There is a big mistake on the 1955 one-cent coin, but it is still one of the most famous coins in the world of numismatics, and collectors really want it.
Due to how uncommon and noticeable the minting mistake is, its value has gone through the roof over the years. If you have a bunch of old pennies lying around, you might want to look through them to see if any are from 1955 and have this valuable mistake on them. These coins are now worth thousands of dollars.
The fact that the mistake can be found easily without any special tools makes this coin even more interesting. This means that anyone can look through their spare change at home and, if they are lucky, find a coin worth more than $30,000. Put your coins in the jar and get ready for a fun hunt. You might find a treasure.
The History Behind the 1955 One-Cent Mint Error
In 1955, a batch of one-cent coins were made that had a flaw in the way they were struck. These coins became very collectible over the years. It happened by accident: after these coins were made, they were mixed with millions of regular pennies from the same year.
At first, no one noticed the mistake. Even though US Mint workers found some of the flawed coins before they were used, it was decided that melting down the whole batch to get back the 20–25,000 coins that were flawed would be too expensive.
Because of this, a lot of these pennies that were minted wrong got into circulation. It is interesting that some of these coins were found in packs of cigarettes, which were common in vending machines at the time.
Since these machines did not give change and cigarettes cost 23 cents, the companies that made them would put two pennies in each pack as payment. A lot of these error coins were found by the public through vending machines.
The Double Die Error: What to Look For
A lot of coin collectors know that the 1955 one-cent coin has a “double die” error, which is one of the most famous in U.S. coin history. The double die error can be seen on the front, or obverse, of the coin. What makes it unique is that the copy is so clear that you do not need a magnifying glass.
This mistake is most clear in the date, as well as in the words “LIBERTY” and “IN GOD WE TRUST.” The copied pictures do not look blurry or flat; instead, they stand out. This mistake only shows up on the front of the coin; the back is correctly struck.
How to Identify a Valuable 1955 One-Cent Error Coin
If you think you might have a 1955 penny that is worth something, check to see if it has a mint mark. Since the valuable mistake coins were made in Philadelphia, they will not have a “D” for Denver or a “S” for San Francisco on them. From 1955 to 1956, the Philadelphia Mint made more than 33 million one-cent coins. It is important to figure out which ones have the double die error.
The next step is to look for the double die error on the front of the coin after you are sure it was made in Philadelphia. Your coin may be worth a lot if the mistake is there.
A company called Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) says that the value of these coins depends on how well they are kept. The following list shows how much you might get for a 1955 penny with this error, based on its grade:
– A coin graded MS-61 could be worth as much as $2,950.
– If the coin is graded MS-62, its value could rise to around $3,350.
– Coins graded MS-63 might fetch up to $4,000.
– For an MS-64 graded coin, the value could reach $7,000.
– If the coin is in MS-65 condition, it could be worth as much as $9,000.
– A coin in pristine MS-66 condition might sell for a staggering $30,500.
The coin’s condition is a big part of how much it is worth, but supply and demand in the coin market at any given time also have an impact. Collectors are often willing to pay a lot of money for a coin with this flaw, even if it is not in mint condition.
If you think you have a valuable coin but are not sure how much it is worth, you should talk to a coin expert or collector. Before you decide to pay for a professional grading service, they can give you advice.