see the doubling there in these images.
Thank you for your question and coin photos!
Josh
so i take the coin to better pic or just dont worth anything?
Hi, Maria —
Thank you so much for sending along those extra images. I do see doubling, but it’s not the type of doubling that corresponds to the famous 1969-S doubled die. I believe this is either a minor variety or machine doubling. I would suggest showing your coin to die variety expert John Wexler, whose website is found here: https://doubleddie.com/
Good luck,
Josh
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/761434a6ab75430757fc62a845ba0e773791635894dd1fd572d03d74ec92f65b.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/fa8a1acda6dc062a34a0d73e075ded306828ffab80b212ca50b9977511af317a.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/c521d9421c2f6145fe2768da43fa115a12306633469866bb44754cc375119b30.jpg
I JUST POST ONE NORMAL DIE AND TWO FROM MY 1969S I HOPE YOU CAN SEE LIKE THE R IS DOBLE ALSO IS BROKEN IF IS DUBLING BOTH WILL BE BROKEN BUT IS JUS THE UPPER IS BROKEN… PLEASE TAKE A LOOK
Joshua,
A bank called Ally Bank has been hiding pennies in plain view that are worth $1000.00 cash in value, but this ends at the end of the year.
I thought this might interest you in the event someone post a picture of a strange penny they found.
Here is the link.
https://www.allyluckypenny.com/
Hello, Christopher!
Thank you for sharing this info — yes, I’ve heard about this promotion and it’s really neat. The “pennies” entered circulation in several major U.S. cities and could turn up virtually anywhere. Keep your eyes peeled!
Good luck,
Josh
I also have a 1961 D penny that weighs 2.70 grams and a 1952 that weighs 3.32 grams I know the weight should be 3.11 grams what would make one under weight and the other one over weight thanks for any help you could give.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/737ed1f5dd622f00f1a55e79d38b53217eecd68f8523dcc79b1e529d0d50c75c.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/cf8510281b46dbe5ddef10b6188574532885e607540719e01f1f89504786de2f.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/e605d146e92376857957b27752f03ac9fd40e44edb5f61b4768908b21be5a510.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/98c8fb5cd4135290e266037d145e927ac810275f2d5f534ce6ba532441a2fb21.jpg
Hi, Sandra —
The photos are a bit grainy…I can’t tell from the images alone the cause behind the 1961-D weighing less than usual and the 1952 weighing more.
I’m sorry; perhaps an in-hand evaluation with a coin dealer would be helpful in this case.
All my best,
Josh
I’m sorry I posted the 1970 D photo that has circles around the neck and the 1941 with cracks on the face. I did not post the 1961 D and 1952 pic but I will let a coin dealer look at them.
Hello my namen is Fred and I am new. By looking into old pennies I stumbel on a 1972 s 3.11 grams on which the L of Liberty is out of place and out of line.
Can anybody tell me more about this error ?
Thanks Fred
Here are some pictures of the penny coin.
Fred https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/0bb8285d686cda6190f6abc0da846b8c3c4da55efa7e26c34cd44f2817d6650e.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/ec9b38ad84d578abb81df790c2dea2f3dbd9fc39c2c5f5f41a6632a329d141e8.jpg
Hi, Fred —
Actually, the “L” looks normal on this cent. Sometimes, the letters in LIBERTY or other inscriptions on the coin will look a little askew as the dies begin wearing over time. This piece is still worth two cents for its intrinsic copper value!
Best wishes,
Josh
Hi, Josh,
Thanks for your reply !
I am new in the penny world, and happy to receive your info so soon. Hope to discover some other coins.
Thanks again for your expertise !
Fred
2017-04-09 20:07 GMT+02:00 Disqus :
Hello, Frederik!
It’s my pleasure to assist you! If you have any more questions, please don’t hesitate to share them here and I’ll do my very best to help.
Good luck with your collecting journey!
