Most of us don’t pay much attention to the coins that end up at the bottom of a purse, inside a junk drawer, or tossed into a change jar. A penny is a penny, until you realize that a tiny difference in the date, lettering, or design can make one worth considerably more than its face value.
Some valuable coins don’t look particularly old or unusual at first glance, and several were created because of minting errors or subtle design variations that are easy to miss.
Before cashing in that old jar of pennies, these are six coins worth giving a second look.
1983 Doubled Die Reverse Lincoln Penny
Most of the pennies on this list have clues on the front, but with the 1983 doubled-die variety, you’ll want to inspect the reverse. Doubling can appear in parts of the lettering and design, making it another valuable error that can easily be overlooked when sorting through ordinary-looking pennies.
1969-S Lincoln Penny With Doubled Die Obverse
At first glance, a 1969-S penny can look like any other old Lincoln cent, but the valuable doubled-die version shows noticeable doubling in parts of the lettering and date. This variety is exceptionally scarce, with values reaching well into five figures depending on condition.
1970-S Doubled Die Obverse Lincoln Penny
Don’t confuse this one with the regular 1970-S Small Date penny; the valuable doubled-die variety is a different coin and can be worth thousands in better condition.
1972 Lincoln Penny Doubled Die Obverse
The 1972 doubled-die penny is another coin that could easily disappear into a handful of ordinary change if you aren’t paying attention. Look closely at the front of the coin, particularly the date and inscriptions, where genuine examples show distinct doubling that made this variety a favorite among collectors.
1999 Wide AM Lincoln Penny
Flip over a 1999 penny and look closely at the word “AMERICA.” On the much harder-to-find Wide AM variety, there is a noticeable space between the A and M, making this one of those coins where two tiny letters can be the difference between an ordinary penny and a collectible.
1992 Close AM Lincoln Penny
Here’s another penny where you’ll want to turn the coin over rather than focusing on the date. Certain 1992 Lincoln cents have the A and M in “AMERICA” unusually close together, and this scarce reverse variety can be far more valuable than an ordinary 1992 penny.
