1968 penny worth anything?

Discussion in 'What's it Worth' started by Lauramcjk, Feb 18, 2020.

  1. Lauramcjk

    Lauramcjk New Member

    Okay so I inherited a penny collection and now am really getting collecting, only my teacher is no longer worth us :( I'm super new at this and try to do my homework, but there's so much price variation everywhere I look. This site has helped immensely- sorry to ramble is this coin worth anything? The lettering seems really off, again so sorry if I seem uneducated. I'm trying to learn so please be kind...
     

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  3. Clawcoins

    Clawcoins Damaging Coins Daily

    Welcome to CT and coin collecting. Coin collecting can be very rewarding, it can also be very hair-pulling.

    one must first understand that coins, found in circulation, well .. have been circulating. And when coins are in circulation they are abused beyond anything you can think of. After all, think back to all the places you have found coins or stored them,thrown them, dropped them, etc.

    Of course a 1968 cent could have been circulating for 52 years. In and out of pockets, cashier trays, coin jars, banks, car cup holders, etc.

    Since it is made of metal, metal gets worn, pushed around, damaged etc etc. One must never forget that. What you are seeing is simply circulation wear and tear.

    Checking this site
    https://www.usacoinbook.com/coins/small-cents/lincoln-memorial-cent/
    only really really nice 1968 cents are worth anything.

    Really nice meaning in MS grade. MS grade is a grade you get when you PAY significant money to get a coin graded. In this case someone may have spent $40 to end up with a 26 cent penny graded at MS60.

    Yes you read that correct.
    you have a penny worth 1 cent.
    You spend say about $40 of your money to get it graded
    to end up with a cent now worth 26 cents.

    so 26x it's face value .... of a $39.74 overall loss.
    So coin collecting is not really a money making endeavor most of the time. One must realize that and learn from it. Of course your example is no where near a "ms60" grade either.

    I recommend you purchase yourself a "Redbook" of United States coins. You'll learn a lot in perusing the pages, though the valuations are suspect it contains a lot of information that is worthwhile.
    https://www.amazon.com/2019-Official-United-States-Coins/dp/0794845711
     
  4. Neal

    Neal Well-Known Member

    Welcome to CT!
    Clawcoins has given you great information! The lettering is "off" only because of wear from circulation. The letters were originally fairly close to the edge, and so this is a common appearance on coins of that age and condition.
     
  5. Collecting Nut

    Collecting Nut Borderline Hoarder

    Welcome to CT. Take your time and learn what you can as it is fun.
     
  6. Tonkawa Bill

    Tonkawa Bill Member

    . . . W E L C O M E
     
  7. thomas mozzillo

    thomas mozzillo Well-Known Member

    Welcome to Coin Talk. When you post photos of coins it's best to post clear photos of both sides of the entire coin with closeups of the area in question. Crop all your photos and when you post them click full size and not thumbnail. You should get enjoyment from the hobby. As @Clawcoins said. Buy a copy of the Red Book. It's loaded with so much useful information. :)
     
  8. Jim Dale

    Jim Dale Well-Known Member

    I started collecting coins when I was 60. My father passed and left his collection to my brother and me. However, my mother did not let us have it until she passed. When we finally got the coins, I divided them equitably between the two of us. I made a division list of A and B. Then I let my brother decide which list he wanted. Before I did anything, I protected all the coins with cardboard flips. Then I bought a Red Book. I bought one that was used for a couple of bucks. CT said there wouldn't be much difference in the great information it gives. If you are sincerely interested in coins, buy the book then read it cover to cover, then read it again from cover to cover. If there is something you don't understand, go to CT. Sometimes these folks are a little curt, but the information you can get from them cannot be learned in books. Good luck.
     
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