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Indianapolis Star
11-05-2025
- Business
- Indianapolis Star
Are your old pennies worth millions? Experts say you shouldn't bank on it
Do you own an old penny worth as much as a million dollars? Experts say it's highly unlikely. You may have seen one of many headlines blasted online lately about valuable pennies in circulation, "Lincoln Wheat Penny Worth $124M You Could Have at Home" reads one, but the reality is most pennies are worth one cent or possibly a bit more. Reality does not meet the hype, according to one expert. "There are million-dollar pennies, but there are no $100 million pennies," said Donn Pearlman, spokesman for the Professional Numismatists Guild (PNG), a nonprofit organization composed of many of the nation's rare coin experts. "Only a few Lincoln cents dated 1909 to 1959 with the wheat stalks design on the back ("wheat pennies") have sold for $1 million or more." The most valuable U.S. coin ever, a $20 gold piece, a 1933 "Double Eagle" coin, sold for $18.9 million at auction in 2021. The most valuable pennies, which are rare but possibly still in circulation, are 1943 copper Lincoln wheat pennies, a few of which were produced accidentally as the U.S. mints were supposed to use zinc to save copper for the World War II effort, said John Feigenbaum, publisher of rare coin price guide Greysheet. In rare cases, some 1943 pennies have sold for $1 million, while one went for more than $200,000 at an auction in 2019. Big Lots: Retailer set to open more than 70 stores: Is your store on the list? Depending on their condition, those 1943 Lincoln wheat pennies would be worth at most between $100,000 and $250,000, Feigenbaum told USA TODAY. But the likelihood of having a near-priceless penny is similar to "saying your lottery ticket might be worth $100,000. Of course, anything is possible, right? But not likely," said Feigenbaum, who is also the PNG's executive director. So-called "wheat pennies" get their name from the back of the coin having stalks of wheat encircling the "One Cent" text. They were produced from 1909 to 1958. In 1959, the wheat stalks were shorn and pennies began displaying an engraving of the Lincoln Memorial. Most Lincoln wheat pennies are not super-valuable and are worth just a few cents more than one cent. However, some may escalate into the hundreds of dollars, depending on the condition and when minted. Certain vintages, especially with minting errors, may be worth thousands. You can see the NGC price guide here. But headlines about super-valuable "Lincoln wheat pennies" stretch the imagination. Most likely, the headlines are created by artificial intelligence to drive traffic to a website, Feigenbaum said. "These coins are improbably in people's change," he said. Still, all the online-stirred interest has resulted in "coin shops being inundated with these folks who believe they have something rare, but they don't," according to Feigenbaum. Increased interest in coins has led to overvalued coins being sold on eBay and Etsy, plus there are counterfeit Lincoln wheat pennies made in China being hawked. "If I've seen these coins ... somebody is every now and again being taken advantage of," Feigenbaum said. Even though the most valuable coins are usually in collections and have very publicly been "sold and resold," Feigenbaum said, sometimes people may inherit a cache of well-preserved coins or purchase some at an estate sale. Mike Snider is a reporter on USA TODAY's Trending team. You can follow him on Threads, Bluesky, X and email him at mikegsnider & @ & @mikesnider & msnider@
Indianapolis Star
11-05-2025
- Business
- Indianapolis Star
Are your old pennies worth millions? Experts say you shouldn't bank on it
Do you own an old penny worth as much as a million dollars? Experts say it's highly unlikely. You may have seen one of many headlines blasted online lately about valuable pennies in circulation, "Lincoln Wheat Penny Worth $124M You Could Have at Home" reads one, but the reality is most pennies are worth one cent or possibly a bit more. Reality does not meet the hype, according to one expert. "There are million-dollar pennies, but there are no $100 million pennies," said Donn Pearlman, spokesman for the Professional Numismatists Guild (PNG), a nonprofit organization composed of many of the nation's rare coin experts. "Only a few Lincoln cents dated 1909 to 1959 with the wheat stalks design on the back ("wheat pennies") have sold for $1 million or more." The most valuable U.S. coin ever, a $20 gold piece, a 1933 "Double Eagle" coin, sold for $18.9 million at auction in 2021. The most valuable pennies, which are rare but possibly still in circulation, are 1943 copper Lincoln wheat pennies, a few of which were produced accidentally as the U.S. mints were supposed to use zinc to save copper for the World War II effort, said John Feigenbaum, publisher of rare coin price guide Greysheet. In rare cases, some 1943 pennies have sold for $1 million, while one went for more than $200,000 at an auction in 2019. Big Lots: Retailer set to open more than 70 stores: Is your store on the list? Depending on their condition, those 1943 Lincoln wheat pennies would be worth at most between $100,000 and $250,000, Feigenbaum told USA TODAY. But the likelihood of having a near-priceless penny is similar to "saying your lottery ticket might be worth $100,000. Of course, anything is possible, right? But not likely," said Feigenbaum, who is also the PNG's executive director. So-called "wheat pennies" get their name from the back of the coin having stalks of wheat encircling the "One Cent" text. They were produced from 1909 to 1958. In 1959, the wheat stalks were shorn and pennies began displaying an engraving of the Lincoln Memorial. Most Lincoln wheat pennies are not