Expert: Jim Lawniczak - 9/11/2006

Question
I have a 1974 penny that is gold in color and looks brand new. It has a little symbol to the right of Lincoln'f face and it is in the shape of the state of GA and has the letters GA inside it. What is this? Is this penny worth anything ? Why is it gold in color when pennys are copper.  

Answer
Hello, Caleb.   There was a series of novelty items made a while back with cents.  I think it was around the time of the bi-centennial, and they colored the cents gold and stamped each state to the right of Linclon's head and put the state letters inside.  All 50 states were made this way, and the items were sold as novelty items.  They remain novelty items today, and thus have little saleable value.  Hope this helped, Jim Lawniczak