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Finding rare coins is a fascinating hobby for some people, but it requires patience and impeccable vision.
10 subtle talents all rich people have with their money
There are millions of dollars floating around in this market, many of which are untraceable. So, if you can identify a penny, or at least a specific proof penny, you may be sitting on a fortune.
If you’re up for the hunt, keep your eyes peeled for this most unusual buck, along with many others.
Build Your Wealth One Roosevelt Penny at a Time
Roosevelt Dimes, created in the likeness of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who was the 32nd President of the United States, are not all created equal. If you have any in your collection, you’ll want to be able to separate the ones worth more than ten pretty pennies. Here are some highlights:
- Most US coins have a mint mark – P for Philadelphia Mint, S for San Francisco Mint, D for Denver Mint, or W for West Point Mint.
- According to Jaime Hernandez, value guide editor for PCGS (Professional Coin Grading Service), only 150,000 Roosevelt dimes were issued in Philadelphia in 1982 without a mint mark.
- This means they are missing this important letter that is usually placed next to the year stamp. If you find a 1982 Roosevelt coin and examine its obverse, look at the area to the right of the date. There will usually be a letter representing the mint mark. If no letters are present, you may be in luck.
- PCGS lists evidence of most MS66 graded examples selling for around $300, and in 2022 an NGC-graded (Numismatic Guaranty Company) MS67 sold for the original amount of $630. For those curious, PCGS explained the grading process this way: “The numerical grades, ranging from MS-60 to MS-70, are used to denote a business strike coin that has never been in circulation. A Mint State coin can range from a coin covered with marks (MS-60) to a flawless example (MS-70).”
- The highest selling price on record is an MS68 specimen that sold through Heritage Auctions in 2004 for $2,185.
Most of the 1982 No P dimes were initially discovered in or around Sandusky, Ohio, and some were handed in to the local Cedar Point amusement park as change. According to Hernandez, Walter Placzwis, Andrew MacDonald, and Len Durkee are among the first people credited with finding the rare coins.
A good number of 1982 No P dimes are believed to be still in circulation today. Although some have sold for thousands of dollars, in all likelihood any present still in rotation will only be worth $100 to $300 – which is still not too bad for some spare change – so it’s definitely worth appraising.
Last Tech to Go: Spotting Dimes
In this age of digital transactions, it can be hard to find extra money, but that doesn’t mean you won’t have some rare coins in your piggy bank (or hidden in the cushions of your sofa, or tucked away in a seasonal jacket you haven’t worn in a while). You may have one of these rare coins and not even know it.
And if you are serious about looking for these rare coins, it makes sense to go to the bank and get wads of coins. Coin roll hunting is a real thing – and many serious collectors engage in the practice.
Nicole Spector contributed reporting to this article.