Josh
Hi Joshua,
I just like to show you this 1910 wheat penny, with very nice luster !
The 9 on the date is very faint, but overall the coin is beautiful !!!
Thanks for your attentions !
Fred https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/06a98f9a994e94bfa4ed98dbacb1c45c2a8dde07e150fe5234d13b309e363743.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/62fc59c288b2f7784784606507e7157eb9a68ebef5c9018895463ea58d5fc902.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/f3272574db8b235852a56b1d101e9f41531e72e51800fd0212ee6ef985324259.jpg
Hi, Frederick —
This one seems to be nicely recovering from a past cleaning! The color is coming along well. This 1910 cent is worth somewhere around 25 cents.
Best wishes,
Josh
I would like to know what you use to take photos of the coin
Hello, Maggie!
The photos by me (“Joshua at TheFunTimesGuide.com”) are taken with an iPhone 5s and a Canon Rebel camera. However, most of the photos you see here at The Fun Times Guide to Coins are, so far, taken by others and (very kindly) shared on Wikimedia Commons for use on websites such as this one.
Thank you for reaching out!
Josh
Joshua, in order to have Wexler look at a Coin you have to send it in correct? I’ve been to his site and haven’t seen any place to just run it by them and see if it’s worth sending in. Although, when I purchased supplies I did buy 3 cardboard malers. I guess you have to send nickels to a different place?
If there is no way other than sending them in, I guess I’ll wait until I have at least 5 of them to send in.
I have another question: are all double punch mm worth more than face value? Because I have run across several that seem to be slightly off.
I went through my first roll of those pennies my son picked up for me and 45 of them were copper with the majority being 1981. No wheats though….or 1982.Two of the remaining were from the tribute series. I’ll see what else I find….I still have mose to the nickels still too! This is going to take a while! Hehe
Hello, Leah —
As I understand, yes, you will have to send your coins in to Wexler for him to examine them. Very legit… But it might take a while for him to review and provide a response.
Are all double punched/repunched mintmarks worth more than face value? As with all value-related questions, the answer always depends on each coin’s overall collectibility. In a word, yes, all repunched mintmarks generally have some nominal numismatic value, but how much varies greatly. I’ve seen some list for as little as 25 or 50 cents, and others sell for $10 or more. It’s really a matter of each issue’s/variety/s overall desirability, and that is often an equation involving scarceness and demand. I’d always recommend saving all repunched mintmarks, though they may not necessarily bring in much money.
1981 pennies are definitely worth saving, as each is worth 2 cents for its copper value.
Keep searching, Leah! You seem to be doing a wonderful job!
Cheers,
Josh
Hi, Mia —
1983 pennies are known for their doubled die reverse error variety, and those pieces generally are worth about $150 and up.
The half-and-half coloration on your coin is due either to environmental damage or a past cleaning. In either case, the coin is worth face value.
I hope that you keep your eyes on 1983 doubled die cents, because you can legitimately find them in pocket change (most people don’t know they exist) and they are worth a tidy sum.
Good luck!
Josh
Thank you for the info so ive read where the penny weighs a certain amount it was a bit confusing as to which was the correct weight if you wouldnt mind letting me know which is correct od greatly appreciate it ive got multiple 1983d pennies to figure out which woukd be possibly worth anything
Hi, Mia —
A 1983 Lincoln cent should weigh around 2.5 grams. If any of your 1983 pennies weigh much more or less than that, they might be off-metal errors.
Hope this info helps!
Josh
So i weighed a few of my 1983 pennies and the ones i did weigh they actually weigh at 3g and i believe one of them was 4g so is their any significance to these?
Hi, Mia —
If they weigh 3 grams then perhaps they’re some type of off-metal error, though it would take an in-hand inspection to know this for sure. Is there a photo you may post of the 1983 cent that weighs 4 grams?
