Don’t Overlook Your Pennies!
If you have a collection of pennies, you might have one or two of these important designs. From 1909-1959 the US Mint produced pennies with a sheaf of wheat on the tail side. If you find one in good condition today it can range from $10 to $100 dollars.
Another example of a rare penny would be the “Indian Head” pennies minted from 1859-1879. This coin is more valuable than its regular counterpart and is estimated to earn between $35-$3000, depending on the year. One penny stands to earn you more than most and is almost worth $5,000 today.
Empty Out Your Piggy Bank!
If you've been wishing for a windfall of money, then we might have the perfect answer to your prayers! You may not realize it, but you could be the owner of one of these valuable coins. While they weren’t worth much when they were first minted, now you might receive a tidy sum!
And you don't even have to be a coin collector. Just empty out your pockets or old piggy banks and check if you have any of these precious coins ... Don’t be worried about not having old coins because this first one is from 2007.
2007 “Godless” Coin
The year 2007 was known for a couple of interesting facts. Nancy Pelosi was sworn in as the first female speaker of the house, and Beyonce was on top of the billboard with her single “Irreplaceable.” Apparently, one mint got too caught up and forgot to put an essential phrase on their coins.
All US coins have the phrase “In God We Trust” printed on their coins. A small batch of several coins were printed without this key American phrase. If you find one in your pocket, you could be paid between hundreds and thousands of dollars, depending on the collector. Did you know that even pennies can be rare? Take a look at these early examples of a lucky penny!
A Specific Mint
For one extreme payout, you’ll need to check three facts with your coins: the mint location, the year, and Lincoln’s face. For an estimated $4,268, you’ll need to find a penny from 1914 and minted from Denver. The most critical detail, however, is all about the chin.
Coin collectors look specifically for how the coin has been kept and their standards. If you have a coin with wear and tear, Lincoln’s profile will not be as defined, and his chin may seem less prominent. Collectors also examine details of his hair and visible ear. Take one more look at how a lucky penny can turn your whole day around with this example from 1943.
1943 Lincoln Head Copper Penny
This one might feel a little confusing. President Lincoln is on every penny already, so what makes this particular penny unique? For a limited time in 1943, the US Mint made penny’s using copper instead of steel and then coating the coat with zinc. They forgot the value of pure copper, and people everywhere were trying to get their hands on the coin.
This coin has a lot of fake impressions circulating, which are actually valued at less than one cent. If you can get a genuine copper penny, coin collectors are willing to pay $10,000 to take it off your hands. Don’t forget, see a penny, pick it up and potentially earn thousands of dollars. The following coin defect will equal a surplus in your bank account.
1999 Philadelphia Mint Connecticut Broad Quarter
In 1999 the Philadelphia mint accidentally didn’t line up their coins correctly and ended up losing a part of the shape. The increase in value for these quarters is minimal compared to other coins on this list, but it could still pay for your lunch.
Collectors will pay around $25 for this coin, as it’s more for fun to add to a collection than value. This next dime is smaller than a penny but will earn you thousands for a payout. Do you have this rare coin floating in your collection?
1829 10C Curl Base 2 Dime
We all know beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but this specific woman’s face left a mark in our wallets! This dime has a unique curl that will only be prominent to the most focused of collectors. In 1829, the Philadelphia mint chose to go against the grain and curl the “2” in the year.
This small detail may seem insignificant, but it involved an entirely different mold for the coin and was looked at like a radical change from the flat “2” or the standard. If you have this coin, you can expect between $7-10,000, depending on the condition. This next coin holds its value due to a material mistake.
1965 Washington Quarter
In 1964, the United States government decided to stop making silver coins. It was becoming too expensive and they knew they could save money making the coins with a variety of metals. However, one mint slipped up into old habits and continued using silver for one last batch.
The easiest way to figure out if you have one of these rare silver quarters is through the coin's weight. Metal coins today are lighter than their silver or gold counterparts. A silver quarter will weigh 6.25 grams. To get the highest value for these coins, you could go to an auction setting and watch the bidding war commence. If you are considering starting a coin collection, you’ll have to know one important thing first.
The Fascination Of Double Down
One of the biggest things in coin collecting is patience. Finding these coins is not easy and will require constant judgment on scale and worth. You will spend more time going through non-exclusive coins than rare ones. A perfect example is the quest to find a double die penny.
An exclusive error that can offer a payout of thousands of dollars to surprising rare coin dealers. Spotting a double die error is tricky and regards looking at the thickness of the letters and numbers. If you are considering getting into coin collection, the next one on our list makes it a million-dollar investment.
