Believe it or not, an ordinary-looking penny recently sold for nearly $4,000 
— and the reason is hidden in one tiny detail most people never notice.
If you have pennies lying around, grab them now… because this quick check could be worth thousands.
Let’s break it down step by step 
@thecoinchannelNot bad for a penny lol #money #foryou #pennies
Step 1: Flip the Penny Over
The secret isn’t on the front of the coin…
It’s on the back (reverse side) where it says:
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Focus on the word AMERICA.
Step 2: Look Closely at the “AM”
Zoom in on the letters:
A M
There are two possibilities:
Common Penny – “Close AM”
- The A and M are touching or almost touching
- Worth: 1 cent
Rare Penny – “Wide AM”
- The A and M are clearly separated
- Worth: hundreds to thousands of dollars
Why This Error Is So Valuable
This spacing mistake came from using the wrong reverse die design.
It was never intended for regular circulation, but a small number escaped the mint.
Collectors call this the:
Wide AM Reverse Error
What Penny Should You Check?
This error is commonly found on:
- 1999 pennies
- Sometimes mislabeled as “$19.99 penny” online (meaning 1999)
Not every 1999 penny is valuable — only the ones with the Wide AM spacing.
Real Example Sale
One verified Wide AM penny recently sold for:
Almost $4,000
Condition matters:
- Higher grade = higher value
- Uncirculated examples bring the most money
Quick Home Checklist
Grab a magnifier or use your phone camera:
Flip the coin
Find AMERICA
Check spacing between A and M
If separated → get it authenticated
Final Thoughts
Most people spend these pennies every day…
But a tiny spacing difference could turn:
So before you ignore your spare change…
Check your AMs. 