If you’re interested in checking these out further, you might consider having them evaluated by John Wexler or the folks at CONECA. Here’s their info:
John Wexler – https://www.doubleddie.com/
CONECA – https://varietyvista.com/CONECA%20Master%20Listings.htm
Good luck!
Josh
Yes i will upload those images shortly but i do have a question about the gold washing dollar coin, ive noticed that IT DOES NOT HAVE “IN GOD WE TRUST” imprinted on it like every coin ive seen including all the other gold dollar coins. Is there anything to that
Hi, Mia —
The inscription IN GOD WE TRUST is inscribed on the edge of the golden Washington dollar, along with the coin’s date and mintmark. These inscriptions were moved to the edge to help save space for the design on the obverse of the coin. Now, if you DON’T see any edge lettering on the coin, you have an error that could be worth $50 to $100 or more!
Thanks for your question,
Josh
Hello Joshua
I am uploading some images of some coins I have and was wanting to know if you can tell me more about these please https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/43eb5fe0efb79ede4ea4ca22b0721940affcf28ed0fe9c9308adba7080cfdd38.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/7b4bba549f63c612c18350b4998eb069e2cdcee0d194da8ce433133f1d4f7e3a.jpg
The first is a 1944 penny and the second is actually a Nickle
Hi, Mia —
Oh — I thought that was actually the reverse of the 1944 cent. Hmm… unless we could at least tell the date, this nickel is actually not worth more than scrap fro the standpoint that it is too mutilated to be used as money. It may be worth a little more to someone who appreciates coins with unusual wear and tear or post-Mint alterations.
Best wishes,
Josh
Wow, Mia — If this 1944 penny could talk, it would tell a tale of some heavy use. It appears that this coin was actually mutilated and altered. While this piece may not have any numismatic value, it is worth at least two cents for its copper value and probably even a little more to someone who enjoys collecting such unusual pieces.
Cheers,
Josh
Here are a few for images of some coins I have its 1982 D penny
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/b890ec7951368de08d310060c8e06b950d040ba3a140bfdc5f3abbde3e84cc40.jpg
Hi Mia,
This 1982-D Large Date copper cent has seen some extensive use, but it’s worth about 2 cents for its copper value. Neat piece!
Thank you for reaching out,
Josh
Just curious as to why this penny would be like this I have several penny that are messed up and a Nickle that you can tell it’s a Nickle barely were they made this way either by accident or what has happened to them lol
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/d2152dd142dde1a4d104c0fb4bfb44cc0bff3e210b1c42ff633c7704ed91ba28.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/595040b7deeebd0c07b6376851ef04c01dd642c42d374071aa0bf957c56aae7f.jpg
Hey, Mia —
I’m pretty convinced this coin has been mutilate outside of the U.S. Mint. However, if you want a second opinion from someone who specializes in errors, you might send the coin to the folks at CONECA. Here’s their info: https://varietyvista.com/index.htm
Good luck,
Josh
I have a question what is the deal with the native gold dollar with the peace pipe on the back? The site just points out what’s on the coin but I didn’t see why they were describing it!?
Hi, Mia —
Good question. For a little more explanation, you might find this information from the U.S. Mint worthy of the read: https://www.usmint.gov/news/press-releases/20110325-mint-introduces-native-american-1-dollar-coin-at-bicultural-museum
Please let me know if you need more info!
Best wishes,
Josh
Hi Joshua,
Today is nice weather and made some new pictures outside of the 1948 D.
Hope they are good enough !
With regards,
Fred
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/b12724f7f385f94763412d6f848604fc4075fb95dffa98e026824b3db9e194b9.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/9d61700841ff735a64823022550e85ecb7b2a953864b306b44aa176eb2abb770.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/8e4a84be1d47d7339a8c70ca94fd0f01e8ce5ea61e70519085b4afa7b9173b6a.jpg
Hello, Frederik –
From what I can tell, I don’t believe this is an error upon closer look. It appears the fourth digit of the date was either weakly struck or has taken some extra wear, thus giving it a softer look and profile. Assuming this is the case, this 1948-D Lincoln cent is worth about 5 to 10 cents.
