Sign In or Create Account

Knowledge Center

My 2002 Penny has a prominent space between the B and R in Liberty. Is it valuable?

A 2002 Lincoln Cent against a decorative background.

Error coins are in-demand rarities.

Mint error coins are sought after by numismatists and casual collectors alike. Their value comes from their rarity and the unique beauty they add to any numismatic collection.

While there is no known spacing error in 2002 Lincoln Cents, that does not mean your Penny is not an error coin. There are known 2002 Lincoln Cent errors, including strike, die, and planchet errors.

Defining Mint Error Coins

Strike errors can be defined as any error in the physical production of the coin and encompasses off-center strikes, multiple strikes, misaligned dies, overstrikes, rotated die, and weak strikes.

Planchet errors refer to problems with the planchet on which the coin was made. These include wrong metals, incomplete planchets, cracked, clipped, chipped, and thickness errors.

Die errors occur from a die that does not adhere to U.S. Mint standards and can include preproduction errors and damage to the coin in the striking process.

You don’t need to be an expert to recognize some of these errors. Does the coin appear a different color than it should, such as a Cent appearing silver? That may be an error coin. Is the coin misshaped, missing a letter, larger or smaller than it should be, or if not a Cent, is it missing a reeded edge? These are likely error coins.

An easy tell is to weigh it and check this weight with the official weight of the coin. For instance, the 2002 Penny weighs 2.5 grams. If yours weighs 2.5 grams and has not been altered since leaving the Mint, this might be an error.

The best way to find a conclusive answer to the question is to send your Penny in for error coin grading.

PCGS Mint Error grading carries a $65 cost in addition to the fees associated with PCGS grading.

NGC Mint Error coin grading takes an additional $20 and five more days for a turnaround of the given tier you have chosen to have it graded in.

It’s best to remember that when your Penny displays some of the above errors, it may be attributed to damage after issue by the Mint. Authoritative, third-party coin grading organizations have the experience and knowledge to clarify that, in addition to both grading and certifying your coin.

No matter how certain you are of the coin’s error, if you plan to sell or insure the Penny, it’s wise to send it in for grading to receive a conclusive judgment. Otherwise, you may end up confused and arguing in an online forum without an authoritative grade.

Quick Guides to Investing

Step 1:

Why Buy Physical Gold and Silver?

If you are concerned about the volatility of the stock market, you’re not alone. The extreme highs and lows of the stock market often lead investors towards safe-haven assets, like bullion. Historically, the Precious Metals market has an inverse relationship with the stock market, meaning that when stocks are up, bullion is down and vice versa.

Step 2:

How Much Gold and Silver Should You Have?

This question is one of the most important for investors to answer. After all, experts suggest limits on how much of any types of investments should go into a portfolio. After deciding to purchase and own Precious Metals and considering how much money to allocate, one can then think about how much and what to buy at any point in time.

Step 3:

Which Precious Metals Should I Buy?

With the frequent changes in the market and countless Precious Metal products available, choosing investments can be difficult. Some want Gold or Silver coins, rounds or bars while others want products that are valuable because of their design, mintage or other collectible qualities. Also, collectors may shop for unique sets and individual pieces for their collections.

Step 4:

When to Buy Gold & Silver

After considering why, how much, and what Precious Metals products to buy, an investor’s next step is when to buy them. This decision requires an understanding of market trends and the impact of economic factors on precious metal prices.

Explore More On APMEX

Silver

Platinum

Rare Coins