Imagine finding a 1992 penny in your pocket worth more than $25,000. 🤯 That’s the reality with the 1992 Close AM Lincoln Cent, one of the rarest transitional errors in modern U.S. coinage. Even today, examples are still being discovered in circulation. Here’s everything you need to know to spot one.
🔍 What Is the 1992 Close AM Error?
This tiny design mistake makes all the difference:
➡️ Reverse Design Anomaly
- The “A” and “M” in AMERICA are touching or nearly touching
- Regular 1992 pennies have a wide gap between the letters
- The reverse was originally intended only for proof coins, but it was mistakenly used on regular pennies
➡️ Obverse Side
- Standard 1992 Lincoln design
- Found with no mintmark (Philadelphia) and with “D” mintmark (Denver)
- The 1992-D version is much rarer and far more valuable
🧬 Error Type Breakdown
✅ Transitional design error
✅ Proof reverse die used on business strikes
✅ Listed in the Cherrypickers’ Guide (FS-901)
✅ Among the rarest Lincoln Memorial cent reverses ever produced
💰 2024 Value & Auction Records
| Grade | PCGS Market Value | Auction Record |
|---|---|---|
| MS-63 RD | $8,000 – $12,000 | $13,200 |
| MS-65 RD 💎 | $15,000 – $20,000 | $25,850 🏆 |
| MS-67 RD | Extremely rare | Not yet sold |
💎 Historic Highlight: A 1992-D Close AM in MS-67 Red sold for $25,850 at Heritage Auctions.
🔐 5-Step Authentication Checklist
1️⃣ Check AM Spacing → The “A” and “M” nearly touch
2️⃣ Verify the Mintmark → Must be 1992 or 1992-D, no damage or doubling
3️⃣ Reverse Diagnostics → FG initials placement confirms proof reverse
4️⃣ Grade & Color → Red (RD) Mint State coins bring top prices
5️⃣ Certification → Must be graded by PCGS or NGC with FS-901 label
🎯 Why It’s Worth $25,000+
✔️ Fewer than 20 confirmed 1992-D Close AMs exist
✔️ Rare proof reverse used on circulation coins
✔️ Requires magnification to confirm
✔️ Highly sought after by serious collectors
💼 How to Sell One If You Strike Gold
🪙 Top Auction Houses
- Heritage Auctions
- GreatCollections
- Legend Rare Coin Auctions
🤝 Private Sales
- High-end Lincoln cent collectors
- Registry set builders
🚨 For $10K+ Coins → Submit with full imaging, video proof of AM spacing, and certified valuation trends.
💬 “Even expert collectors miss this—it’s one of the best-kept secrets in modern numismatics.”
— PennyVerse Transitional Error Division
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