Expert: PAPAJACK - 7/9/2008

Question
What's the value of a 1986 double strike penny on the heads side going through the "in god we trust"

Answer
Hello Jerry,                    

An error like this is not as rare as people think. It does have to be seen to be evaluated and decide what could have happened at the mint during production.

If it did happen at the mint it carries a small premium with error collectors but is not very valuable since it was not a die error but a single mishap in fabrication of the coin.

Check carefully with a magnifier and a good lighting source. The word WE is always very close to Lincoln’s hair on a well struck coin.
If this happened at the mint, the Category would be a double stamped error.
If you want help in locating a dealer in your area to look at it for free write me back, give me the nearest large Cities and some postal zip codes. I will refer you to some American Numismatic Association member/dealers in your area.

For more information on errors look for the "The ERROR COIN ENCYCLOPEDIA" by Arnold Margolis

I also want to mention COMBINED ORGANIZATION of NUMISMATIC ERROR COLLECTORS ASSOCIATION; they are the ultimate experts in the error coin field.  CONECA is a national numismatic organization devoted to the education of error and variety coin collectors. CONECA focuses on many error and variety specialties, including doubled dies, Re-punched mint marks, multiple errors, clips, double strikes, off-metals and off-centers just to name a few.

If there any more information you require on this question just ask.

Thank You and Good Luck

PapaJack