1894 S Barber Dime
This dime could actually turn you into a millionaire. One of the reasons this tiny coin would be a significant investment is that there are only nine in circulation. This coin is extremely rare to find or to have a collector part with.
In 2016, a private coin collector managed to track one down and paid the oblivious owner 2 million to take it off their hands! If you’re a fan of kites, then you’ll recognize this famous inventor, but if you have this unique coin, you’ll feel a jolt of happiness!
Ben Franklin Half Dollar
In the 1940s, minting presses released half-dollar coins with either the image of Ben Franklin or an eagle. The coins were in commission until 1963, when JFK was assassinated, and his portrait replaced Franklin’s on the coin.
It’s a rare piece of history but will only earn you a few hundred dollars with current market assessments. While this won’t change your lifestyle, finding the next coin on our list certainly could! Be prepared to earn tens of thousands of dollars for a tiny, squished mistake.
These Letters Got Cozy in 1992
Get your magnifying glass out because it's easy to miss this signature coin detail. In 1992, a small batch of pennies had letters that were too close together on the coin. It’s especially noticeable in the “A” and “M” in “AMERICA.” Any collector begins to salivate at locating a simple mistake, but this price tag is worth it!
In 2012 a collector dropped $20,000 on one penny with this small font mistake. Have you started checking your couch cushions yet? You’ll be extra fortunate to still find these coins as the batch only released 15 before the minting press realized its mistake.
The Remix Edition: A Nickel & Quarter From 1953
What sets a nickel and quarter apart besides their worth is their details. In 1953 the mint didn’t clean their equipment enough and accidentally created a subtle error that would change the value of one set of coins. If you look closely, you can see the markings of a nickel on this quarter!
The nickel has President Jefferson and his house referred to as Monticello, which he designed in Virginia. Besides infringing on Jefferson's face, it also slightly modified the year at the bottom of this coin. When this cold was presented at an auction, it went for $2,700, and it is unknown how many more are in circulation. Our next coin is sweeter than sugar! Just wait till you find out why!
1882 Hawaii Plantation Token
When this coin was first minted, it was only for use on the Hawaiian sugar plantations. The mint was trying to establish a firm source of currency on the island and began by enforcing the use of this coin. At the time of its original use, this token had no monetary value.
Today, if this rare token is found in good condition, the owner will receive up to $11,000 for a bit of history. This coin crossed over from coin collectors to historians as it represents an exciting time in the history of Hawaii. Our next coin has more than one reason to make collectors smile. Can you spot its unique traits?
1913 Liberty Head Nickel
Nickles tend to fill up spare coin jars quickly, but if you have any vintage-looking ones, take a closer look. The rare coin is in a trifecta with nickels that have a Liberty Head, a Buffalo, or an American shield. These coins were all minted a few years apart and now sell to private collectors for a few thousand dollars.
This next coin is from a time in history that many have forgotten existed. Without this proof from the US Mint, it might not have made it into any history textbooks or discussion. Did you know the US was making coins for their international occupation? Find out what an American Peso looked like in the early 1900s.
1901-1935 US Philippines Occupation Peso
Prior to 1898, the Philippines were ruled by Spain. The country assumed when their Spanish colonizers left, they would become an independent country. Unfortunately, they didn’t realize the United States had paid Spain $20 million for ownership of the cluster of islands. The United States continued to occupy the Philippines until 1946.
During these years, there were horrific military attacks and valiant militias formed by Filipino citizens. The country created its first government and declaration of rights but was not released from occupation until 1946. If you find one of these pesos, you can expect collectors to pay up to $40,000 for this rare bit of history. This next coin is rare and unique for existing before centralized currency.
The Gold 1851 Mormon Coins
President Abraham Lincoln signed a congressional ruling in 1863 that prohibited banks from creating their own currency. In the age of debit cards and bitcoin, it seems even further in the past for banks to create their own paper currency. This was becoming a problem across the country but specifically in Utah, with their Latter-Day Saints population creating their own gold coins.
If you find one of these coins today, you are looking at close to $50,000 from excited coin collectors. Most of the coins were made from pure gold due to the influx of materials in the gold rush era. After the country adopted a country-wide accepted currency, most of the coins were melted down. Finding one of these rare coins would be exciting, but there were only 8 of this next coin minted ever.
The 1804 Draped Bust Silver Dollar - Class I
Did you know that coins come in different classes? Class levels are used to distinguish between original mints and each time a coin was pressed afterward. The 1804 silver dollar is one of the rarest coins on our list. Only 8 were originally minted and one sold for 4 million at an auction.
This coin is also one of the most popular counterfeit designs. It was originally minted in 1804 but brought back in 1834 for presentation sets. This coin would be the equivalent of finding a needle in a haystack. What makes this next coin unique is its specific position. Would you notice this vertical adjustment?
