Expert: Ronald Fern - 12/14/2010

Question
QUESTION: I have a map of the United States with a penny in each state dated 2000. Any idea what it is worth. It is still sealed in the original plastic with Lincoln Memorial book. I tried finding it on the net and only found one page that wanted you to pay to use there service to tell you what one sold for.

ANSWER: Hi Dave:

Thanks for your question.

I'm not sure what you mean by a cent for each state in a map. There were no statehood cents struck in 2000, or any other year, by the mint. Cents are struck in Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco (Proof coins). Putting them in a Lincoln Memorial Book would add no value other than the cost of the book. If you mean each state has a stamp of a state struck into it, then it is an altered coin, and was done outside the mint. Some interested collectors may pay fifty cents to a dollar a coin, but it is not an authorized mint issue.

You may want to check US coins and currency listings under cents on eBay from time to time to see if your coins are listed what this type of item may bring.

If you live close to a local shop, they should offer an opinion as to the value at no charge. Always try and get at least two opinions and try and deal with PNG dealers if possible. If you should decide to sell your items to a dealer, remember they will offer about 50% to 60% of the retail value. Here's a link to find one in your area: http://www.pngdealers.com/dealersearch.php

Please remember to go to the experts site to rate this answer. Check the nomination box on the rating page below any comments you may have.

Thank You and Good Luck in your collecting.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Have you ever seen the state quarter map where you put the quarters in each state as they came out? I have one of those except it is Called the "Statehood Lincoln Penny Collection". It has a penny instead of a quarter in each state. This is the link that shows a picture of it http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/statehood-lincoln-penny.

Answer
Hi Again Dave:

Thanks for the follow-up question. Yes, I am aware of the state quarter map for placing them in as they were released. Again, in my opinion, this is a private firm's attempt to make a profit on a coin that basically has no added numismatic value. The mintage for 2000P cents was 8,774,220,000, and 4,959,600,000 for 2000D cents. They have no real numismatic value over face.
See: http://coins.about.com/library/coin_values/bl_lincoln_memorial_penny_values.htm

Your set would be worth the face value plus the cost of the map holder to an interested collector. With billions of cents struck from each mint, the cents are not worth more than a cent or two.

Please remember to go to the experts site to rate both this answer and my initial response. Only about half of the people asking questions even take the time to read the replies, and even fewer grade me on my answers. Check the nomination box on the rating page below any comments you may have.

Thank You and Continued Good Luck in your collecting.