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What Makes a Modern Circulating Coin Valuable?

What Makes a Modern Circulating Coin Valuable?

U.S. Coins — by

One frequently asked question here at Heritage Auctions is, “What makes a modern circulating coin valuable?”

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While most circulation strike coins minted from the 1960s to present are very common and are worth very little beyond their face value, coins do turn up in our auctions which sell for hundreds or even thousands of dollars despite a seemingly recent date.

1999-P 25C Delaware MS68 PCGS1999-P 25C Delaware MS68 PCGS

2009-D 1C Presidency MS69 Red NGC.2009-D 1C Presidency MS69 Red NGC.
Sold for:$2,040.00

Examples include a 1999 Delaware State Quarter graded PCGS MS68 which sold for over $1,400 and a 2009 Presidency Lincoln Cent in MS69 Red which sold for just over $2,000.

The key factors to consider when reviewing whether or not your modern coin has any value beyond its face value are condition, mintage, and whether or not it may be a variety or error.

Condition

To begin, any coin with large numbers produced will typically not be an expensive piece if it has been used in circulation and develops wear. However, coins occasionally become “conditionally rare” if only a few pieces are set aside to remain in the very best condition or if most coins are weakly struck and therefore not well produced.

An example would be certain dates of Lincoln Cents in “Red,” which means that the coins have their original coppery color and have not dulled to what collectors term “Red Brown” or “Brown” condition. Recent cents are almost always in brilliant “red” condition, but Lincoln Cents from the 1909 to 1930 era have often dulled and toned over time, making high-grade “red” coins more valuable. The 2009 Lincoln Cent mentioned above combines both condition and red color, making this far more valuable than most of its peers.

1952-D 5C MS67 Five Full Steps NGC

1952-D Nickel, MS67
Tied for Finest With Five Full Steps
Sold for:$2,400.00

Jefferson Nickels are another example of a condition rarity. The vast majority of Jefferson Nickels that one might find from the 1950s, 60s, and 70s can just be spent, even if the coins appear to be in relatively nice condition. Given their large mintages, they are not rare coins overall. However, only a small percentage of certain years were fully impressed and struck by the dies at the US Mint, so relatively few coins qualify for the “Full Steps” designation that a grading service will assign to a fully struck coin. Certain years of Jefferson Nickels with Full Steps can be valuable, such as the 1952-D Nickel graded MS67 5 Full Steps by NGC that we recently auctioned for $2,400.

Mintage

Occasionally, coins are struck which have low mintages. For example, the 1996-W dime, minted in West Point, New York, had a mintage of only 1,457,000. This may not sound particularly small, but it is a fraction of the mintage in Philadelphia that year, which was a whopping 1,421,163,000 coins! As a result, 1996-W dimes are worth a premium even though they are a fairly recent issue.

Variety and Error Coins

Finally, varieties and errors may command a premium over regular coinage. When there is a mint mistake, collectors are often willing to pay a premium for these coins. The 1990 No S Proof Cent is a great example. Proofs, or special mirrored coins intended for collectors, were supposed to have the “S” mintmark in the 1990s, indicating that these coins were made in San Francisco. However, the “S” mintmark was inadvertently left off of some proofs, creating the rare “No S” variety. These coins can be worth a few thousand dollars if you are lucky enough to find one in a Proof Set.

1990 1C No S, FS-101, PR66 Red Deep Cameo PCGS

1990 No S Cent, FS-101, PR66 Red Deep Cameo
Among the 100 Greatest U.S. Modern Coins
Sold for:$2,340.00

Whether you find an error or variety or have set aside a coin that is in far better condition than average, it is worth looking through your collection and your change! You never know what you might find.

To browse our auction archives or upcoming auctions, visit our Rare U.S. coins department. If you have questions on what a coin is worth, reach out to our experts for a free coin appraisal.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  4. AvatarRobert Gilmore says

    I have a 1913 type 2 hobo nickel carved by merchant. It is very unique, and was wondering what it’s value is.?

    Reply

    • AvatarCSSocialMedia says

      Thank you for your message. If you are interested in selling, please email front and back images to Coins@HA.com. A Specialist will review and contact you to discuss.

      Reply

  8. AvatarStephenson Sarah says

    Would would like too know about u information about coins, THANK YOU &GOD BLESS YOU DEARLY

    Reply

  9. AvatarTHEREZINHA KALICOSQUE says

    THEREZINHA,Y HEVE 40 SETS CERT FOR NGC, LINCON CENT 1994 D MS64 RD CLOSE AM 1972 S MS63RB/1999D MS63/BN VERY DARK SET AND MORE1964D AU58//1937//1938/1983/1919 /1920./1042/1947/1949/1963DMS61 RB/AND MORE//NICKEL JEFFERSON 5/1959/AU55 NO MINT,DARK VERY BRILLIANT 1962D/XF45/1964D/VFDETAILS/1965XF/40/1942S/AU58/1943S/VG10/1943/P/AU58//1967XF/1973MS63/1970S/VF DETAILS/1986P/MS62/1998D/AU DETAIL OBS TIME ERROR JEFFERSON OBS/REV/STROUNG ERROR 1970D/1973,BIG LOT ERROR LINCOLN CENT 2013 D OVER SMOL D //DOBLEDLINES DOBLEDYES YHEVE OUTRES COUNTREIS SORY THANKYOUY NEED SELLING ALLY NO WRITTE ALL Y FROM BRASIL THANKYOU THEREZINHA KALICOSQUE Y HEVE BIG CONPLECT COLLECTIONS ,1939 TO NOW PENNY NICKEL DIMES CORAS

    Reply

  10. AvatarChristy Graham says

    I have been studying coins a little for 6 years and seems like it could take 3 lifetimes to learn it all. After selling a coin I inherited and got taken advantage of and didn’t even need the money but sold a 17?? Can’t remember exact date but a gold coin very very tiny and in absolute perfect condition ecen the dealer quickly jumped on it saying thus is most perfect coin he has seen and would give me $500 right now. I did sell it thinkjng I dont need the money but had no one to pass it down to either. I would in a very short amount of time find out frkm a client of mine who knew coins a little that the coin in the picture I showed her was going at auctions for almost $20000. That’s when i said I’m learning. I had a couple 9ther coins worth a couple hundred and glad I held ontk them til I actualky was in need. No one got me that time. But now I love what I di learn avd it has been slow journey. Well I decided to start just focusing on one denomination while still learning about others as I go a little. The lincoln cent and errors were my focus went. Well after hanging onto many penny’s and not sure if I’m seeing errors or not I came across Heritage and searched archives. Seems as though even recent as the 90s decade of penny’s have brought on high dollars just for condition being high. Not thinking about that while going through my old piggy bank with probably $200 worth and looking at each penny for errors and putting those with none back or for spending over the past couple years. I went back through them cause I knew I had many many that looked brand new from 60s 70s 80s maybe even a couple of wheat penny’s not new looking but stkll somewhat red to red brown probably more like it. So I decided to refocus for now on pulling out thise new looking pennys. Is this something heritage is interested in consigning? Thank you for your time

    Reply

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