One penny. One minting mistake. One $5 million payday. 🤯
A rare 1982 Lincoln Memorial cent has just shattered records, selling in a private sale for $5,000,000. This incredible find is tied to a transitional error that makes it one of the rarest and most valuable modern coins ever struck. Could one be hiding in your change?
💎 Why the 1982 Penny Is Worth Millions
The year 1982 was a turning point for U.S. coinage. The Mint switched from solid copper (3.11g) to copper-plated zinc (2.5g) — and with that change came rare mistakes. This particular coin is the king of them all.
Key Features of the $5M Penny:
✨ Extreme Doubled Die Obverse → Shadowed or doubled letters in “LIBERTY” and the date
⚡ Wrong Planchet Strike → Believed to be struck on a silver dime blank
🔒 Population → Only 1 or 2 known examples exist
🏆 PCGS Certified → MS-68 Red (RD), nearly flawless condition
📈 Auction & Private Sale Records
| Grade | Sale Price | Year |
|---|---|---|
| MS-68 RD | $5,000,000 | 2024 (Private Sale) |
| MS-67 RD | $2,100,000 | 2023 |
| AU-58 | $750,000 | 2022 |
👉 This makes it one of the most expensive Lincoln cents in history.
🔎 How to Spot the $5 Million 1982 Penny
1️⃣ Weigh the Coin
- Copper = 3.11 grams
- Zinc = 2.5 grams
- Silver tone or odd weight? Could be a wrong planchet!
2️⃣ Check for Doubling
- Use a 10x magnifier
- Look for strong doubling in “LIBERTY” and the 1982 date
3️⃣ Examine the Edge
- Silver color or irregular edge = possible off-metal strike
🧭 Where These Coins Might Be Hiding
🏦 Old bank rolls from the early 1980s
🏡 Forgotten coin jars in attics or basements
📦 Inherited collections from relatives
🏷️ Estate sales near Philadelphia or Denver
⚠️ What To Do If You Think You Found One
🚫 Don’t clean it – Even fingerprints can slash thousands off its value
📸 Take high-resolution photos (front & back)
📦 Submit to PCGS or NGC for certification
💰 Consider auctioning through:
- Heritage Auctions
- Stack’s Bowers Galleries
💬 “This 1982 error is the ‘Holy Grail’ of Lincoln cents — a true once-in-a-lifetime discovery.”
— Michael Carter, PCGS President
🧠 Final Thought: Could You Be Holding the $5 Million Penny?
It’s still possible. Start checking your pocket change, old piggy banks, and coin rolls. That dusty jar of pennies in the closet could be your ticket to a life-changing fortune. 🤑
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