Expert: PAPAJACK - 9/13/2007

Question
I have several thousand unc pennies in the 60s & 70s. Any value. Most of these pennies are in books of 90. Thanks Mike.

Answer
Hello Mike,            

Are they in coin folders or books?
If so selling them as partial sets with the folder is probably the way to go. You may get $5 per set. Loose un-attributed coins sell often in bulk for about 3 cents each.

Not many of the Lincoln Memorial Cents are worth too much in circulated grades. Even many of the MINT STATE Uncirculated coins at retail get from .10 to .20 cents each.

For grading the Cent Lincolns bow tie and ear wear first. Also is there any mint mark on the coin?
Lincoln Wheat cents were minted from 1909 to 1958, and the Memorial reverse started in 1959 to present. They were produced 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 the 60 or 70’s years in a lower grade (4 to 30) will sell for less than .10 cents each. Their value is all in their state of preservation. (Retailed valued as little as .05 cents each). If they show full details on Lincolns Jaw, Bow Tie and Wheat Heads they are much more collectable and sell from $15 to $20 cents each in grades from 55 to 64.

For pre 1980 Lincoln Memorial Cents there are only a few valuable circulated condition coins to look for.

1960 small date, 1970-S small date, 1972 Doubled die as well as proof coins. There are no other key dates selling at collector prices for your 1960 to 1980 cents

A word of advice; Do not try to clean the coins in any way. Learning to estimate the grade of the coins and noting any cleaning or mishandling is the key to finding the value. See if you can borrow or use at your library a copy of the book titled "A Guide Book of U. S. Coins" by R.S. Yeoman, has pictures showing the difference on the dates and die errors. Or if you can get to a Coin Show in your area I'm sure that you will find your coin types are readily available for examination and get a feel for what you have to sell.

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Thank You and Good Luck

PapaJack