While some rare coins are safely stored away in museums or collector’s shelves, there are other rare coins still in circulation. These coins may be made from a different material, lack certain marks, or have extras, but all have one thing in common: value. If you are a coin connoisseur or just really enjoy the varied history of rare coins, check out these six selections below.
6. 1983 Penny with No Mint Mark
Our sixth selection of rare coins still in circulation is the 1983 penny with no mint mark. Mint marks are put onto the coin so people know where they are made, nowadays, there is either a “P” or “D” for the Philadelphia and Denver mints, respectively. Some coins also have a “double die reverse” mark when the stamping machine lands in a different spot. While 7.7 billion pennies were created in 1983, only 5,000 of them have the doubling error in addition to no mint mark.
5. 1955 Double Die Lincoln Penny
Another double die is our fifth selection for rare coins still in circulation. The 1955 double-die Lincoln penny is one of the most popular error coins produced by the U.S. Mint. The double die was created from a manufacturing issue that led to the design being doubled in the process. By the time the error was noticed, thousands of coins had already been mixed, making the process of taking the error coins out nearly impossible.
4. Wisconsin Quarter with Extra Leaf
The famed State Quarters set went into circulation in 1999, bringing collectors our fourth selection of rare coins still in circulation. The set was commissioned, with each state receiving its own special design. The 2004 Wisconsin quarter showcased its agricultural backgrounds, containing corn, cheese, and a cow. In some quarters though, there is an extra line in the ear of corn that makes it gain a leaf, and adds to its value.
CHECK OUT: 5 Rarest Pennies From United States History
3. 1913 Liberty Head Nickel
Ranking third on our list of rare coins still in circulation is the 1913 Liberty Head nickel. There are only five of these coins in existence, and they are also referred to as the Walton Nickel. The error came around when the U.S. Mint replaced the Liberty Head nickel with the Indian Head nickel in 1912. However, five Liberty nickels were illegally made after the switch, and the fact that these coins even existed was secret until 1919.
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2. 1969-S Lincoln Cent Double Die Obverse
There is a slightly funny story surrounding our second selection of rare coins still in circulation, the 1969-S Lincoln cent double die penny. A woman in Texas found one of these rare coins in 2014, which the Secret Service had been confiscating earlier versions of it, believing they were fake. The U.S. Mint later confirmed they were legitimate coins, and the rarity and value of the coins skyrocketed.
1. 1943 Copper Penny
Coming in at number one on our rare coins still in circulation list is the 1943 copper penny. Nowadays, all pennies are made of copper, but this wasn’t the case in the past, especially during World War II. Copper was used for other things like generators and radio circuits, and pennies were instead made of iron alloys, mostly steel. But, there was a copper batch of pennies made in 1943, one of the few during the period. Over the years collectors have been increasingly aware of the value of the 1943 penny, and its value continues to rise.
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