Your Lincoln cent can be worth $126,500 – the “double dice” detail that makes it valuable

AN ORDINARY penny could be worth a huge fortune if it had this barely visible flaw.

In 1969, the US Mint accidentally stamped double cents and attempted to confiscate and destroy all misprints, but that only made them more valuable.

3

3

3

Double die coins occur when currency is misprinted, resulting in the appearance of two images on one coin.

The mint printed an estimated 40 to 50 double-die pennies in 1969, of which only about 30 have been identified, according to Professional Coin Grading Services.

Some of the coins classified as 1969-S are notorious for escaping confiscation and destruction by the Mint after officials noticed the error.

A bidding war was launched to claim these rare coins, adding to the exciting story behind the pennies.

Years later, the currency continues to gain in value since it sold for a massive $126,000 in 2018.

According to Heritage Auctions, it’s unclear whether or not this penny escaped destruction in 1969, but the resemblance alone has pushed the value to six figures.

The auction house described the double die as “crisp” and raved about the beautiful condition of the coin.

“Although there are a handful of markings in the panels, the devices are attractively preserved and the overall effect is tantalizingly close to an even finer denomination,” the description reads.

The beautiful appearance earned the coin an MS-64 rating, stating that it has moderate deflection marks.

The coin was last sold for the outrageous amount at an auction in Baltimore in 2018.

It’s undeniable that the most famous double dice error is a 1955 piece.

In average condition, the 1955 Double Die Penny is worth $1,318 according to the USA Coin Book.

The value could exceed $17,000 if it is an MS 63 class.

A buyer recently paid more than $2,000 for a high quality 1955 circulating piece.

There is also the unminted 1922 Lincoln penny, which can be worth thousands depending on condition.

According to the USA Coin Book, it’s worth $946 in average condition and up to $30,724 when in “uncirculated (MS-63)” condition.

According to collectors guide Lincoln Cents, an estimated 25,000 unminted pennies were made, of which “maybe” 10,000 remain.

Coin experts determine the value of a coin based on various factors.

This includes Edition, Error, Demand, Age, Design, Certification and Condition.

More importantly, coins are graded on a rigorous scale – collectors pay big bucks for that.

There are five main components when it comes to a grading scale, including aspiration, surface preservation, luster, coloration, and eye irritation.

Coins are assigned a whole number between 1 and 70, with the highest number being near perfect.

To see if your spare change is worth something, you can check eBay by searching for the full name, selecting the listing “sold” and then toggling the search to “highest value”.