Expert: Ronald Fern - 4/24/2010

Question
I have 14 pennies from 1988 that have a few different states stamped on them. I was wondering if they are worth anything and if you could tell me why they have the states stamped on them.

Answer
Hi Chris:

Thanks for the opportunity of answering your question.

I'm not familiar with this 1988 coin. One of the more "famous" ones, "Kennedy looks at Lincoln", was stuck for various years. Your Lincoln cents have the different state images stamped into them after they leave the mint.  They sell on ebay from time to time for a dollar or two a piece to interested collectors.

Technically, you have altered coins. Some private companies did this to promote the different states of the Union, and charged a premium for them. I checked the archives under find and came up with a number of similar questions to yours that have been answered by AllExperts. You may want to review them for added information.

The coins are novelties. The secondary image of the state was punched in by hand on each coin.

The Bicentennial in 1976 likely has the largest mintage of these stamped Cents. Your 1988 dated cent is not likely worth more, in my opinion.

There is no added collector value to it since it was modified by a private entity after it left the mint. They were made as a novelty and sold as a collectable.

If you live close to a coin shop, they should offer you an opinion as to what you have and the value at no charge. Dealers normally pay between 50% to 60% of retail for items they want.

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Thank You and Good Luck in your collecting.