1874 CC Seated Liberty Dime
This dime has a couple of interesting characteristics that make it stand out to collectors. First, it was minted at a small press in Carson City, Nevada. Due to the silver boom, this mint was only open for a short amount of time. This coin does not have a traditional letter stamp as the mint was not open long enough to warrant the consideration.
The next big difference with this coin is the arrangement of the statue of liberty. We rarely see it in a relaxed position, and this coin chose to commemorate the country’s ideals sitting down. This dime has a massive monetary value ranging from $5,000 to $70,000. Take a look at how our next penny can earn you thousands.
1955 Double Die Penny
This tiny coin is from an expensive mistake. Each penny in the set was cast with double lettering, making the coin illegible and unacceptable by merchants. However, what was worth one cent in 1955 is now running a price tag of $1,800.
Have you ever heard of a coin called a double eagle? This means it is a gold coin with an estimated value of $20. The next coin on our list is a unique double eagle that will earn you way more than that today!
1907 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle
If you find one of these coins, it could be worth anywhere from $1800 to $10,000. There have been other rare double eagles minted and auctioned but what makes this coin stand out is the decision to remove “In God We Trust.”
At the time, the US Chief Mint Engraver, Charles Barbour, felt the phrase made the coin too crowded. It was not a popular decision, and only a few of these coins continued through the minting process. In 1997, one small error made a famous present with a double deficit. Can you spot this coin’s rare trait?
1997 Double Ear-Lobe Lincoln
This tiny extra detail doubled Lincoln’s potential senses. He was already a president known for his starting height, but did anyone know about his extra lobe? Completely fictional, the mint made a tiny error and printed a small bath in 1997 with a little extra dangle to our 16th president.
If you find one of these coins, you can expect to trade it for $250. In a purely collectible and nostalgic moment, the United States mint agreed to make silver dollars. Each silver dollar would be specifically for collectible value and date back as early as 1804. Each one will hold 77 troy ounces of silver, but finding this specific 1901 coin will equal thousands in your bank account.
Morgan Silver Dollar - Early 1900’s
Silver Dollars are exciting for any coin collector, but if you find one from the early 1900s, specifically 1901, and it was minted in Philadelphia, you are in for a nice paycheck. In 1901 the mint released 813 Morgan Silver Dollars, more than any other printing. With the availability of this coin, everyone wanted to get their hands on one.
The opposite happened, and people began to hoard or hide their coins. Today if the coin is found and turned over to a collector, it is estimated to receive close to $300,000. If your favorite food is cheese, the next coin on our list was specially designed for you.
2004 Wisconsin State Quarter
This American state is referred to as “America's Dairyland” and has a solid reputation for cheese and craft beer. In 2004, the state decided to honor its farmers with a special coin and made a quarter with a cow, cheese wheel, and a husk of corn. It was soon realized that on a few of these coins, there is extra husk or leaves on the corn.
This simple addition of foliage can increase your bank account by $1,400 if the coin has been kept in clean condition. Due to the delicate nature of lines, coin dealers will reject the sale if your coin has begun to collect sulfur or corrosion damage. Earlier, we talked about a seated Liberty, but can you imagine it practically walking off your coin?
The Walking of Liberty
Right after WWI, the mint released this patriotic and beautiful coin to celebrate the peaceful times ahead. There weren't many made, and it was purely sold for collectible items. It would have been a smart investment as today, this silver dollar would amass $200,000 at a coin auction.
Lady Liberty is one of the few women who have shared the face of a coin. One of the other famous faces we’ve seen is Susan B. Anthony. A leader in the women’s right to vote and civil rights, can you guess how much one of her dollars will equal today?
Susan B. Anthony Silver Dollar
This coin was only circulated through the minting process for a total of five years. Originally 1979-1981, and only more in 1999. Anthony is one of the leading faces of the suffragette movement and President Carter signed the bill for her face to be engraved on coins in 1978.
If you find one of these coins, the value ranges from $2 - $200. Dealers and collectors will examine several traits on the coin including dates, and mint location. Only 3 of the 4 US Mints produced this coin, and the most expensive version was printed in 1981. Another famous female coin was being given out with boxes of Cheerios! Find out why a cereal box toy is still renowned today.
Cheerios 2000 Sacagawea Dollar
General Mills surprised their valued patrons by putting a coin in their Cheerio cereal box. This wasn’t a new form of general currency, but instead a treat alongside a healthy breakfast. General Mills' original design wasn’t ready for the first boxes and the U.S Mint supplemented a similar coin until they released their own.
