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The Lincoln cent from 1973 is a relatively frequent coin, and the Philadelphia Mint produced 3,728,245,000 such coins in only one year without a mintmark! So, why is a coin with over 4 billion instances that you can easily find in pocket change if you look hard worth enough far beyond face value, even when it’s worn worth more than face value?
It’s because these historic pennies are constructed of a bronze alloy containing 95 percent copper, which has recently become rather precious. It’s come to the point where the copper content of the pre-1982 Lincoln penny is now worth more than the face value of the coins!
How Much is a 1973 D Penny Worth?
A high-quality 1973 D Penny is worth $0.02. The 1973 D penny is valued the same as a Philly penny. The value of unworn 1973-D Lincoln pennies (also called uncirculated grade pennies) ranges from 10 – 30 cents. A Certified 1973 D Lincoln Penny with an MS+ grade can be valued at $9. 1973-D 1C MS67RD rare penny, reached $4,994.00 at auction.
In 2014, a 1973-D 1C graded MS67RD sold for $4,994.00 at auction. The coin industry makes a profit by finding the lowest-population, highest-grade pennies. A coin in perfect condition boosts its worth dramatically, yet being a die variety can also result in a profit. The majority of 1973 pennies in circulation are solely worth their copper weight.
The 1973 Mint costs between 10 and 25 dollars on Amazon or eBay. These are the most effective methods for locating coins that will boost your chances of receiving the highest grade, regardless of whether they have mistakes. A variation or mint mistake coin with the highest grade is like hitting the coin lottery. A sharp-eyed adolescent once discovered a million-dollar penny in his lunch money!
Each penny is currently worth around $0.02 in copper melt value. In an uncirculated state, these coins can only sell for a premium. In uncirculated form with an MS 65 grade, the 1973 penny without a mintmark and the 1973 D cent are worth roughly $0.30. An MS 65-graded uncirculated 1973 S penny is worth around $0.85. It is possible to buy a proof coin with an S mint mark for about $1 if perfect (PR 65). A total of 2,760,339 proof coins were produced.
Please see the summary:
- The Lincoln cent from 1973 is standard, with over 3.7 billion produced by the Philadelphia Mint in one year without a mintmark.
- Despite its abundance, its value exceeds face value due to its 95% copper composition, making the metal content worth more than the coin’s face value.
- A high-quality 1973 D Penny is valued at $0.02, with uncirculated grades ranging between 10 to 30 cents, and a Certified MS+ grade can go up to $9.
- A notable sale of a 1973-D 1C MS67RD reached $4,994.00 at auction, highlighting the value of low-population, high-grade coins.
- The majority of 1973 pennies are only worth their copper weight, but uncirculated coins can sell for a premium, with specific grades fetching different prices.
- There is a rare 1973 aluminum penny, created due to the high cost of copper, with some specimens still existing outside the mint’s possession despite the majority being destroyed.
- The 1973 D Penny has various errors, including double die, off-center strikes, re-punched mintmarks, and die breaks, with values depending on the error type.
- Without a mintmark, a 1973 D Penny in MS 65 grade is worth around $0.30, while a 1973 S penny in the same grade is about $0.85.
- Coins without mintmarks were typically produced in Philadelphia, with some being genuine errors and others worn or altered.
- The 1971 D Lincoln Memorial penny weighs 2.5 grams and has a diameter of 19.05mm, emphasizing the variety in coin specifications and values.
- Despite the large production, high-grade 1973 D Lincoln cents are valuable, with pristine conditions fetching up to $9 at auction.
Is There a 1973 Aluminum Penny?
Yes, there is a 1973 aluminum penny. The 1973 Aluminum penny is worth $0.01. In 1973, copper’s metallic worth was practically equivalent to its face value. Therefore, aluminum pennies were made by the authorities.
The government distributed a handful of aluminum pennies in 1973. Therefore, the only method to tell the difference between a 1974 D copper cent and a 1974 D aluminum cent is to look at the color. Depending on the state of the coin, copper cents will have a red, reddish-brown, or brown to darkish-brown tint on the surface. On average, a copper cent is reddish-brown, whereas an aluminum cent is lighter and silverfish; this varies depending on the coin’s oxidation level.
The United States Mint proposed the 1974 aluminum cent as a one-cent coin 1973. t was made of an aluminum alloy with trace metals and was designed to replace the copper-zinc cent owing to increased coin production costs in the old bronze alloy. One of the 1,571,167 coins made in anticipation of distribution was ever issued. The mint delivered several samples to US Congressmen to promote support for the new alloy. However, when the planned aluminum cent was rejected, the mint withdrew and destroyed the coins.
Following the recall, people did not send a small number of aluminum cents to the mint, and such coins can still be out there. Someone presented one to the Smithsonian Institution, and US Capitol Police Officer Albert P. Toven allegedly discovered another. In addition, Randall Lawrence found a 1974-D specimen in January 2014, claiming it was a retirement gift for his father, Harry Edmond Lawrence, who worked as Deputy Administrator at the Denver Mint.
