I bought a liberty bell glass coin jar full of pennies for 50cents at the thrift store. Many of the pennies are 1976's with no mint marks with paper on the back, as if somsone was collecting them. Is there anything special about 1976 pennies with no mint marks? Hmm. Probably not, but just checking before I take them to coinstar. $3.50 in pennies for 50 cents, that's a "win" right there regardless...
What does a D underneath the date stand for? I'd assume Denver or Detroit (the only large american places with D that I know) but my knowledge on US coinage is non-existant unfortunately.
D is for Denver. Also, S for San Francisco (Currently for Proofs, though prior to 1975 it produced circulating coinage).
I have a 1976 penny with no mint mark. And it's steel. It sticks to a magnet. Anyone know the possible value? Its almost in perfect condition.
I have a 1976 penny. Its steel I'm guessing, because it's silverish colored. No mint mark. And almost perfect condition. And sticks to a magnet. Any value?
It says "FG" on the right side of the steps. He's Frank Gasparro. He engraved the bicentennial '76 coins.
My first thought is that the coin has been plated with something magnetic after it left the mint. It's also possible that the coin was struck on the wrong metal but I'm not up to speed on that.
I read up on it and apparently some were struck on the bicentennial planckets on accident. I'm not sure how to spell the last word. There was a big investigation in '74 over pennies like this. But the fbi found no criminal activity was involved so they closed the case in '76.
99.999999% chance you have a plated penny. Meaning it is PMD and is worth 1 cent. On the off chance you have some rare find, no one will believe you or pay a premium unless it is authenticated by a Professional Grading Service such as PCGS. So, if you honestly believe you have something special, pay to get it graded. In my opinion, its a plated penny. Worth one cent.