Cherry Picking Pocket Change for Profit

 

Dale Moore (PCGS Bulk Grader) - June 23, 2008

Finding a die variety in your pocket change may be easier than you think... Carrying all the numismatic references is impractical, so the following list of varieties can be printed out and placed inside your wallet or purse. The information below will list significant die varieties which can be found in pocket change and an explanation of the main pickup points. The list below only comprises modern coins dated 1965 to date.

Tips for Cherry Picking:
First of all, investing in a 10X loupe small enough to keep in your pocket will be extremely helpful. Since some of the varities on this list are very faint, it will be extremely helpful to have the right tools to do the job. The 10X loupe will more than pay for itself when you find one of the valuable varieties from this list.

Abbreviations
DDO=double die obverse
DDR=double die reverse
OM=over mintmark
MM=missing mintmark

DATE Value Variety WHERE TO LOOK
.01 1969-S $3500-XF   DDO Date, Liberty, In God We Trust
1970-S LG. $2000-XF DDO Liberty, In God We Trust
1971-P $150-MS63 DDO God, Liberty
1972-P $N/A DDO Liberty, Date
1972-P $300-MS65 DDO East of God, north of L in Liberty
1980 $250-MS65 DDO Date, Liberty
1980-D $250-MS65 OM Look just north of the mintmark for a faint S
1983-P $100-MS63 DDO In God, Liberty
1983-P $100-MS63 DDO Date, inside the B of Liberty
1983-P $N/A DDR South of all letters on reverse
1984-P $N/A DDO Extra ear lobe south of Lincolns ear
1984-P $75-MS65 DDO Tail of 9, Liberty
1994-P $100-MS65 DDR Inside the columns to the right of the building
1995-P $50-MS65 DDO In God, Liberty
1995-D $350-MS65 DDO In God We Trust, date, mintmark
1997-P $124-MS65 DDO Extra ear lobe south of Lincoln's ear
.05 2004-P Peace $N/A DDO Doubling on the date and mintmark
2005-D Bison $N/A Speared Bison Look for an extra line that runs through the bison vertically from his shoulder to his stomach
.10 1967-P $100-AU50 DDO South of God, south of designer's initials
1970-P $150-MS60 DDR West of letters ED in United and ES in States
1982 $100-MS60 MM Missing mintmark
2004-D $N/A curved line Look for a curved line coin through the ear
.25 1965-P $550-MS60 DDO North of In God We Trust, north of BE in Liberty
1966-P $600-MS60 DDR East of States, of E Pluribus Unum
1968-D $450-MS60 DDR East of UNI in United, east of RIC in America
1970-D $500-MS60 DDO West of 97 in date, west of motto
1970-D $300-MS60 DDO East of R in Liberty, split serifs on L and I in Liberty
1971-D $300-MS60 DDR West of America
1976-D $750-MS65 DDO West of RTY in Liberty
2004-D Wisconsin $250-MS60 High Leaf Look to the west of the corn husk on the reverse for a single line
2004-D Wisconsin $150-MS60 Low Leaf Look to the west of the corn husk on the reverse for two lines that look like a leaf
2005-P and D $TO MANY TO LIST There are too many varieties on the Minnesota state quarters to list but you should keep an eye out for any type of doubling
.50 1974-D $100-MS65 DDO Southwest of the word Trust
1.00 1979-P $100-MS65 Wide Rim The date is very close to the rim of the coin. This variety is also known as the NEAR DATE
2000-P $N/A Enhanced Die Look at the tail feathers on the eagle east of the talons; they will be very detailed. Also known as the Cheerios variety
Presidential Dollars $N/A DDO Many of the new Presidential dollars have been found with the edge lettering missing, very faint, and even doubled





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