Expert: PAPAJACK - 9/23/2008

Question
My daughter found a 1955 penny where the back saying one cent is rotated 180 degrees to the front. Is this penny worth anything?

Answer
Hello Jesse,                 

I found no record of a rotated die for the 1955 US Cent only listings of the double date error. How does your coin compare to modern One Cent coins? Is it rotated the same way?

The U.S. coinage uses what is called a COIN turn.

Most other country’s use what is called a MEDALIAC turn. This simply means that when the coin is turned over from left to right looking at the heads side that the reverse side is viewed right-side up as well.
As a medal you wear on a chain would be viewed right side up as it flips on your neck. Thus the term MEDALIC TURN.

For the COIN turn the medal is always 180 degree offset. You have to flip it top to bottom looking at the heads side that the reverse side is viewed right-side up as well.

The reason was to be unique and basically different from the Spanish and mostly English coins that were the only form of coins in America prior to 1793, when the US opened its own minting facility in Philadelphia.

If your coin exhibit’s the Medalic Turn it should be looked at  by a dealer.
If you write back with
1) The general location (nearest large cities),
2) Telephone area code or codes and
3) Some postal zip codes in the area of the coins use the private question option by checking the box on the question page.
I can direct you to an AMERICAN NUMISMATIC ASSOCIATION MEMBER/DEALER near there. They are ethical and trustworthy.

I hope this information helps.

Thank You and Good Luck

PapaJack