Randall intended to sell it at a live auction, but the mint sought it back, claiming the currency had never been approved for the issue and thus remained US government property. Eventually, the mint proved that the aluminum cent had never been permitted to be made in Denver. Ultimately, there was no indication that the currency was given as a gift. Lawrence (and his coin store partner Michael McConnell) eventually relinquished the coin.
What is the Error on the 1973 D Penny?
There are four different types of error on the 1973 D Penny. The penny has a Double die, off-center striking, pre-punched mintmark & die-break errors. The value of these 1973 D Error Penny depends on the type of error.
It’s reasonable to assume it’s what’s known as a “double die” sort of coin mistake. The off-center striking, which results in a crescent-shaped blank region on the impacted coin, is one of the most prevalent faults. E-punched Mintmark Penny from 1973. IE Pennies & Die Break Pennies from 1973
While several 1973 doubled-die pennyworths seek, none are considered significant and highly precious. Here are, however, a few small duplicated deaths that one should be on the lookout for! First, search for one 1973 doubled die having inscription, date, and Lincoln’s eye and bowtie doubling. Depending on the amount of the doubling, these 1973 doubled dies could cost anywhere from $25 to $100.
Most off-center mistakes are about 1% or 2% off-center, and while technically an error, they aren’t often severe enough to warrant a premium. On the other hand, nine hundred seventy-three pennies that are 5% to 10% off-center can fetch $10 to $20. If you locate one that’s 50 percent off-center but still has all of the date and mintmark, you’ve struck gold — a coin like that is worth more than $100!
Coiners at the United States Mint had to hand-punch the mintmark onto working dies back in 1973, which left a lot of possibility for human mistake. Authorities made mistakes. They usually rectified them by punching the wrong or misplaced mintmark with a different one. Although Mintmark variants are tiny and widespread, they are nonetheless collectible. The value of most re-punched mintmarks ranges from $3 to $10, depending on the degree of variation and the coin’s unique condition.
As a coin dies ages, it will show indications of wear and tear, including die breakage. The raised lines, squiggles, and bumps from die breaks appear on the struck coin. The die crack’s size, position, and overall significance determine the value of a coin with a die break. I.e., break faults from 1973 are worth anything from $3 to more than $100. In addition, Lincoln pennies are renowned for a unique die break known as a BIE fault. These specific die breaks resemble the capital letter “I” and appear between the letters “B” and “E” in the word “LIBERTY.” The value of a 1973 BIE Lincoln cent ranges from $5 to $10.
How Much is a 1973 D Penny no Mint Mark Worth?
In uncirculated form with an MS 65 grade, the 1973 penny without a mint mark and the 1973 D cent are valued at roughly $0.30. n uncirculated form, a 1973 S penny with an MS 65 grade is worth approximately $0.85. In PR 65 condition, proof coins with an S mintmark are worth around $1.
If a US coin’s date is inscribed without a mintmark, it signifies the piece has no mintmark and was produced (typically) in Philadelphia. Coins produced in Philadelphia without mintmarks are occasionally referred to as 1927-P, although the piece has no mintmark. The evaluation of each coin determines whether or not it is an error coin without any mintmark or other missing details.
Certain coins with no mintmark are genuine mistakes. Meanwhile, authorities never meant for most others to have one in the first place. Similarly, many coins contain letters that are missing. These are occasionally faulty coins, but other times, the inscription has been wiped off by those outside the mint, or it’s just a regular coin with a lot of wear. Any coins are missing a few characters, a date number or two, or even whole inscriptions! Some of these coins are genuine errors, while others show symptoms of post-mint deterioration.
How Much Does a 1971 D Penny Weigh?
The 1971 D Lincoln Memorial penny weighs 2.5 grams the 1971 D Lincoln Memorial penny’s diameter is 19.05mm t is a lightweight coin.
The coin is uncommon because authorities made nearly 3 billion 1973 D Lincoln cents in Denver. Most of the 1973 D Lincoln cents that have been graded are worth their face value. Like the 1973 D Lincoln cents, certain outliers have an MS-70 rating and are in pristine condition. These coins sell for roughly $9 at public auction as of February 2017.
In comparison, the 1973 Philadelphia-minted Lincoln cents sell for $8 at a live auction, so interestingly, there isn’t much difference. However, San Francisco produced just 300 million Lincoln cents in 1973, ten times fewer than Denver and Philadelphia; a 1973 S Lincoln penny in MS-70 costs only around $9. the 1973 penny’s unique feature is that it can not be so unique; values, on the other hand, can fluctuate at any time.
Conclusion
Overall, 1973 D Penny is worth collecting. One of a young teenager’s first projects will likely be collecting Lincoln cents, a wise decision. They’re stylish, convenient to store, and inexpensive ven when collecting “rank and file” Lincoln cents, you should be cautious to ensure that they are graded as stated American Numismatic Association offers a detailed guide on grading Lincoln cents e hope that you must have acknowledged everything about 1973 D Penny.
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