super-valuable and are worth just a few cents more than one cent. However, some may escalate into the hundreds of dollars, depending on the condition and when minted. Certain vintages, especially with minting errors, may be worth thousands. You can see the NGC price guide here. But headlines about super-valuable "Lincoln wheat pennies" stretch the imagination. Most likely, the headlines are created by artificial intelligence to drive traffic to a website, Feigenbaum said. "These coins are improbably in people's change," he said. Still, all the online-stirred interest has resulted in "coin shops being inundated with these folks who believe they have something rare, but they don't," according to Feigenbaum. Increased interest in coins has led to overvalued coins being sold on eBay and Etsy, plus there are counterfeit Lincoln wheat pennies made in China being hawked. "If I've seen these coins ... somebody is every now and again being taken advantage of," Feigenbaum said. Even though the most valuable coins are usually in collections and have very publicly been "sold and resold," Feigenbaum said, sometimes people may inherit a cache of well-preserved coins or purchase some at an estate sale. Mike Snider is a reporter on USA TODAY's Trending team. You can follow him on Threads, Bluesky, X and email him at mikegsnider & @ & @mikesnider & msnider@
USA Today
10-05-2025
- Business
- USA Today
Are your old pennies worth millions? Experts say you shouldn't bank on it
Are your old pennies worth millions? Experts say you shouldn't bank on it Lincoln wheat pennies, produced from 1909 to 1958, had stalks of wheat engraved on the back before the look changed in 1959. But online hype has folks thinking some of the pennies are worth millions. Show Caption Hide Caption Donald Trump tells Treasury Department to stop making pennies President Donald Trump told the Treasury Department to stop making pennies, citing production costs. Do you own an old penny worth as much as a million dollars? Experts say it's highly unlikely. You may have seen one of many headlines blasted online lately about valuable pennies in circulation, "Lincoln Wheat Penny Worth $124M You Could Have at Home" reads one, but the reality is most pennies are worth one cent or possibly a bit more. Reality does not meet the hype, according to one expert. "There are million-dollar pennies, but there are no $100 million pennies," said Donn Pearlman, spokesman for the Professional Numismatists Guild (PNG), a nonprofit organization composed of many of the nation's rare coin experts. "Only a few Lincoln cents dated 1909 to 1959 with the wheat stalks design on the back ("wheat pennies") have sold for $1 million or more." The most valuable U.S. coin ever, a $20 gold piece, a 1933 "Double Eagle" coin, sold for $18.9 million at auction in 2021. The most valuable pennies, which are rare but possibly still in circulation, are 1943 copper Lincoln wheat pennies, a few of which were produced accidentally as the U.S. mints were supposed to use zinc to save copper for the World War II effort, said John Feigenbaum, publisher of rare coin price guide Greysheet. In rare cases, some 1943 pennies have sold for $1 million, while one went for more than $200,000 at an auction in 2019. Big Lots: Retailer set to open more than 70 stores: Is your store on the list? Depending on their condition, those 1943 Lincoln wheat pennies would be worth at most between $100,000 and $250,000, Feigenbaum told USA TODAY. But the likelihood of having a near-priceless penny is similar to "saying your lottery ticket might be worth $100,000. Of course, anything is possible, right? But not likely," said Feigenbaum, who is also the PNG's executive director. What are wheat pennies worth? So-called "wheat pennies" get their name from the back of the coin having stalks of wheat encircling the "One Cent" text. They were produced from 1909 to 1958. In 1959, the wheat stalks were shorn and pennies began displaying an engraving of the Lincoln Memorial. Most Lincoln wheat pennies are not super-valuable and are worth just a few cents more than one cent. However, some may escalate into the hundreds of dollars, depending on the condition and when minted. Certain vintages, especially with minting errors, may be worth thousands. You can see the NGC price guide here. But headlines about super-valuable "Lincoln wheat pennies" stretch the imagination. Most likely, the headlines are created by artificial intelligence to drive traffic to a website, Feigenbaum said. "These coins are improbably in people's change," he said. Still, all the online-stirred interest has resulted in "coin shops being inundated with these folks who believe they have something rare, but they don't," according to Feigenbaum. Increased interest in coins has led to overvalued coins being sold on eBay and Etsy, plus there are counterfeit Lincoln wheat pennies made in China being hawked. "If I've seen these coins ... somebody is every now and again being taken advantage of," Feigenbaum said. What should I do if I have some pennies or other coins I think are valuable? Even though the most valuable coins are usually in collections and have very publicly been "sold and resold," Feigenbaum said, sometimes people may inherit a cache of well-preserved coins or purchase some at an estate sale. Mike Snider is a reporter on USA TODAY's Trending team. You can follow him on Threads, Bluesky, X and email him at mikegsnider & @ & @mikesnider & msnider@ What's everyone talking about? Sign up for our trending newsletter to get the latest news of the day
Boston Globe
08-04-2025
- Boston Globe
Alleged drunk driver in fatal South Boston crashed held on $100,000 bail
