Expert: PAPAJACK - 10/16/2008

Question
I have a mis-stamped penny. The tails side of it is there but the heads side is ALMOST COMPLETELY BLANK. All you can see is the shadow of Abe Lincoln, and if you look really close you can make out the year (2006). I was wondering what it would be worth and who i would be able to sell it to.
It appears as if the stamp had been worn off or something of that nature because there is a ridge all the way along the outside of the penny. Please email as soon as you are able to and inform me of my options.

Thank You,

Nick

Answer
Hello Nick,                                 

No coin can be exactly valued without being seen. For the cause of the missing or flattened side on your coin get a magnifier and light source. Examine the coin around the missing feature. Tilting your coin in all directions. And notice if the ridge you describe is on the heads side or the outside edge.

Are there scratch marks, or is the surface different?
Is there a ghost of the missing item or a light scar where it should be?
Is the rest of the coin properly struck? Is it struck too-deeply or not as deep as other coins on one side or the other?   And the coin should weigh 2.5 grams is your specimen correct?

These missing features are usually caused by a filled die error.
“Struck through Grease” is the error term commonly used. When oil or grease get between the die and the coin blank as they produce coins it cannot be compressed. When the dies close on the blank the portion of the die filled with this debris won’t let the metal flow into it.
These coins are common with weak or altogether missing features. The price you may get for them over the face value depends on what an error collector may pay for the particular coin.

If yours is a high grade example it would get about three dollars but less than six since the type of error is so common. But it does have to be an error that was made at the US Mint and not an altered coin, someone experienced will have see the coin in person to decide this if you cannot.

Error collecting is a branch outside of coins collecting. There is no fixed pricing on these error coins published and each one would have to be seen to be evaluated.

If you need to locate a coin shop in your area write me back, give me the nearest large Cities, some postal zip codes and telephone area codes. I will refer you to an expert in your area.

I hope this information helps. Feel free to ask another question about US Coins.

Good Luck

PapaJack