If you find one of the coins used before the General Mills design, you can earn over $2,000! Due to the coin originating from a mint and not being associated with the cereal brand after their design began to circulate, it turned into a unique enigma for collectors. Look to San Francisco for our next rare coin find.
1970 S Proof Washington Quarter
There are three crucial factors in this valuable coin. All coins have a letter to represent which mint they came from. There are currently four in operation, located in Philadelphia (P), Denver (D), San Francisco (S), and West Point (W). The first step is to check if your coin has an “s”. This will be on the “head” side of the coin.
Flip your quarter over and locate the year. You’ll be checking it for 1941, and also that it’s upside down. If you have all three things, congratulations! Your quarter is now worth an estimated $35,000. The Philadelphia mint is responsible if you find this next coin on our list.
1982 Roosevelt Dime
As mentioned before, each coin has a small letter letting everyone know where it was minted. The Philadelphia mint in 1982 forgot to put a signature P on their dimes. It was a tiny error that they noticed quickly, so there are only a few in circulation.
Finding one dime with no “P” engraved can earn you $300, which to us is better than ten cents. If you are thinking about starting a collection, one of the easiest ways to do this is with state quarters. You can buy packages of all the coins or look specifically for this certain rare four.
Do You Collect State Quarters?
If you buy a collection of state quarters, the booklet will only be worth their face value, equal to $12.50. Certain quarters are worth more than their .25 cent value. The Delaware 1999 state quarter was a hot commodity due to errors that left it with interesting damage. For instance, many coins had a raised line above the horse’s head, connecting with coin letters.
When the error was first found, the coin value jumped up to $500, but then collectors realized how mass-produced the coin was, and market interest dropped to $20. The state of Minnesota also had errors on their state coin from 2005 when the mint produced a double die effect on the trees. Since Minnesota is known for nature and 10,000 lakes, this error is almost beautiful and patriotic. These other two-state quarters will impress any new collector on how to make the most out of buying rare coins.
State Quarters Worth Thousands
Even though these coins are popular and made in mass, small details or errors can separate one from many. Two famous examples of this are the 2018 North Dakota state quarter which sold for $2,799 at auction. A classic example of double die and just a slight thickening of letters or numbers is what increased this coin's value.
The most amazing auctioned off state quarter was the 1999 Pennsylvania edition. This was the first year of the national state quarter program, and even with no flaws, a collector was able to find the first quarter from the state and bought it at auction for $7,050 in January 2017. From past to present, finding rate coins are collectors' dream. Imagine finding one of the few aluminum-based pennies from an experiment gone wrong from the National Mint.
Aluminum 1974 Penny
In 1973 pennies were being made with a majority of copper. Due to the rising cost of materials, it was suggested to congress they begin transitioning to aluminum. The mint moved forward and created 1.5 million new pennies ready for circulation. Unfortunately, there were a lot of protests.
Among the concerns was the ability for the coins to work in vending machines but also radiodensity. Aluminum can not be seen via x-ray machines, which means if a child swallowed a coin, nothing would show up. The plan was canceled but finding one of these rare pennies can earn you $250,000. Try guessing how much this next coin originally worth $10 is valued today!
Alaskan 1935 Token
When folks first started moving to Alaska and settling down, the government gave them tokens worth $10. These tokens were used at general stores and allowed families to purchase items for their families before they received a paycheck. When the tokens were deemed invalid, they were meant to be melted down, and yet a few have been found in circulation.
You couldn’t use this coin at a store today but you could pass it down through your family. It might be a good time to ask your grandparents about any fun or old interesting coins they have kept! Collectors will pay $1700 to get this coin added to their collection. This error made a humorous addition to a Kansas quarter, but not everyone found the joke appropriate.
2005 “In God We Rust” Kansas Quarter
Dropping one letter can change an entire word's meaning and also anger many citizens. In the case of the Kansas quarter, there was a grease build-up in the coin press, and a few hundred coins were released with no “T” in the patriotic slogan. This coin won't make you a millionaire, but collectors will offer a few hundred dollars.
2005 was a busy year for mint factories, and they ended up making two mistakes in one year. Besides a grease build-up, this machine in the Denver mint added a sneaky detail that enraged the local community. Can you spot this coin and potentially be smiling to the bank?
2005 Wiscoscin Speared Buffalo
A simple story and a sleek payout if you have this coin in your possession. The national mint in Denver accidentally printed a few hundred nickels with what appears to be a spear through the buffalo. If you find this coin, you’ll be guaranteed a couple of thousand dollars from any collector.
The old expression “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure” has never been more true with these coins. If you have a jar stashing away an emergency fund, it might hold more than you expect! Check your pennies and we hope you find one of these rare coins for your collection!