Coin Expert Reveals the 4 Exact Factors to Look for on Your Lincoln Penny to Make It Worth $15,000

Coin collecting is a niche hobby that can be confusing to newcomers due to all the jargon and specificities. However, it can be quite lucrative if you know what details to look for.

Coin collecting can be a lucrative hobby if you know what details to look for. One coin expert revealed the exact four factors to look for on your Lincoln penny to make it worth $15,000.

Coin collecting is a niche hobby that can be confusing to newcomers due to all the jargon and specificities.

However, it can be quite lucrative if you know what details to look for.

Eric Miller (@thecoinchannel) is an expert in all things coins, sharing collecting tips and secrets to help his over 4.7 million viewers hunt down their next coin treasure.

In a TikTok video from Monday, Miller clarified the key details that make one penny worth far more than its one-cent face value.

“Everyone wants to find this $15,000 1982 penny, but the confusion on this is wild,” began the content creator.

He proceeded to outline the four factors required for a penny to be worth thousands, emphasizing that your coin must match each description.

FOUR KEY FEATURES

The first key characteristic collectors look for on a coin is the date it was produced.

In this case, Miller emphasized that the penny must be from 1982.

The second factor the expert looked toward was the mint mark, noting that the penny must have a Denver mint mark.

Miller next drew his attention toward the coin’s weight, sharing that the penny must weigh about 3.1 grams.

The fourth factor that the currency expert noted was the sizing of its alphanumeric characters.

He said the penny must be a “small date” coin rather than a “large date” coin.

The former refers to how the letters and numbers are noticeably smaller than on a standard version of the same coin.

Miller pointed out how the date and the words “Liberty” and “In God We Trust” on the small date penny were noticeably thinner.

Rare coins

You may be holding something valuable in your wallet. Check out these articles on rare coins to see if you may have a treasure hidden deep in your pockets.

Miller also pointed out how the numbers in the date were moved further away from the rim of the penny.

The coin expert emphasized that pennies with all four key features could be worth upwards of $15,000, with the coin he showed at the beginning selling for a whopping $18,800.

He encouraged coin collectors who stumble upon treasures such as the 1982 penny to certify their coins, as doing so boosts their value because they come with a guarantee of authenticity.

Check your pocket change for other valuable coins.

A rare detail on your dime could make it worth $156,000.

Plus, a rare “proof” detail makes your coin worth $84,000 ahead of auction – but you must spot the “cameo” detail to score the cash.