Some people who only have a vague understanding of coin collectors may think that there is no chance that they will ever find one. Many people envisage coin collectors either swapping their wares for big money or finding them on the beach with their metal detectors. Few probably realize that they may in fact be in possession of a rare coin in their wallet or their pocket right at this moment. Here is a guide to many coins that may be valuable due to small errors and distinguishing characteristics that could mark seemingly innocuous coins out to be something special – and potentially valuable.

1969-S LINCOLN CENT WITH DOUBLED DIE OBVERSE

Very rare coins indeed, the 1969-S Lincoln Cent with Doubled Die Obverse is an extremely rare find as so many of the originals were confiscated by the Secret Service on the mistaken belief that they were counterfeit coins. Eventually, the US Mint admitted that they were in fact the genuine article. To check this coin, see if everything on the obverse (the side featuring the “head”) is doubled – except for the mint mark. If everything including said mint mark is doubled, it is most likely down to strike doubling rather than a doubled die, and they are not worth very much at all. Be careful, though, as there are actually some counterfeits of the doubled die version around today. If you have the genuine article, it could be worth in excess of something like thirty five thousand US dollars.

1970-S SMALL DATE LINCOLN CENT WITH DOUBLED DIE OBVERSE

As with most doubled die coins, only one side of this coin should be showing doubling if it is a genuine double die coin, as opposed to a double strike. The weakness of the word “LIBERTY” in the smaller variety, and the doubling of LIB and the phrase “IN GOD WE TRUST” are tell tale signs that you have in your hand a rare coin that could be worth upwards of three thousand US dollars.

1972 LINCOLN CENT WITH DOUBLED DIE OBVERSE

This rare coin from 1972 has no mint mark, but shows a strong doubling of all the other characteristics of the coin. A small scrape over the “D” in the word “UNITED” serves as a “die marker” which helps to identify the coin specifically. If you have one of these coins, it could be worth around five hundred US dollars.