I hope this info is helpful,
Josh
Hi Joshua,
Thanks for your reply !
No an easy task to find nice and rare coins !
With regards,
Fred
Hi josh,
Found a 1957 d wheat penny and curious your thoughts
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/8087259fbf209145c25029e1f0f1ed9c0a54413c22638f165383438d44319cfc.jpg
Hello, Ryan!
Nice 1957-D cent — it has original chocolate brown color. While these pieces are relatively common and worth about 3 to 5 cents in this condition, it’s still worth hanging onto because Lincoln wheat cents are obsolete.
Thank you for your question,
Josh
Hi Josh, are you also familiar with Canadian coins ?
I wander what’s the best way for this 1973 25 cents Large Bust coin in almost perfect condition to put on sale.
And by the way what do you think about this half dollar 1967 Kennedy coin missing part of the 6, would that be of any interest ? Hope to hear from you, Fred
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/a4fa0ad47c49a0a5af3c80f5f1a00338dbefc5bf169954d3096f8c762aa79374.jpg
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Hi, Frederik,
I’d definitely take any Canadian coins, such as your 1973 Large Bust Mountie quarter, to a dealer who specializes in world coins, and more specifically Canadian coins, for the best price. It’s always hard to grade coins by photo alone due to lighting variances, etc., but your piece looks higher grade; uncirculated specimens sell for around $200.
The “6” on the 1967 Kennedy half dollar looks weakly struck or heavily worn; this wouldn’t add any value to the coin, which is currently worth about $3 for its silver content.
Neat coins!
Josh
I would like to know why are the shield pennies thinner than the post 82 Lincoln memorial cents? They both weigh the same. I’m also finding some of the 82 & 83 pennies are varying in weights 2.5 , 2.8 and 3.1 . Is there any reason for the three difference’s?
Hi, Paul —
The official thickness of the Lincoln Shield nickels should be the same as the Lincoln Memorial cent, both of which measure 0.0598 inches (1.52 mm) in thickness. As for varying thicknesses, it might be that one side of the planchet is thinner than the other, which does happen and may give the appearance that they’re thinner than older pennies, especially depending on what side of the coins are being compared to each other.
The weights of the 1982-83 cents do vary a little based on wear, etc. and don’t forget that there are tolerances — a government-permitted variance from the published weights of these coins. I’d be curious on what the 1982/83 cent that weighs 2.8 grams looks like. That’s nowhere near the typical copper (3.11 grams) or zinc-based (2.5 grams) weights.
Thank you!
Josh
Can anyone help me with finding the value of this 74 copper I dug up today? https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/1de754d800c9b21fc695c8234b0ef22f8e0e6b6417203c498767a7d384544f2e.jpg
Hi, Ruth —
It looks like there may be some epoxy/adhesive residue on this coin, perhaps from being glued to the back of another Lincoln Memorial cent. If this coin is soaked in acetone for a few minutes, there’s a very good chance that second imprint will come off. If not, please let me know!
Thank you,
Josh
I have a forty pound bag of pre 1959 Lincoln pennies. I have read through your site and appreciate your tips. Should i really go through thousands of pennies hoping I find a 43 or another high yielding penny?
I would love to find a coin shop or collector who can help me price what I have. I also have a few hundred half dollars, some silver dollars and early 70’s minted with a chip collection of all coins.
This was all recently gifted to me from someone who passed away. Just wondering how I should proceed as it is overwhelming to a non-collector.
Thanks,
Mike
Hello, Michael —
I’m sorry to hear of your loss. However, I’m glad that you have the chance to go through the coins and see if there’s anything there that may be rare and valuable.
