Error coins are among the most valuable collectibles in numismatics. Manufacturing mistakes at the US Mint can turn ordinary pocket change into coins worth thousands — or even millions. Here are the most valuable error coin types and what to look for in your collection.
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Scan My CoinStruck on leftover bronze planchets during a year when pennies were supposed to be steel. Approximately 20 are known to exist.
How to check: Test with a magnet — genuine bronze 1943 cents will NOT stick. Weigh the coin (3.11g for bronze vs 2.7g for steel). Get professional authentication.
$100,000 - $1,700,000One of the most dramatic doubled die errors ever produced. The entire obverse shows strong doubling visible to the naked eye.
How to check: Doubling on the date and LIBERTY is visible without magnification. Compare to known examples — the doubling is unmistakable.
$1,000 - $25,000+Some 2004-D Wisconsin quarters show an extra leaf on the ear of corn — either a high leaf or low leaf variety. Both are valuable.
How to check: Examine the ear of corn on the reverse. Look for an extra leaf pointing either up (high leaf) or down (low leaf) from the lower left of the corn ear.
$100 - $1,500A Sacagawea dollar obverse was paired with a Washington quarter reverse die. Only about a dozen are known.
How to check: The coin has Sacagawea on the front and the eagle from the quarter on the back. These are extremely rare and always authenticated.
$50,000 - $100,000+Strong doubling on LIBERTY and IN GOD WE TRUST. Initially thought to be counterfeit due to dramatic doubling, but confirmed as a genuine mint error.
How to check: Examine LIBERTY and IN GOD WE TRUST under magnification for clear doubling. The date also shows significant doubling.
$25,000 - $100,000+Excessive die polishing removed most of the buffalo's front right leg, creating the famous three-legged variety.
How to check: The buffalo's front right leg is mostly missing. Look for a small hoof remnant and die polishing lines where the leg should be.
$500 - $10,000+Coins struck on planchets intended for different denominations — such as a quarter design on a nickel planchet or a dime on a cent planchet.
How to check: The coin will be the wrong size, weight, or metal for its denomination. Weigh it and compare to standard specifications.
$200 - $10,000+Coins struck significantly off-center (50%+) that still show the complete date are extremely valuable because the date confirms the coin's identity.
How to check: A large blank crescent is visible on one side, with the full date still showing on the struck portion.
$100 - $5,000+The 1943-D bronze Lincoln cent sold for $1.7 million in 2010, making it one of the most valuable error coins. Other million-dollar errors include the 1969-S Doubled Die cent and certain off-metal strikes.
Check your pocket change, roll-search coins from the bank, and attend coin shows. Use ErrorHunt's AI scanner to analyze your coins — it can detect 67+ error types that are easy to miss with the naked eye.
Never clean a coin. Cleaning destroys the original surface and can reduce a coin's value by 50% or more. Leave it as-is and let a professional grading service evaluate it.
Submit your coin to PCGS (Professional Coin Grading Service) or NGC (Numismatic Guaranty Company). They will authenticate, grade, and encapsulate your coin. Start with an ErrorHunt scan to know if it's worth the submission fee.
ErrorHunt AI detects 67+ error types with 99.9% accuracy. Upload a photo now.
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