Do you have this rare Lincoln penny? It could be worth $100,000
A simple penny you've overlooked could be worth a life-changing amount. One rare 2001-D Lincoln cent has made waves in the numismatic world for an extraordinary reason: a minting error that combines the front of a penny with the back of a dime.
This so-called 'mule error' coin, produced at the Denver Mint, has sold for over $100,000 at auction. While it looks like an ordinary penny on one side, flipping it over reveals a design never meant to be there. If you have one, even in poor shape, it could still be worth tens of thousands.
What makes this Lincoln penny so special
The 2001-D Lincoln cent mule error is a result of a rare mistake at the Denver Mint. While the front (obverse) of the coin features the usual portrait of Abraham Lincoln, the reverse side is where things take a surprising turn: instead of the Lincoln Memorial, it shows the reverse of a Roosevelt dime.
This unexpected pairing of obverse and reverse designs is called a "mule" error—an accidental blend of two different coins.
How rare is the 2001-D
mule error coin
Only a handful of these coins are known to exist, making them incredibly rare. Experts believe fewer than 10 may have ever entered circulation. Because of this rarity, they've become highly valuable in the collector market. Even damaged or worn versions of this coin could sell for $20,000 or more.
Record auction sales
Four of these rare coins have already made headlines with their auction results:
$114,000 for a PCGS MS66RD on June 17, 2021
$78,000 for a PCGS MS65RD on February 24, 2022
$66,000 for another PCGS MS65RD on August 24, 2022
$114,000 for a second PCGS MS66RD on January 11, 2024
These figures reflect the coin's growing demand and scarcity, especially among error coin collectors.
Could you own one?
Because these coins were unintentionally released into circulation, it's possible—though extremely unlikely—that one could still be found in everyday pocket change. The key is to look for a 2001 penny with a "D" mint mark (for Denver) on the front, and then check the reverse.
If it shows the torch, olive branch, and oak branch design found on a Roosevelt dime instead of the Lincoln Memorial, you may have something special.
While the odds of finding this mint error are slim, it's a reminder of how even small mistakes can create big value in the world of numismatics. So next time you empty your wallet, take a moment to inspect your coins—you might just be holding a $100,000 treasure.
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2 days ago
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That Lincoln penny in your drawer might be worth $100,000 if it has this rare mint error on the back
A rare 2001-D Lincoln cent mule error coin, featuring a Roosevelt dime reverse, has garnered significant attention among collectors. These coins, mistakenly produced at the Denver Mint, have fetched impressive prices at auction, with some selling for over $100,000. Due to their extreme rarity, even those in poor condition can command substantial sums. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads The Rare 2001-D Mule Error Explained Auction Sales of the 2001-D Lincoln Cent Mule Error Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads PCGS MS66RD: sold for $114,000 on June 17, 2021 PCGS MS65RD: sold for $78,000 on Feb. 24, 2022 PCGS MS65RD: sold for $66,000 on Aug. 24, 2022 PCGS MS66RD: sold for $114,000 on Jan. 11, 2024 FAQs There's a penny out there that looks ordinary at first, until you flip it over, known as the 2001-D Lincoln cent mule error coin, and it is so rare that it was twice sold at auction for over $100,000, as per a to a GoBankingRates report, this mistakenly produced coin was struck at the Denver Mint and has Abraham Lincoln's face on the front, like any other penny, but the reverse side is where things get unusual: instead of the Lincoln Memorial, it has the back of a Roosevelt dime, as per the wrote that, 'The 2001-D Lincoln cent mule falls in the category of Mint errors that conceivably could have been produced by mistake and released unnoticed into circulation,' as per READ: Are you falling behind? The age-by-age breakdown of how much Americans should have saved for retirement by now However, these error coins are highly prized by collectors and often get very high prices in auctions, as per the report. One of the few 2001-D Lincoln cent mule coins was sold at an auction via Heritage Auctions last year for six figures, and it is the fourth such coin to sell at auction, reported CoinWeek. While Heritage Auctions has previously sold the other three at high prices, as per the wrote, "When you include the four mentioned above, the total might not reach double figures. Because they're so hard to find, even those in poor condition can fetch up to $20,000."It's a rare US penny that mistakenly has a Roosevelt dime's reverse side instead of the Lincoln it's an extremely rare mint error. Only a few are known to exist, making it highly desirable among collectors.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
