Expert: PAPAJACK - 5/6/2007

Question
i just got five new GEORGE WASHINGTON dollars and three of the five have upsidedown writing on the side i mean if you hold WASHINGTON's face up three are different from the others and the backs are off center inner rim is almost touching the outer rim there off center on all of them  if you could help me that would be great oh yeah another thing i have two 5 gal. water jugs full with pennies and would like to know what year was worth alot  i forget how much my dad has be filling them for years 32 to be exact but now we are going through them if you could help that would be great thank you      ANTHONY B                                                                                           P.S there are a ton of wheat heads in here   huy

Answer
Hello Anthony,                 

The US mint has no definite direction of what side is the right direction for printing the circulated dollar coins. Many are found with the edge inscriptions facing heads and tails. I found no added value for this condition.
There are also reports of the edge lettering missing altogether. As for value if the edge is not inscribed depends on how much you can sell them for. They seem to be a common item and I think the market does not consider it a true error coin.
The surge you see when something is first discovered is not always an indicator of the true value but speculation by people.
I do not think it will be more valuable next year.


The US Lincoln Cents you have can have value.
Coins are valued on a scale from 1 to 70. And on how rare a coin is. With no or little experience it is sometimes easier letting another collector look at them, and even most coin shops will help for free on a small number of coins when they are not busy.
 
In each series of coin (like Lincoln cents), there are some quick reference points of wear to be seen on the high points that are known to show wear first. Most of these are covered in the RED BOOK.  The grading details it describes at the start of each coin series is taken from the American Numismatic Association Standard. And uses the 1 to 70 scale recognized by all professionals since the 1970's.

Most circulated coins range from Good (grade-G4) to Almost Uncirculated (grade-AU50) on the scale. So remember a grade of Good is 4 out of a possible 70 is a low grade.
 
For grading the Cent Lincolns bow tie and ear wear first. Also is there any mint mark on the coin?
Wheat cents were minted from 1909 to 1958, at the Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco Mints. If you see a "D" below the date, the coin was minted in Denver. If you see an "S" below the date, the coin was minted in San Francisco. If there is no letter below the date the coin was minted in Philadelphia.
A cent from these years in a lower grade (4 to 30) will sell for less than .50 cents each. Their value is all in their state of preservation. (as little as .15 cents each). If they show full details on the Jaw , Bow Tie and Wheat Heads they are much more collectable and sell from $3 to $7 dollars in grades from 30 to 55.

A Philadelphia issue 1909 cent in circulated condition sells from $1.00 to $3.00 dollars. A 1940 Philadelphia issue coin can sell from .10 to 50 in circulated grades. For pre 1940 Lincoln Cents there are only a few valuable circulated condition coins to look for.

1909-S, 1910-S,  1911-D, 1911-S, 1914-D, 1914-S, 1915-S, 1921-S  and 1922-D OR 1922 no D, 1924-D, 1926-S, 1931-D, 1931-S.
THESE ARE ALL KEY OR SEMI-KEY DATES FOR Lincoln cents. There are some others as well.

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Thank You and Good Luck

PapaJack