As for digging through the thousands of pennies, yes — if you want to look for old coins there’s a possibility there could be some rare or other scarce pennies worth your while. There are actually many pennies worth significantly more than face value and you’ll find a list of those valuable pennies here: https://coins.thefuntimesguide.com/valuable-pennies/
You could also sell the pennies to a dealer as a bulk lot, for which you might receive 2 or 3 cents per coin. So, that’s more than face value, but not as much as you might get if there are some rare coins in that bag. It’s your call on whether or not you have the time to afford a search or if you’d rather go for the “quick cash,” as it were.
You mention some other potentially valuable coins. I’ve included a link that might help you further: https://coins.thefuntimesguide.com/us-coins/
Plus, some info on dealing with a coin dealer: https://coins.thefuntimesguide.com/coin_dealer/
I hope you find something of value, Michael! Please let me know if I might be of further assistance.
Good luck,
Josh
Hello To USA. I have found metal detecting a 1922 Peace Coin , in the letters TRVST instead of trust, is this silver coin only worth silver price or other Thanks
Hi, Robert!
Neat find! You have a 1922 Peace silver dollar. In most cases, these are worth right around their spot silver price in circulated condition.
Best wishes,
Josh
Than you so much I have researched and found out, its all good and I own it now ,I also have 2 two dollar bills 1986 but they both have same serial numbers, is this possible or my pawn dealer a fraud . thanks Joshaua
Good day. Robert —
Would you please post a photo of these two $2 bills side by side? I want to check for any distinguishing marks and diagnostics…
Thank you!
Josh
MY laptop will not upload pictures anymore, sorry
No worries, Robert… That must be frustrating!
Best wishes,
Josh
I have a 1942 D wheat penny. Passed the magnet test, as it did not stick. Weight is 3.6 grams. I am hopeful its a copper penny. Without a pic or not having professional and personal inspection can’t say with certainty the value. Can You give me some direction as to how to proceed? I will contact ANACS if you recommend. I have a few steel pennies and their characteristics are different than this coin. Thanks
Hello, Amy —
Do you happen to have a couple really clear images of this coin? If the weight of your coin is correct at 3.6 grams, I’m afraid that is well above the tolerances of a regular bronze cent, which is 2.98 to 3.24 grams. Otherwise, I’d say to submit the coin to ANACS, PCGS, NGC, or ICG for evaluation but be prepared that it might not be authentic if the weight tests out to be as high as you said it is.
Those are my thoughts at the moment…. I hope it helps give you some direction.
Best,
Josh
I have a post 1982 Lincoln cent which has the memorial on the back and blank zinc on the front (a planchet?) How much is it worth?
Hi, John —
Something like this I’ll need to please see a couple clear photos of to make a good determination.
I hope to help further!
-Josh
Here are the photos you requested.
Sent from my
Hi, John —
I’m afraid the images aren’t showing up on my end here in the comments feed. Are they JPG or PNG files smaller than 2MB?
Thank you,
Josh
I found 4 1983d american Penney’s Lincoln double die double ear on all
Are they worth anything cjpow7981@gmail.com
7782429856
Hi, CJ —
While there are some 1984 Lincoln cents with a doubled die exhibiting a doubled ear on Lincoln this is not a doubled die that has been much reported on 1983-D cents. If these verify as actual doubled dies and not merely machine doubling they could be worth $5 to $10 apiece or more depending on demand among collectors. Do you have any clear photos of these coins I may see? If so, please post them here and I’ll be glad to help further.
Best wishes,
Josh
We have a penny from 1905. What might it be worth?
Hi, Toni!
A 1905 Indian Head cent in worn condition is generally worth $1 to $3, and only about 25 cents if cleaned or severely damaged.
Best wishes,
Josh
…since copper is softer than steel…they’re good for removing topical and lightly pitted rust from firearms….I espectially LOVE using those minted in San Francisco for that purpose….since it would be so politically incorrect….laughs.
Hello every one and Joshua, How is everyone? This is my first post so…I was wondering if you can tell me where to post question about 1988 coins I do not see that date any where or is date no good??? and Thank you. I am editing this thingy thank you I found what I was looking for, Thanks again, and awesome site!
