The Brief
It’s possible that you have a penny worth up to $600,000.
Stack’s Bowers Galleries says 50-60 1969-S Lincoln Memorial Cents were minted at the San Francisco Mint with a doubled die obverse.
A doubled die happens when a coin die gets a misaligned secondary impression from a hub during manufacturing and results in the design appearing doubled.
SAN FRANCISCO – A penny minted at the San Francisco Mint in 1969 may be worth up to $600,000 due to what is referred to as a “doubled die obverse” mistake made during the minting process.
Stack’s Bowers Galleries says a doubled die happens when a coin die gets a misaligned secondary impression from a hub during manufacturing and results in the design appearing doubled.
Rare 1969 penny minted in San Francisco
What they’re saying
According to Stack’s Bowers Galleries, the 1969-S Lincoln Memorial Cent Doubled Die Obverse “is an extremely desirable variety, having an estimated population of 50 to 60 pieces based on combined certification service statistics.”
Online precious metals e-commerce company SD Bullion calls the coin “The most famous error coin from the Lincoln penny is the 1969-S Doubled Die Error, Lincoln Penny, with prices ranging from $31,500 to $605,000.”
What you can do
If you come across what you think is a rare and valuable coin, you should locate a reputable coin dealer to evaluate the coin. The American Numismatic Association, a nonprofit organization dedicated to coin collecting and the study of numismatics, has an online search directory to find a dealer near where you live.
US Mint ends production of the penny
The backstory
In November, the U.S. Mint ended production of the penny, abandoning the 1-cent coins that were part of American culture for more than 230 years but became nearly worthless.
When the penny was introduced in 1793, it could buy a biscuit, a candle or a piece of candy. Now most of them are cast aside to sit in jars or junk drawers, and each one costs nearly 4 cents to make.
Billions of pennies are still in circulation and will remain legal tender, but new ones will no longer be made.
The Source
This article includes information from Stack’s Bowers Galleries, SD Bullion, the American Numismatic Association, and previous FOX Local reporting. This story was reported from Orlando.