The greater the imperfections the greater the value for some of these rare gems from the 1980s, and they’re new enough that these valuable coins could still be in your pockets and drawers
When American inspirational author Orison Swett Marden said, “One penny may seem to you a very insignificant thing, but it is the small seed from which fortunes spring,” he was not mistaken.
The 1980s, synonymous with consumerism and decadence, birthed an elite quartet of coins that can bring its present-day owner hundreds and thousands of dollars in hard cash.
Although modern, these invaluable coins may be hiding in your purses or piggy banks- some with imperfections that make them priceless!
The United States Mint released the Susan B. Anthony dollar coin in 1979, named after the eponymous American women’s rights activist and pioneer of the women’s suffrage movement.
While they hyped up its release, the public was not very accepting of it, said CoinWeek, making the wide-rim dollar coin one of the greatest misfires in minting history.
Due to low demand, the coin was discontinued in 1981 before being briefly revived in 1999.
While most Susan B. Anthony dollars will not fetch much money, some of the 1980s examples had an error that crowded the date and widened the rim. These are the coveted collectors’ items that can help you make a bank.
One such coin is selling for $600 on eBay with another for $575. Other such coins are selling for more than $1000.
Some Susan B. Anthony dollars may sell for up to $1000(Image: Getty Images)
The erroneous coins produced by the Philadelphia Mint in 1984, too, can fetch a big dollar amount.
In 1984, the Mint made 676,545,000 George Washington quarters while the Denver Mint produced 546,483,064.
While most are not of any worth, some were double-struck or overstruck, said Coin Value Checker.
These error coins have been listed for anywhere between $150 to $250 with some even selling for $2000 depending on the magnitude of the error.
Some 1984 error coins may sell for up to $2000(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
In 1986, the San Francisco Mint made 3,792,233 S Proof pennies. While the common ones do not command any value, specific collectors’ favorites have a more detailed design with a mirror-like finish.
These often sell for $185. One 1986-S Proof Lincoln penny, in particular, sold for a record amount of $3,450 in 2003, Professional Coin Grading Service said.
One 1986 red penny was sold for $2400 in 2019(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
In 1986, less than 100 full red pennies were minted. The color of these coins came from its higher copper content.
Considered a collector’s delight, high quality red pennies sell for about $175.
However, Professional Coin Grading Service said that one particular coin sold on eBay brought in nearly $2,400 in 2019.
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