What year penny is illegal to own?
Asked by: Miss Odessa Quitzon | Last update: September 17, 2025Score: 4.5/5 (39 votes)
Why is a 1982 penny worth so much?
In 1982, changes were made to the design and composition of the Lincoln Cent. The small date Lincoln Memorial cent is special because few of these were minted in copper.
What 1947 penny is worth $1.7 million?
The 1-cent coin that can be worth up to $1.7 million
The value of a penny depends on its quality and rarity. The Don Lutes Jr. coin- a bronze Lincoln cent- was sold for such a huge amount because currently, only a handful of these exist.
Why is a 1983 penny worth $10,000?
The U.S. made about 7.7 billion pennies in 1983, but only about 5,000 of them are known to have been made with this doubling error, James McCartney, director of numismatics at Stack's Bowers Galleries, tells CNBC Make It. The rarity of these misprinted pennies are what make them more valuable than ordinary pennies.
Which penny is worth $35000?
1969 S-Doubled Die Observe penny: This coin has the letter "S" right below the year 1969. The words "LIBERTY" and "IN GOD WE TRUST" appear blurry due to the double casting of the coin. A penny of this type can sell from $35,000 to $75,000.
Why This Coin is Illegal to Own
Why is a 1981 D penny rare?
The 1981-D Memorial Lincoln Cent was produced in the billions making it a very common coin. Only in MS67 or higher are they scarce. Anything grading MS68 or higher is rare and should be sent in to get graded as it would be one of the nicest examples that exist.
What is the holy grail of pennies?
The 1952 six pence, dubbed the "holy grail" of rare coin collecting by TikTok user @CoinCollectingWizard, has reportedly millions in circulation and is a must-watch for collectors.
What penny is worth $200,000?
The 1943 bronzed Lincoln penny is described as “the most famous error coin in American numismatics,” CNBC Make It pointed out and the odds of finding one are not in your favor. One that's been circulated could sell for $150,000 to $200,000, but prices can fluctuate significantly.
Which 1982 D penny is rare?
A couple of ways to determine if you truly have one of the rare (copper)1982 D small date pennies is by the weight and date alignment. Rare small date should weigh approximately 3.11 grams.
What if my 1982 penny weighs 2.5 grams?
With a weight of 2.5 grams and no mint mark, this small cent has a circulated condition. The copper composition makes it durable and long-lasting.
Is it illegal to own a 1974 aluminum penny?
The coins, which are considered government property, have been subject to seizure by the Secret Service, although the legality of the cent is questioned by numismatists. One aluminum cent was donated to the Smithsonian Institution for the National Numismatic Collection.
What makes a 1973 D penny rare?
The 1973-D Lincoln Cent is really common in circulated grades all the way up to MS64 condition. In MS65, examples are difficut to find but can still be found in rolls, bags or in mint sets. Examples in MS66 are scarce as most have nicks, scratches or carbon spots.
How much is a 1983 No mint mark penny worth?
How much is it worth? The U.S. minted about 7.7 billion pennies in 1983 but only about 5,000 of them have the doubling error. The mistakes and the rarity is what drives the price up, with some of the coins, known among collectors as the 1983 Penny With No Mint Mark, selling for as much as $7,000.
Why are 1999 pennies worth $4,500?
It's from 1999 and could be worth $4,500 thanks to a little-known error on it. What you want to look for is a 1999 penny with no mint mark, which means no letter under the year on the heads side.
What penny is worth $1,000,000 today?
10 Most Valuable Pennies
1943-D Lincoln Bronze Wheat Penny — $2.3 million. 1944-S Steel Wheat Penny — $1.1 million. 1793 Strawberry Leaf Cent — $862,000.
Are U.S. pennies being discontinued?
The U.S. Mint has no plans to discontinue the penny, and such a move would require congressional approval. However, the “Penny Debate” continues in the United States, with pro- and anti-penny advocates both making some pretty solid points in their arguments.
What is a god penny?
God's Penny: A small amount of money paid as a sign of commitment when making a deal. It is also known as earnest money, denarius Dei, earnest-penny, or godpenny. The term originated among merchants and was influenced by religious beliefs.
What coin did Jesus use?
However, there are four coins directly linked with Jesus in the New Testament: Phoenician shekel and half-shekel, Jewish Hasmonean lepton, and Roman denarius. Silver shekel, Melqart / Eagle, 80-79 BCE. Tyre, Phoenicia. 1990.1.
What is the rarest penny on Earth?
1943-D Lincoln Bronze Wheat Penny — $2.3 million
Designed by Victor D. Brenner, this is one of the highest-value pennies in circulation today. During World War II, pennies were made of steel to save copper for the war effort. However, a few were mistakenly made of bronze, and these are extremely rare and valuable.
What 1983 penny is worth $15000?
Do You Have A 1983-D Penny? If So, Then You Might Have The Rare 1983 Copper Penny Worth $15,000! There's a rare 1983 copper penny (a 1983-D penny) worth $15,000 -- you could find one in your pocket change! Here's what to look for + Other rare copper pennies.
Why is a 1982 D penny worth so much?
One reason these coins are so valuable has to do with what they are made of. As GOBankingRates previously reported, any penny minted before 1982 contains 95% copper. Copper pennies are a relatively common find in a penny roll, which lowers their value.
What does "no mint mark" mean?
No mint marks appeared on circulating coins from 1965 to 1967. The Coinage Act of 1965 eliminated mint marks to discourage collecting while the Mint worked to meet the country's coinage needs.