Do you have this rare Lincoln penny? It could be worth $100,000
A simple penny you've overlooked could be worth a life-changing amount. One rare 2001-D Lincoln cent has made waves in the numismatic world for an extraordinary reason: a minting error that combines the front of a penny with the back of a dime. This so-called 'mule error' coin, produced at the Denver Mint, has sold for over $100,000 at auction. While it looks like an ordinary penny on one side, flipping it over reveals a design never meant to be there. If you have one, even in poor shape, it could still be worth tens of thousands. What makes this Lincoln penny so special The 2001-D Lincoln cent mule error is a result of a rare mistake at the Denver Mint. While the front (obverse) of the coin features the usual portrait of Abraham Lincoln, the reverse side is where things take a surprising turn: instead of the Lincoln Memorial, it shows the reverse of a Roosevelt dime. This unexpected pairing of obverse and reverse designs is called a "mule" error—an accidental blend of two different coins. How rare is the 2001-D mule error coin Only a handful of these coins are known to exist, making them incredibly rare. Experts believe fewer than 10 may have ever entered circulation. Because of this rarity, they've become highly valuable in the collector market. Even damaged or worn versions of this coin could sell for $20,000 or more. Record auction sales Four of these rare coins have already made headlines with their auction results: $114,000 for a PCGS MS66RD on June 17, 2021 $78,000 for a PCGS MS65RD on February 24, 2022 $66,000 for another PCGS MS65RD on August 24, 2022 $114,000 for a second PCGS MS66RD on January 11, 2024 These figures reflect the coin's growing demand and scarcity, especially among error coin collectors. Could you own one? Because these coins were unintentionally released into circulation, it's possible—though extremely unlikely—that one could still be found in everyday pocket change. The key is to look for a 2001 penny with a "D" mint mark (for Denver) on the front, and then check the reverse. If it shows the torch, olive branch, and oak branch design found on a Roosevelt dime instead of the Lincoln Memorial, you may have something special. While the odds of finding this mint error are slim, it's a reminder of how even small mistakes can create big value in the world of numismatics. So next time you empty your wallet, take a moment to inspect your coins—you might just be holding a $100,000 treasure.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
That Lincoln penny in your drawer might be worth $100,000 if it has this rare mint error on the back
A rare 2001-D Lincoln cent mule error coin, featuring a Roosevelt dime reverse, has garnered significant attention among collectors. These coins, mistakenly produced at the Denver Mint, have fetched impressive prices at auction, with some selling for over $100,000. Due to their extreme rarity, even those in poor condition can command substantial sums. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads The Rare 2001-D Mule Error Explained Auction Sales of the 2001-D Lincoln Cent Mule Error Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads PCGS MS66RD: sold for $114,000 on June 17, 2021 PCGS MS65RD: sold for $78,000 on Feb. 24, 2022 PCGS MS65RD: sold for $66,000 on Aug. 24, 2022 PCGS MS66RD: sold for $114,000 on Jan. 11, 2024 FAQs There's a penny out there that looks ordinary at first, until you flip it over, known as the 2001-D Lincoln cent mule error coin, and it is so rare that it was twice sold at auction for over $100,000, as per a to a GoBankingRates report, this mistakenly produced coin was struck at the Denver Mint and has Abraham Lincoln's face on the front, like any other penny, but the reverse side is where things get unusual: instead of the Lincoln Memorial, it has the back of a Roosevelt dime, as per the wrote that, 'The 2001-D Lincoln cent mule falls in the category of Mint errors that conceivably could have been produced by mistake and released unnoticed into circulation,' as per READ: Are you falling behind? The age-by-age breakdown of how much Americans should have saved for retirement by now However, these error coins are highly prized by collectors and often get very high prices in auctions, as per the report. One of the few 2001-D Lincoln cent mule coins was sold at an auction via Heritage Auctions last year for six figures, and it is the fourth such coin to sell at auction, reported CoinWeek. While Heritage Auctions has previously sold the other three at high prices, as per the wrote, "When you include the four mentioned above, the total might not reach double figures. Because they're so hard to find, even those in poor condition can fetch up to $20,000."It's a rare US penny that mistakenly has a Roosevelt dime's reverse side instead of the Lincoln it's an extremely rare mint error. Only a few are known to exist, making it highly desirable among collectors.
