1975 Penny Value: Discover If Yours Is Worth Hundreds!

Introduction

You may think, getting a Lincoln penny from the year of 1975 means you have a one cent piece, one cent, but there are some that can be worth hundreds of dollars! Whether you are already a numismatist or just have a bunch of change lying around and wondering what it is about some 1975 pennies that can make them precious this guide will be of help.

A Brief History of the 1975 Penny

The 1975 Lincoln one cent piece is as good as any ordinary one cent coin produced out of the United States Mint. On the obverse side there is an image of President Abraham Lincoln while on the reverse side, there is the Lincoln memorial. These pennies were minted in three different locations, Philadelphia, Denver and San Francisco where only proofs were made for collectors.

Key Factors Affecting 1975 Penny Value

Several factors determine whether your 1975 penny is worth more than face value:

• Mint Mark – The mint mark is most often found at the bottom of the coin ; the mint mark for a Philadelphia mint penny is no mint mark at all while for Denver mint pennies it is ‘D’, ‘S’ for San Francisco proofs.
• Location – If the coins are bought directly from the mints they are more expensive.
• Errors and Varieties – This is especially true because a variety could often dwarf the value of an otherwise common collector’s coin.
• Metal Composition – The 1975 penny is 95% copper and hence the value is in its metal composition but there is always unique metal composition which makes it desirable.

1975 Penny Values by Mint Mark

• Philadelphia (no mint mark)- Primarily valued between 2 and 5 cents when circulated. Perfect MC is often found in uncirculated ones which are valued between $1 to $10.
• Denver Mint (D Mint Mark) – As with the Philadelphia penny, a circulated coin’s price range is between $5 and $15 dollars for uncirculated coins.
• San Francisco Mint (S Proof Coins) – These are coins which are not used in the economy and normally cost between $2 and $30 depending on the state they are in.

Rare 1975 Penny Errors Worth Money

Many of the error coins made in 1975 have been sold at hundreds of dollars. Look out for:

• Off-Center Strikes – A penny with the design slightly off center can worth from $50 to $200.
• Double Die Obverse (DDO) – letters or numbers can be doubled which makes them go for high price of $100+.
• Wrong die – A set of 1975 pennies that were accidentally minted from dime planchets are minted to have a value of several hundred dollars.

How to Determine If Your 1975 Penny Is Valuable

• Hunting Mint Marks and Mistakes – Place your magnifying glass over the marked item on the surface of the card to check if there are some minor features such as sharpened, blurred, or duplicated.
• Evaluate the Grading – cross-check your coin against the current grading chart or visit an expert for grading services.
• Visit Other Resources Online – Through such websites like PCGS and NGC, you can get latest price list.
• Obtain Professional Opinions – If you think that you possess a special error coin, then bring it for grading.

Conclusion

The 1975 penny will look like an ordinary 1975 penny at first glance, but it could be an opportunity for that treasure. Anything in circulation but especially coins that are in mint condition or errs can be priceless to collectors. Therefore, if you still have a 1975 penny you possess, it is now high time you looked at it closely. So you might be surprised just how much it could be worth! Regardless of a decision to preserve the acquirement or to cash it in, finding a valuable coin is always thrilling.

FAQ’s