Coin and Paper Money Collecting/mis-stamped penny

Advertisement

Expert: - 9/19/2010


Question
I have a penny dated 1999 that is stamped on about 1/3 of the blank. How rare is this issue? What would be the approximate value to a collector?
Thank you for your time!

Answer
Hi Daryl:

Thanks for your question.

It's hard to give you an exact answer with the information you provided, especially with a potential error coin. Always give as much information as possible and/or attach a photo. Things like the percent off center, clock position and condition of the coin are important. If you want to ask a follow up question by adding the other information, I'll modify my reply, if required.

From your limited description, you have an off center struck cent. This would have a approximate retail value of between $10 to $15 to an interested error collector, depending on the condition. The error is a result of the blank not going into the die chamber properly, and  only getting struck by part of the obverse and reverse dies. Most errors are caught during the inspection phase prior to shipping the coins to the federal reserve branches.

You may want to check ebay listings under US coins in the error category to see if your errors are listed and what they are going for. You may also want to check out these links on error coin values:
http://www.coinsite.com/html/USErrorPrices.asp
http://www.minterrornews.com/priceguide.html

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.

Coin and Paper Money Collecting

All Answers

Answers by Expert:

Ask Experts

Volunteer

Ronald Fern

Expertise

I can answer most all questions relating to US coins, tokens, and currency. I'm not strong on world coins or ancients. Primary field of expertise is errors and varieties. Over 55 years experience in coin collecting. Part time dealer since 1976. Employed by McDonnell Douglas/Boeing for over 34 years as an Industrial Engineer/Technical Specialist before retiring in 2002.

Experience

Worked weekends for "Lonesome" John in the late 1960's to mid 1970's processing error coins, packaging, and preparing orders. Worked with John Devine and Fred Weinberg on several California Error A Rama's in the early 1970's. Served as display judge at annual Error-A-Rama coin shows. Opened and operated mail order coin business DBA "CAL ERRORS" in 1976. Contributer to Alan Herbert's "Official Price Guide To Mint Errors" and Fivaz/Stanton "Cherrypickers' Guide". Worked Saturdays at Huntington Beach Coin Exchange 1980-1999. Had table and sold coins at a number of coin and gun shows in So CA, AZ and NV. Sell coins, tokens and currency currently at my space in the Pomona Antique Center. Past "Errorscope" Editor. Presently CONECA Examiner.

Organizations
ANA, CONECA, CWTS, NLG

Publications
Errorscope, Numismatic News, Civil War Token Journal, Error and Variety News

Education/Credentials
AA Degree LBCC pre Engineering, 1964 BS Degree CSULB Ind Technology, 1968

Awards and Honors
1st Place EAR Trophy for Civil War Token Errors, NLG Author of Year Award for best monthly coin column "Error News and Views" in small Numismatic paper, owned and published by Ray Anthony.

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.