1945 no mint penny

Hello everyone! I’ve recently been interested in coin collecting and have been checking this forum often for help! I’m fairly new with terminology and such - so please forgive me if I come off unknowledgable or unaware (I love learning so any information or links to terminology for beginner collectors, I’d grately appreciate!)

Anyhow my son who is two, is obsessed with handing me “coins” when he finds them on the ground and persistently handed me two pennies this morning, one being this little 1945 wheat penny. I’ve done some googling and YouTubing (and searched here as well) but I cannot seem to find a consensus on if it is valuable (more so meaning worth getting evaluated and graded - again apologies if I’m using the incorrect terminology)

I was hoping someone here could give me some more information (for instance I’m curious if the coins that have “defects” from the machines are more valuable than those without the defects. Such as the doubling and things like that).

Attached are the pictures next to a 2017 penny just to show the color difference if that is important although I read that these 1945s are darker due to being made with shell casings? Perhaps someone could correct me if that’s wrong info. Thank you all again for taking the time to read this and all your expertise ❤️

 

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The US didn't start using P for Philadelphia until 1979, before 1979, Philadelphia mint coins had no mintmark, your penny is worth a few cents, cool find though, your coin in VF/EXF condition, over a billion 1945 P cents were produced, here's a link.
https://www.usacoinbook.com/coins/448/small-cents/lincoln-wheat-cent/1945-P/

 

Hi there, first things first, your 1945 wheat cent was minted in Philadelphia. US 1 cents minted in Philadelphia never had a mint mark until a recent change in 2017. The darker color is because it is made of copper instead of zinc like the other cent you have, and because it’s been circulated for a while. Your coin doesn’t display any errors that you mentioned, but errors are generally more valuable. I’m afraid I don’t have links handy because I’m using my phone, but if you stick around, you’ll certainly get those links.

@ldhair

 

Thank you so much for your reply! It is interesting the errors are more valuable. And now that ya mention it I do recall reading no mint means philly. I also found a nickel without its mint as well that intrigued me (1962 but upon closer inspection I found the little D next to montexello). Thank you again for all the info and I will totally be stickin around for those links! I’m 31 years old and e cited to find a new hobby and interest I didn’t know I had lol. So the more info the better as I craze knowledge. Thank you again!

 

We have lots of variety & error collectors around the forums .
Feel free to post away ............

 

First, the chances of stumbling upon a coin in circulation that's genuinely worthy of being graded (submitted to a third party) is slim to none, and is especially true for someone new to the hobby who is not yet able to identify an error or variety. This isn't a bad thing, but is just a reality we all must face. There are relatively few coins worthy and/or that will benefit from being "graded", but this in no way means they're not perfectly fine and collectible as is.

Your 1945 wheat cent isn't worth much, unfortunately (a few cents), but what a coin is worth to someone else shouldn't have any impact upon what it means or is worth to you. The true and greatest "value" in both the coin and what you're doing is in the fact it's with your son, and is something that no monetary price/value could ever be placed upon.

 

Welcome aboard - your son has a good eye for old Lincoln cents - he's well on his way to being a coin collector

 

Awww I think that’s amazing that you acknowledge the bond between him and I and a new hobby to do together. My husband was just telling me how he had one of the ‘42/‘43steel pennies I believe he said (again apologies on what a novice I sound like! But I’m eager and willing to learn all there is to be learned!) that his grandfather had given him when he was a small boy and a kid from school stole it from him. Some as you said what’s valuable to one person may not be to another but I hope one day to find one of those to replace for him as a surprise. Thank you for all the advice!

May I ask; ediquette. I don’t want to be one of those folks who come here just to ask “hey is this valuable?” Because; that’s just not cool. But I also want to be able to contribute and post but obviously I’m a newcomer and not someone who should be giving my “two cents” - TOTAL pun intended.
Basically; is it rude to only post asking if “is this an error or am I blind?” Because I actually do have terrible vision and sometimes I can’t tell what’s normal environmental wear, machine damage or mystery substance spilled on it and Made it weird.
For instance these quarters here. I’m trying to just compare all my pocket change to one another so I can try to spot subtle differences. I know I’m not going to be able to learn everything overnight, but when I set my little heart on something I get a bit obsessed. Or passionate lol. Let’s say passionate
Anyhow, I googled again and the liberty cut off is an error it seems but what would be the... what’s the word I’m looking for; the severity of the error that would constitute it being an error?
I hope the novel I just wrote made sense and again I thank you for your expertise and advice!

