⚡ Coin Collectors Alert: Some pennies from the 1990s are worth $1,000 or more because of a small design difference on the reverse (back) of the coin. It all comes down to how close the letters “A” and “M” are in the word AMERICA.
🪙 Close AM Pennies — The Big Money Find
- Year to Look For: 1992
- What to Check: On the back of the coin, the A and M in “AMERICA” are touching or extremely close together.
- Why It’s Valuable: This design was meant only for proof coins, but a small number of circulation coins got struck with it by mistake.
💲 Value:
- Circulated: $1,000 – $2,000
- High Grade: Even higher at auction
📸 Tip: Compare your 1992 penny to another Lincoln cent — the difference is small but noticeable.
🪙 Wide AM Pennies — The Easier Finds
- Years to Look For: 1998, 1999, 2000
- What to Check: The A and M in “AMERICA” have a wide space between them.
- Why It’s Valuable: These were intended for proof coins but mistakenly struck for circulation.
💲 Value by Year:
- 1999: ~$500
- 1998: ~$25
- 2000: ~$20
📸 Tip: A normal penny from these years will have the Close AM, so the wide gap stands out once you know what to look for.
🔍 Quick Visual Guide
- Close AM (1992): Letters A and M are touching — big money!
- Wide AM (1998, 1999, 2000): Letters A and M have clear space between them — still valuable, especially 1999.
✅ What to Do If You Find One
- Handle Carefully – Only touch the edges.
- Don’t Clean It 🚫 – Cleaning ruins collector value.
- Get It Certified – Send to PCGS or NGC for authentication.
- Sell Through Experts – Auction houses or reputable coin dealers will get you the best price.
💡 Final Tip
These pennies are still out there in jars, cash drawers, and pocket change. Knowing what to look for could turn 1 cent into $1,000+. Keep checking — your next coin find might be a treasure!
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