Your Lincoln penny can be worth up to $50,000 - but it all depends on the year and 'mule' detail
A COIN collector has shared how to spot a rare and valuable penny.
While most people let their pennies drop between couch cushions or get lodged under the seat in their car, the coins can actually be very valuable.
Collectors are always after coins with unique markings and errors.
One of the most sought-after coins is the 1959-D Wheat penny.
This coin has a mule error, which is when a coin is struck with dies that weren't intended to be used in combination with eachother.
TikToker CoinCollecting (@coinzcoin) shared a video explaining the error and how to spot it.
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The US Mint made pennies that had Abraham Lincoln's profile on one side, and wheat ears on the reverse. They were made from 1909 to 1958 and called wheat pennies.
In 1959, the penny got a makeover and the wheat was replaced by the Lincoln Memorial that we see today.
However, there is a mule error on a penny from 1959 that caused it to have the 1958 wheat ear design on its reverse.
It is known as the best-known and most valuable mule coin, according to The Professional Coin Grading Services.
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California police officer Leon Baller first came across the penny in 1986.
He was an avid collector and claims to have purchased it for $1,500.
Wanting to make sure he didn't get duped, Baller sent the penny to the US Department of Treasury, which deemed it genuine.
Despite that, there is still debate to this day if it is real.
But people still lined up to buy it.
Baller sold the coin to Heritage Auctions, where it sold in a 2003 auction for $48,300.
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Another valuable penny to look out for is the 1993-D Lincoln Cent.
This coin also has a mule error; the front looks like a regular penny but the reverse looks like a dime.
In 2010, the coin sold for a whopping $51,750.
It is important to note the coin was graded MS65 Red, which is very high as the grading scale is between one and 70.
"MS" stands for Mint State and is used to describe its method of production and overall appearance.
Read More on The US Sun
See the top five valuable coins worth between $9,000 and $144,000.
Plus, see how to spot a quarter that could be worth $10,000.
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