I just read a fun thread on wheat pennies, and responded there, but I should be starting a new thread here: I just found a 1947 wheat penny in “decent” condition. Haha. Meaning I have next to no idea about grading other than what I’ve read about in the last half an hour. I know it isn’t a mint 70! But it’s got nice lines and form on the design and lettering. Overall wear, though. This is my first day on CoinTalk. Like most newbies, everyone wants to know what their “special” coin is worth (please share your opinions on this one), but I’d also like to know if you all have favorite beginner references online that I could peruse so I don’t ask ALL the same questions... just most of them! Really, monetary worth is nice to hear and all, and my curiosity is piqued, but I just like this coin. Sometimes things just speak to you. You know? I’d love to see examples of coins that may not necessarily be worth big bucks, but just speak to you as a collector, and why. Cheers!
I'll go with XF for grade too. Cheek and jaw bone are worn some but distinctly separated. Here are a couple of web sites I use sometimes! http://www.lincolncentresource.com/index.html https://www.coinnews.net/tools/error-coin-price-guide-with-mint-error-photo-descriptions/
Hi and welcome to CT. You can also get some great info on the minting process and how dies are made, and also comprehensive pictorial guides to errors and varieties, at these sites http://varietyvista.com/ https://doubleddie.com/ http://www.error-ref.com/ http://cuds-on-coins.com/ I love coins that have their history all over them, wondering who and how many people have handled them
Since I have been a collector for over 60 years, I have lot of coins, tokens and medals that are favorites. This Roman coin, which is called a denarius, was issued 11 months after Julius Caesar was assassinated. It has Julius Caesar on one side and Mark Anthony, who was one of his supporters on the other. It was minted in 43 BC. Putting the age of a 1947 cent in perspective, the coin is 74 years old. When I was a young collector in 1964, a 74 year old coin would have been dated 1890. I would have been jumping up and down if I had found an 1890 or any other Indian Cent in circulation. Getting a coin dated 1890 was not that tough because you still go to the bank and trade a paper dollar for a silver dollar that was older than that. These old coins probably come of out hoards of cents that people take to the bank or super market counting machines. They might have been in one of those big bottles people use to hoard cents. A cent does not have any buying power these days. Hence they don't circulate that much. In 1890, it was a big deal when a kid got one to buy some "penny candy." The coins saw a lot more use in circulation, and fewer of them have survived today.