What pennies should I look for?

Discussion in 'Coin Chat' started by Gloria92D, Jan 21, 2018.

  1. Gloria92D

    Gloria92D New Member

    I have come acrossed lists on google and a list posted on here. But not sure on which pennies I should really be looking for that are worth more then a few dollars. If you could post some ideas on what to look for that are worth more then a few dollars and around about price per error. Other words I’ve been putting aside pennies I’m unsure of that seem different. But will continue to post what I come acrossed to see if it might be anything. Thanks in advance :)
     
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  3. spirityoda

    spirityoda Coin Junky

    buy the "Red Book" it will have all that info in there. look at your local library they might have 1 there to check out.
     
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  4. Dave363

    Dave363 Well-Known Member

    Gloria92D if I was you I would open a new thread in coin chat, I believe you will find alot of thoughts and opinions there.

    Also you will find the information that you are looking for lots of luck.

    Dave
     
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  5. Dave363

    Dave363 Well-Known Member

    Sorry about that my mistake wasn't awake sorry.

    Dave
     
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  6. ldhair

    ldhair Clean Supporter

    As said, the Red Book is a great tool.
     
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  7. Gloria92D

    Gloria92D New Member

    I was trying to figure out how to move it, but couldn't figure it out. I see someone put it in the correct section. Thank You.
     
  8. midtncoin

    midtncoin Well-Known Member

    Gloria92D

    Here are my general "rules of thumb" for cents.

    For wheat cents (pre-1959)
    Anything prior to 1935 has value.
    From 1935 to 1958, it only has value if it is uncirulated. (Circulated late-date wheat cents generally bring around 3 cents each IN BULK -- meaning you may get $3 for a bag of a hundred but no one is going to bother to pay you 3 cents for a single coin).

    For memorial/shield cents (1959 to today)
    Circulated examples are worth 1 cent.
    Uncirculated examples have a small premium value to them depending on the date.

    For both types, there are a handful of well-known error coins. Coins like the 1955 doubled die and the 1972 doubled die bring big bucks. But the odds of finding one of these in circulation is very slim -- although it has been known to happen.

    Another good rule of thumb of mine -- if you need a strong magnifying glass to see the error, it's probably not going to bring much of a premium. The "big" ones are visible with the eye.

    Hope this helps. Of course there are exceptions to every rule but these are the generalities I use when collecting Lincoln cents. The best advice I can give you has already been given above -- pick up a copy of the Redbook at a local library or book store.
     
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  9. harley bissell

    harley bissell Well-Known Member

    put aside any cent with a possible over date. put aside every cent with a possible DDO or DDR. put aside every date with a know wide am error. You learn those dates by examining a copy of Red Book. When it comes to checking to see if you have those call up a photo of what you're looking for and compare it to what you have. Any exact matches should be placed into protective covers. Most errors or varieties are hard to sell in less than mint state. good luck.
     
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  10. Gloria92D

    Gloria92D New Member

    Thank you both so much for your answers it’s definitely helpful. I’ll be sure to order a copy of the red book of from amazon. As well as sort through my pennies quicker. I appreciate your respnses :) Thanks again.
     
  11. Ron W

    Ron W Member

     
  12. Ron W

    Ron W Member

    In general a Dealer will pay 3-5 cents ea.on pre 1935' beyond that they will pay face value unless great condition.. They may not take them at all.
     
  13. BooksB4Coins

    BooksB4Coins Newbieus Sempiterna

    If hoping to find more valuable errors or varieties, no list will be anywhere near as helpful or productive as a genuine understanding of the different types of variety and/or error possibilities. If anything, you would be wise to invest your efforts into learning first.
     
  14. DallasCoinsNThings

    DallasCoinsNThings Numismaniac

    I'll take a different approach to this answer... working in a coin store, and searching through THOUSANDS of Wheat Pennies Every Month... this is what I look for:

    (With Current Retail Value in G-4 from NGC)
    1909 VDB $8.50
    1909-S VDB $760.00
    1909-S $90.00
    1910-S $16.00
    1911-S $45.00
    1912-S $20.00
    1913-S $9.85
    1914-D $190.00
    1914-S $19.00
    1915-S $15.50
    1922-D $17.00
    1922 No D $700.00
    1924-D $30.00
    1926-S $8.00
    1931-D $4.25
    1931-S $95.00
    1955 DDO $1,150.00

    As for the Rest.... We sell them in Bulk for $0.04. Now, the NGC Retail Value is NOT really what you can get for them... that is really dependent upon who is buying. Generally, dealers use Gray Sheet Pricing, which I don't currently have access to.
     
    Last edited: Jan 23, 2018
  15. Gloria92D

    Gloria92D New Member

    Thank You! The lowest date I’ve come acrossed for wheat pennies so far is 1940, hopefully I’ll come across some with an earlier date. :)
     
  16. enamel7

    enamel7 Junior Member

    Everyone should have a Redbook, but the Cherrypicker's Guide with cents would be better. Redbook has very little info on varieties.
     
  17. BooksB4Coins

    BooksB4Coins Newbieus Sempiterna

    The cherrypickers books are nothing more than a sparse listings of select varieties deemed the winners of a value and/or popularity contest. One can not only quite easily find the same variety-specific information online for free, but in greater depth and detail as well.

    They're not bad books and do have a place, but simply nowhere remotely close the definitive variety references some here like to suggest.
     
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