Expert: Jim Lawniczak - 12/27/2007

Question
I found a 1976 penny that has stamped on the font side the shape of Arkansaw ans AR in the middle of the shape. Anyone know whats up with that?

Answer
Hello, Danny, this was a novelty, added on to the cent after the coin was minted.  There were pieces for each of the states.  I think they were sold for around a dollar each; I suspect someone sold the entire set, don't know what that cost.  Also made were a pipe (that Lincoln was supposedly smoking) and a picture of Kennedy.  They have little value today as they are not mint made pieces and I don't think that collectors have a great deal of interest in them.  You might try going to www.ebay.com and doing searches for stamped cent or stamped penny, or state on cent, state on penny etc. and you might see some of these for sale, with asking price and more importantly any bidding prices.  Hope this helped, Jim Lawniczak