 

Thank you for this link!

 

Lol thank ya! He is a smart little one. He just turned two and is already counting to twenty!
With a 9 year old daughter though, I’m lucky i have any change around the house. The school store gets more of my change than I do

 

Happy to help. Here are a few website links I threw together for you:
Useful coin websites:


US Coins:

http://www.pcgscoinfacts.com/

https://www.pcgs.com/Photograde/

http://www.numismedia.com/fmv/fmv.shtml

http://www.coinflation.com/

Tokens:

http://tokencatalog.com/index.php

World Coins:

https://en.numista.com/index.php

https://www.ngccoin.com/price-guide/world/

http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/circ_sets/index.htm


Variety and Error coins:

http://www.error-ref.com/

http://www.errorvariety.com/index.html

http://lincolncentresource.com/index.html

http://varietyvista.com/CONECA Master Listings.htm

http://www.doubleddie.com/



@ldhair

 

Welcome to CT!!!

I see you already got help from some of the very knowledgeable members here. I did want to add just one thing though.

@Seattlite86 is correct on this. However it is worth mentioning that this is the ONLY year that you should see a "P" mint mark on a Lincoln Cent from Philly. They did this in 2017 to celebrate the Philadelphia Mint's 225th anniversary. In 2018 they went back to having no mint marks.

 

Some joker always wants a new variety. Found this two days ago CRH. This one goes in my Dansco lol

 

Thank you for all of these! As well it’s interesting you added tokens and world coins because I found a very beat up Canadian cent last night. I live in a very seasonal area in Florida that gets a ton of tourists so I’m hoping between that and my husband finding unique coins from his customers (the rich seasonal folk love to shop at his store) between the two of us we should be able to start a neat collection! Just gotta get some better glasses lol and a magnifying glass! Thank you again for all these links and your help.

 

Okay I did some digging last night and I found this guy. Now are these considered errors or is this from cosmetic damage from being in circulation? I can’t ever tell when it’s a crack from the machine or someone knicked it or whatever the case may be. Also the reverse side has those bubble lookin fellas and I’ve yet to see that (I’ve seen images of darker spotted bubbles but not like this guy.

Thank you again for all your help! I’m going to go through all your links and book mark them now. Some I think I’ve visitwd already lol (great minds think alike!)
Oh and ps: what is the consensual preference for pictures? Flash or no flash? Or both? I’m using my iPhone 7s and zooming in. Some of the pictures I used flash and some without just so it’s easier for someone to see if they prefers flash or no. I just wanna be sure I use proper etiquette and post properly. Also should I be putting this as a new post or is it alright to reply to you here? Again I’m so sorry if I’m doing anything wrong or taboo. Thank you again mister Seattle! Btw my name is Stina nice to meet you!

 

Those are plating blisters. In 1982 the composition of a cent changed from Copper to copper plated zinc. Here's some information on plating blisters.
http://www.error-ref.com/?s=linear+plating+blisters

 

I agree with @Pickin and Grinin

 

Canadian coins are fun to collect. Living in NW Montana (75 miles from Canadian border) we tend to get them in change all year round.

Canada stopped minting a 1 cent coin in 2012. It is quite easy and inexpensive to put together a circulated date set (1920-2012) of them. They are becoming more and more collectible and IMO look better than US cents. I have gathered quite a few Canadian cents myself and would be willing to help you get your collection off the ground if you are interested.

Here is a very useful site specializing in coins from Canada
http://coinsandcanada.com/coins-prices.php

I hope you and your husband find some really neat world coins. If you do, don't hesitate to share your finds. WE LOVE PHOTOS!!

Good luck on the hunt...Mont.

 

@MontCollector Off Topic but I like your new avatar

 

your son Finding a wheat cent. Is doing much better then most of us