What is a straw penny?

What is a straw penny?

First, a brief history of the wheat penny: This one-cent coin, produced between 1909 to 1958, is also known as the Lincoln Wheat Ear Cent, Wheat Back, Straw Penny, Wheat Head and Wheatie. A New York sculptor, Victor David Brenner designed both sides of the coin.

How much is a straw penny worth?

All Wheat Pennies are worth more than their face value of . 01 cent. A good rule of thumb is that they are worth at least 3 or 4 cents even in poor condition, but those in good condition (not including special years) are worth at least double digit dollars ($10 or more) when purchased or sold in MS-63 condition.

Why is the 1944 penny rare?

The 1944 Lincoln penny is particularly desirable in the eyes of collectors not only because of its design, but also due to its scarcity. Being that there are no more 1944 Lincolns being produced, the scarcity of these coins is constantly on the rise, thus making the coins more valuable.

What is the rarest date on a penny?

1877

Why is a 1982 D penny rare?

Newly found 1982-D Small date copper cent. The Mint switched over from striking copper-alloy to copper-plated zinc planchets sometime in mid-1982 as a cost saving measure – the copper-alloy planchets were too expensive to strike and the Mint was losing money. But it didn’t end there.

How many 1943 copper pennies have been found?

Nearly all circulating pennies at that time were struck in zinc–coated steel because copper and nickel were needed for the Allied war effort. Approximately 40 1943 copper–alloy cents are known to remain in existence.

Is a 1942 penny rare?

Having said that, collectors are really only interested in older versions of the coin, like the 1942 Lincoln. These pennies are collectible not only because of their age and historical significance, but because they are rare and growing rarer by the day.

Why is a 1943 penny so valuable?

One possible reason for this is because the copper plates were accidentally left in a few machines. While the 1943 steel pennies are worth a few bucks, the rare copper version is worth more. One report suggested that, depending on the condition of it, the 1943 copper penny can be worth anywhere from $60,000 to $85,000.

How do I know if my 1943 penny is rare?

The easiest way to determine whether or not your 1943 Cent has collectible value—to see if it is possibly bronze rather than steel—is simply to test it with a magnet. If the coin is magnetic, then it is, unfortunately, the common steel version and is not valuable in most cases.

What makes a 1943 steel penny rare?

The Rare 1943 Penny The reason is that the 1943 copper penny is an error coin. The United States Mint accidentally used the wrong kind of planchet metal when striking the coin.

How much is a penny from 1943 worth?

Value of a 1943 Steel Penny They are worth about 10 to 13 cents each in circulated condition, and as much as 50 cents or more if uncirculated.

Is a 1953 penny rare?

More than 1.1 billion 1953 Lincoln cents were made for circulation. Another 128,800 proof 1953 pennies with special, reflective surfaces and virtually perfect strikes were made specifically for coin collectors. So, generally speaking, 1953 pennies are not rare.

What is the most expensive penny ever?

Lincoln penny

Are all 1943 copper pennies accounted for?

Copper pennies dated 1943 are not supposed to exist. They are supposed to be made out of zinc-plated steel. However, some of these pennies do exist and it’s a matter of sheer luck if you find one in pocket change.

Will copper pennies ever be worth anything?

Today, the amount of copper in an old penny is worth a little more than 2 cents. However, zinc pennies made since 1982 are presently worth only face value.

How do I know if my 1983 penny is copper?

If your Lincoln Memorial penny has a date before 1982, it is made of 95% copper. If the date is 1983 or later, it is made of 97.5% zinc and plated with a thin copper coating. For pennies dated 1982, when both copper and zinc cents were made, and best way to determine their composition is to weigh them.

What year of penny is worth the most?

1943

What are the top 10 rarest coins?

Top 10 Rare U.S. Coins

• 1933 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle.
• 1804 Draped Bust Dollar.
• 1861 Confederate States Half-Dollar.
• 1974 Aluminum Penny.
• 1913 Liberty Head Nickel.
• 1776 Silver Continental Dollar.
• 1943 Copper Penny.

What errors to look for on pennies?

Common places to notice such an error include the chin, eyes, and ears. Look for any cracks, cuds (or blobs covering an image, word, date, etc.), or missing elements on the images. Turn the coin from top to bottom (no, side-to-side will not work), if your coin was right side up before, it should be right side up now.

What 1982 penny is worth the most?

The most valuable 1982 penny, which is the zinc small date reverse doubled die coin, was found in 2007. According to Charles Daughtrey, a Lincoln penny expert, he was able to sell a brown AU (Almost or About Uncirculated) for thousands of dollars.

What is the rarest 1982 penny?

The most valuable 1982 penny is a transitional error caused by the move from 95% copper to 99.2% zinc composition. It’s the 1982-D “small date” Lincoln Memorial cent made from copper.

What is a 1974 d penny worth?

CoinTrackers.com has estimated the 1974 D Lincoln Penny value at an average of 1 cent, one in certified mint state (MS+) could be worth $9. (see details)…

Are pre 1982 pennies worth saving?

1. You want to focus on hoarding pre-1982 U.S. pennies, which contain 95% copper content, making the coin at least twice as valuable as its 1 cent face value. (Post-1982 pennies are not worth collecting, as they contain only 2.5% copper content — the rest is zinc.)

What is a 1982 small date copper penny worth?

USA Coin Book Estimated Value of 1982 Lincoln Memorial Penny (Copper – Small Date Variety) is Worth $0.55 or more in Uncirculated (MS+) Mint Condition.

How many copper pennies make an ounce?

Answer has 5 votes. According to the U.S. Mint, one penny weighs 2.5 grams, which means 100 pennies weigh 250 grams. That equals 8.81 ounces, so there are 11.3 pennies per ounce.

Where can I sell my copper pennies?

1. Sell them on Craigslist or Ebay. Many people are hoarding these old pennies in bulk.

Should I keep old pennies?

You should keep all pre-1982 pennies. If you can distinguish between 1982 brass and zinc pennies, keep the brass ones. All wheat pennies are worth keeping. Keep all pennies (even recent ones) that appear to have something “off” about them — they may be error or die variety coins.

What was the last year pennies were made of pure copper?

The alloy remained 95 percent copper and 5 percent zinc until 1982, when the composition was changed to 97.5 percent zinc and 2.5 percent copper (copper-plated zinc). Cents of both compositions appeared in that year. The penny’s original design was suggested by Ben Franklin.

Can you melt down pennies and sell the copper?

Effective today, the U.S. Mint has implemented an interim rule that makes it illegal to melt nickels and pennies, or to export them in mass quantities. With the soaring price of copper, a melted-down penny or nickel is now worth more than it would be in its regular state at face value.