Your Lincoln penny could be worth $51,750 - the exact 'mule' error to look for

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YOU may want to flip over your coins and check their reverse as a 1993 penny sold for $51,750 due to one specific error.

The tip comes from a collector called (@TreasureTown) on TikTok.

He recently posted a video on TikTok detailing the exact error and why it’s one of the top 10 rarest pennies to date. 

The 1993-D Lincoln Cent is valuable due to what’s called a mule error.

This is where a coin is struck with dies that weren’t intended to be used in combination with each other, according to Professional Coin Grading Services (PCGS).

While it’s unclear how many have been produced, this particular mule error is where a 1993-D Lincoln Cent was struck with a dime reverse die.

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This means that the obverse of the coin looks like a regular penny but the reverse looks like a dime. 

"I think one of the only things holding it back was how some of the discoloration and frankly ugliness of the planchet on the obverse side detracted from its eye appeal," he said on the video.

Regardless, back in 2010, the coin still sold for an impressive $51,750.

It was graded MS65 Red which is a fairly high grade as coins are assigned a whole number between one and 70.

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The MS stands for Mint State and is used to describe its method of production and overall appearance.

OTHER MULE ERRORS

There are many variations that mule errors can include such as the obverse die, reverse die, or collar die. 

These can occur using dies from the same coin series but not intended to be used together or dies from a different coin series entirely.

PCGS put together a list of some well-known mule errors:

  • Washington Quarter struck with two 25-cent eagle reverse dies
  • Roosevelt Dime struck with two 10-cent reverse dies
  • 2000-P Sacagawea Dollar reverse die paired with a 50 State Quarter obverse
  • 1993-D Lincoln Cent struck with dime reverse die
  • 1995 Roosevelt Dime struck with dime reverse and a 1995 Lincoln Cent obverse
  • 2014-D Sacagawea Dollar obverse paired with a Presidential Dollar reverse
  • 2001-D Lincoln Cent obverse paired with a Roosevelt Dime reverse
  • 2000-P Jefferson Nickel struck with two obverse Jefferson Nickel dies

HOW TO SPOT RARE COINS

Check your spare change for rare pennies, nickels, dimes, and other coins as errors like these are sought after by collectors.

Typically, the most valuable coins are ones with a low mintage or an error, as those coins are some of the rarest.

Additionally, coin experts will pay top dollar if they are also well-struck.

A great website to check if your coins are worth anything is eBay.

You just need to search the full coin name, select the "sold" listing and then toggle the search to "highest value.”

You can also check out websites like GreatCollections, Heritage Auctions, or PCGS as they detail what determines a coin's worth.

Read More on The US Sun

The U.S. Sun rounded up four of the rarest Lincoln pennies.

Plus, a $2 bill sold for over $19,000 due to the double print error on its serial numbers.

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