A COIN expert has detailed the exact feature on a Lincoln penny that makes it worth thousands.
Keep your eyes peeled for the doubling error on the front of your coin, which could turn the one-cent change into nearly $1,400.
3
3
Coin and currency expert Eric Miller (@thecoinchannel) has millions of TikTok followers and a wealth of knowledge on what makes coins valuable.
In a video from Monday, Miller explained how to know if your penny is worth hundreds or even thousands.
“Someone just made almost $700 just from checking their change,” began the expert.
“If you were throwing this into a Coinstar or getting change back, you would have no idea it was worth so much.”
He advised his followers to hunt for a 1972 penny and look to the coin’s obverse.
Miller noted the lettering on the penny was completely doubled, a rare error that was “very, very obvious.”
3
He pointed out how the error was visible on the coin’s date as well as the words “Liberty” and “In God We Trust.”
Dubbed a double die, the error made the coin sell for hundreds.
Even ungraded, such a penny sold for $695.
However, a certified coin can bring in even more cash – up to double.
Miller showed an example of a certified coin that sold last month for $1,379.95.
He noted that certifying your coin on the PCGS website was easy.
CURRENCY CHRONICLES
Be sure to check your change for rare quarters as well, as your 25-cent coin could be worth thousands.
In a video from last week, Miller advised looking for a quarter minted in 1965.
He showed examples of 1965 quarters that sold for $5,462.50, $7,200, and $8,400, attributing their high value to their composition.
Bill Errors
Banknotes can also be worth a hefty amount, with several printing errors that can boost their value:
- Misaligned Overprint: The bill’s seal and serial numbers are printed outside their intended area, sometimes overlapping with other features.
- Mismatched Serial Numbers: The bill’s serial numbers on the left and right sides do not match.
- Overly Inked Design: The bill’s design is overly dark due to too much ink being printed.
- Blank Reverse: One side of the bill is completely blank because the sheet wasn’t flipped during the printing process.
Source: Coin Hub
The coin expert shared that quarters from 1964 and older were made of 90% silver and 10% copper while all coins minted in 1965 and newer were made from a mixture of copper and nickel.
A few 1965 quarters still contain silver because they were mistakenly struck on silver planchets.
To check if you have a 1965 silver quarter, Miller advised first checking the coin’s rim for the color.
They’re more silver while regular quarters have a copper hue.
Additionally, weighing your coin will help confirm if it’s made from silver.
While 1965 silver quarters weigh around 6.25 grams, normal quarters weigh only 5.67 grams.
Your nickel could be worth $6,600 – just check for a “strike” detail.
Plus, two easy-to-spot details on the front of your $2 bill could make it worth $1,631.
