Expert: Jim Lawniczak - 6/25/2010

Question
QUESTION: I HAVE COME ACROSS A 1984 MISPRINTED PENNY IT IS OVAL IN SHAPE AND ONLY HAS HALF OF LINCOLN HEAD ON IT DOES IT HAVE A VALUE!!

ANSWER: Brian, if I had to guess, I'd say you have what is called an "elongated" penny.  It is made with a machine and it stretches the penny out and usually something is imprinted on the other side.  You see these machines in museums, for example, like there is one at the Cleveland Zoo, where for 50 cents, you put in your penny and it "elongates" it and puts an animal picture and the zoo logo on the other side.  They have some value it is true, but the more recent ones not so much (as you can buy them for 50 cents).  Try going to www.ebay.com and doing a search for elongated penny and then maybe elongated cent and you'll see some for sale, Jim Lawniczak

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QUESTION: It is not from an amusment park it was minted only on half the coin it was found at a bank in a federal roll in 1984

Answer
Brian, you would have to show this coin to an expert to be sure.  It could be mint error with some value depending on how it looks and what remains (for example if the date is on your piece it would be worth more).  It could also be a regular cent that someone used metal cutters to cut off the other portion, in which case it would just be a damaged piece.  Jim Lawniczak