You might be surprised by the value of pennies





A penny for your thoughts––but not if you’re thinking that a penny is hardly worth handling or worth the room it takes up in your pocket or purse.


Those pennies may justify another look.


The Lincoln cent is rapidly approaching 100 years old, which means some pennies still in circulation could be very valuable.


If you do happen upon a penny dating back to 1930 or so, it’s now easier to determine its value.


People no longer have to consult a coin dealer. They can check online at a new informational Website, www.wsrarities.com. Here, both new and seasoned collectors can:


Estimate how much the pennies in their collections may be worth.


Learn how to understand the grading system for coins, which ranges from 1 (worse than "almost good") to 70 (uncirculated, in perfect condition).


Educate themselves on the coins they’re most interested in collecting.


View unprecedented details of pennies and other coins, and zoom in on the images to magnify them.


Prices for old coins can range dramatically. For example, a 1921-S Lincoln cent in a lower condition, such as Fine 12, sells for about $2. Yet the same coin in gem condition, such as Mint State 65, can sell for more than $5,000.


Being older isn’t necessarily better. A 1909 Lincoln cent in the same Gem Mint State 65 condition sells for about $65. A 1935-S Lincoln cent in Superb Gem Mint State 66 condition sells for $80.


Not bad for a penny.


"It’s definitely worth checking all the old coins you may own or come across," said William T. Anton III, president and CEO of wsrarities.com.


"In addition to age and coin quality, the monetary value of a coin also depends on its rarity, as well as the demand among collectors for particular coins."



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