THERE are a ton of Lincoln cents that are quite valuable including memorial cents.
When it comes to rare coins, having a low mintage or a unique feature, such as an error, often makes them more valuable.
This is the same case with memorial Lincoln cents.
But make sure you keep in mind that the value of the coin can depend on grade and condition.
We explain what those are and why some of them are so valuable.
What is the memorial cent?
Not too long ago, the memorial cent was the most common penny that Americans were accustomed to seeing.
This was the case from 1959 to 2008 when the design of the coin featured Abraham Lincoln on the obverse and the memorial to honor the 150th anniversary of the former President’s birth on the reverse.
Now today, the design of the reverse of the Lincoln cent features a Union Shield.
There are quite a few Lincoln memorial cents that hold quite a bit of value.
One includes the 1969 Double Die Obverse coin, which has a counterfeit history behind it, according to Professional Coin Grading Services Jaime Hernandez.
The ones behind it were Roy Gray and Morton Goodman, who was sentenced to multiple years in prison for counterfeiting those Lincoln coins.
“As the Secret Service searched for fake 1969 Doubled Die Obverse cents, they found several authentic 1969-S Doubled Die Obverse cents,” Mr Hernandez wrote.
Also, the Secret Service assumed “that some of these 1969-S Doubled Die cents were fake and ordered them to be destroyed, making a rare coin even rarer.”
The 1969 coin features a doubling error of the date, the words “In God We Trust” and “Liberty.”
According to PCGS, less than 100 examples of those authentic coins were produced.
In January 2008, the coin sold for a whopping $126,500 at a public after getting “MS64” Red grade assigned.
Some other Lincoln memorial cents that are valuable include another double die penny from 1972 and one from 1992, featuring a close “AM.”
One of the Lincoln coins from 1992 featuring the close AM sold recently for more than $25,000.
How to find rare coins
An easy way to find rare coins is by checking places in your home or any places you might store change.
You would be surprised what you might be able to find, as you’ll not only want to look for pennies but nickels, dimes, quarters, half dollars as well.
Some other things you can try are using a metal detector in known areas for buried treasure and by stopping by your local bank branch and asking for a wrapper of pennies.
You can also try to get a good deal on one online through USA Coin Book or eBay.
But make sure you research the coin first and know what it’s worth before buying.
