In 2021, the U.S. Mint made a major mistake during penny production—and savvy collectors are cashing in.
If you know what to look for, you could turn an ordinary one-cent coin into hundreds of dollars.
🛑 What Went Wrong With the 2021 Penny?
During minting, a significant number of 2021 Lincoln cents developed die cracks on the obverse (front) of the coin. These cracks are raised lines caused by damaged dies striking the coins.
The result? A repeatable, highly collectible error that appears across multiple 2021 penny batches.
🔍 How to Identify the Error
- Check the Front (Obverse) of the Coin
Look near Lincoln’s bust and around the date for a prominent raised crack in the metal. - Compare to Known Examples
Many error coins from this year have nearly identical cracks, making them easy to confirm. - Condition Matters
Higher-grade examples—especially those professionally graded—sell for the most money.
đź’° What Are They Selling For?
Recent sales show just how profitable this error can be:
- Raw examples: $165–$250
- Graded examples (MS state): up to $475
📦 Why They’re Valuable
- Repeatable Mint Error – Collectors love patterns they can chase
- Recent Production Date – Easily found in circulation
- High Demand, Low Awareness – Many people still spend them as face value
đź› Pro Tip: How to Maximize Profit
- Search bank rolls of 2021 pennies for faster results
- Handle coins by the edges to avoid fingerprints
- If in high-grade condition, send to PCGS or NGC for grading—slabbed coins bring top dollar
⚡ Bottom Line
The 2021 penny die crack is one of the easiest modern errors to find in circulation. With raw coins fetching over $200 and graded examples pushing $500, this is a mistake worth capitalizing on.
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