Hi, Gold Eagle!
Thank you for reading TheFunTimesGuide and for your kind comments! For the most part, circulated 1988-dated United States coins are worth only face value, which is why you don’t see much about these coins here. However, errors and uncirculated pieces are worth more than face value, though these values are generally in line with prices for other similar coins from the late 20th century.
I hope this info is helpful!
Josh
I get it, thank you for reply reason I was asking is … It seems to me that every 1988 coin I have has DDO or whatever you call it so I was trying to get more info concerning this, I thought errors?? so fine I get sllly with the silly, (no offense to the silly) but I see them! what I would say yeah error ……for example coin says IN GOD WE TPUST the r leg is not there or bearly seen, I no nothing about coins …. so is it ok if I upload one with the DD thingy so you could tell me if I am seeing right? one more thing reason I liked this site is ….You are very patient.
Hi, Gold Eagle —
I’d be happy to take a look at clear photos of one of the coins with the doubling. I also urge you to please check out this article: https://coins.thefuntimesguide.com/machine-doubling-doubled-dies/
It explains the difference between doubled dies and the much more common machine doubling and might assist you with some of the questions you might have about your coins.
All best wishes,
Josh
Going there now and Thank you.
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I HAVE THE 1983 PROOF SET COLLECTION IN A SEALED CASE NEVER BEEN OPEN AT ALL.
HOW MUCH OF ANY WOULD THIS BE OF ANY VALUE
my apologies for the not so great lighting
Hi, Mia —
Your 1983 proof set is worth around $5 as a complete, sealed set as you’ve pictured here.
Best wishes,
Josh
I do have lots more coins to ask you about but to begin with this one in particular, 1955 s penny that i called it a golden penny lol
And after reading more theirs a such thing as brass pennies so is this one or is their value to this one that i do have at all. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/b30c3043d21b692ca5edadf6ad2d4cb1b7d4aaf9e497f70bdd3a4fd96734035f.jpg
Hi, Mia!
While lighting may be affecting the way this coin appears to me in the photo, it looks like this coin may have been cleaned in the past and is retoning. It’s often the case that worn pennies will have something of a brassy-yellow appearance after a cleaning. A piece like this is worth 3 to 5 cents.
Best wishes,
Josh
Hi Joshua, I hope you are well. I’ve been collecting coins since I was a kid but I’ve only just recently gained more of an interest in learning more about all of it. So, with that being said I honestly still feel fairly new to coin collecting as I’ve realized their is still a lot I don’t know about all of it. I’ve been reading a lot of your articles you’ve posted on various different types of pennies over the past couple of days and I find them very informative and helpful, but I still don’t understand a lot of the different terminologies that are used to describe things with the coins, I’m interested to continue learning more about all of it though.
Anyways, in this particular article I saw that you mentioned you turn to coin roll searching for most of your copper penny searches. My question is where would you say is the best place to come across old coin rolls to purchase? Would it mainly be just at coin shows or flea markets? And also how much would you say an old coin roll would typically cost? I realize my comment is very long, so thank you for taking the time to read it Joshua. Have a blessed day.
– Drew
Hi, Drew —
I appreciate your reading my articles and reaching out. Usually when I purchase rolls of coins for searching I buy them straight from the bank. Buying rolls of old coins from coin dealers is great if you want to purchase bulk amounts of old coins but isn’t necessarily the best searching grounds for rare coins because these are usually picked through for scarce dates and such.
Your best bet of finding valuable coins in dealer rolls is generally confined to obscure errors and varieties that might elude the selling dealer’s knowledge base. That’s not to say you can’t find a surprise or two in dealer rolls, but the ones you buy from the bank are usually more likely to contain things the average public doesn’t know is valuable but that we collectors do.
I hope this answers your question…
All the best on your collecting adventures!
Cheers,
Josh