Romero wore a blue hooded sweatshirt as he stood in the dock listening to a Spanish translation of the proceedings on earphones. He occasionally shut his eyes as Assistant District Attorney Lynn Feigenbaum recited a brief statement of facts. Advertisement Around 9:20 a.m. on Jan. 12, Romero was driving on Southampton Street toward Dorchester Avenue, Feigenbaum said. He approached that intersection traveling 'at a high rate of speed' and 'veered across the double yellow [line] into the wrong side of the road,' Feigenbaum said. At that time, Noah Greany was 'walking home from Dunkin' Donuts across Southampton Street and was fatally struck by Mr. Romero,' Feigenbaum said. 'After striking Mr. Greany, the car driven by Mr. Romero crashed into the Small Victories restaurant located at 400 Dorchester Avenue.' Greany was taken to Boston Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead. Romero and his passenger were both taken to Tufts Medical Center. 'Mr. Romero was interviewed at the hospital, where he stated that while he was heading to work, he felt the car was giving gas on its own,' Feigenbaum said. 'He was asked if he had been drinking any alcohol or had any drugs, and he stated no, [shaking] his head in the negative.' Advertisement She said security video showed the vehicle initially heading toward Andrew Square at a proper rate of speed and in the correct lane. But then the car 'appears to accelerate through the intersection towards Andrew Square ... The motor vehicle strikes Mr. Greany with the front passenger side corner, throwing him into the intersection.' Romero's blood was drawn at the hospital with an alcohol level calculated at between .091 and .096, Feigenbaum said. The legal limit is .08. Feigenbaum said Romero has no previous convictions but was charged in 2019 with negligent use of a motor vehicle. That case was continued without a finding. Romero's lawyer, Virgen M. Palermo, requested that bail be set at a couple of thousand dollars, saying that $100,000 is 'too much' for her client. She said Romero has worked the same job at a seafood facility in South Boston for decades and lives with his romantic partner and their six children, two from her prior relationships. The couple has 5-year-old twins, and Romero was dropping his partner off at her restaurant job at the time of the crash, according to Palermo, who said her client voluntarily turned himself in to authorities. 'They were ... in the car talking about Chuck E. Cheese for the birthday for the twins when all of this stuff happens,' Palermo said. 'It appears that the car is going fine ... and then all of a sudden it doesn't, and that I think is consistent with something wrong' with the vehicle itself. Advertisement Palermo said Romero bought the used car for $2,500 and repeatedly brought it back to the seller for repairs. She said he indicated that the night before the crash, he drank about five beers and perhaps a glass of wine while he was cooking with his partner. 'So there are two questions here that need to be examined,' Palermo said. 'One is whether, what is the rate of metabolism of alcohol that he's drinking the night before, and it still shows up in the blood in his system, the question is to what extent that was affecting ... his ability to drive carefully.' And, she said, 'what is the condition of this car that he is in?' Greany's mother, Marie Lambalot Greany, said shortly after her son's death that he 'had so much left to give this world.' Greany grew up in Mattapoisett with his parents and younger sister, Grace. He went to high school at Tabor Academy in Marion. A high academic achiever, Greany set his mind to attending Northeastern University. He excelled there, receiving a bachelor's degree in cellular and molecular biology in 2021, followed by a master's degree in bioinformatics enterprise in 2022. He worked at the time of his death at Hayden Consulting Group, a Boston-based health care consulting firm. 'He was doing what he loved, researching and trying to make the world better,' his mother said. 'We had this family saying that with his brains and everything about him, he was meant to do great things in this world.' Advertisement At the time of the crash, Greany had left his girlfriend's home and was walking a few blocks to his apartment, where he planned to watch soccer with some friends, his mother said. He stopped at a coffee shop and was talking with a childhood friend about an upcoming soccer game, she said. When he didn't return home, his friends became concerned. After they saw a social media post about a car crash in Andrew Square, they checked his location app. His phone was in the same spot as the crash, his mother said. 'He didn't suffer,' his mother said. 'That's all we could have hoped for." She recalled that when her sometimes distracted son went to Northeastern, she and her husband worried about him crossing the Green Line tracks that run by the campus. 'You know, smart kids with no common sense? My husband and I, our nightmare was that he was going to cross those train tracks and not look. But he survived his years at Northeastern,' she said. 'It was just some freak accident on a Sunday that he died that way. Our worst nightmare. Crossing the street in Boston. In a crosswalk. Like we taught him." Material from prior Globe stories was used in this report. Travis Andersen can be reached at
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Report: California Continues To Spend a Lot of Money on Poor Quality Roads
Despite the enactment of a $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill in 2021, which included $350 billion for federal highway programs, America's highway quality and spending in recent years haven't seen major changes. There's been a small uptick in spending, a small uptick in highway quality, and a small decrease in congestion. But a revolution on America's roads this is not. "Things are pretty much steady," says Baruch Feigenbaum, the senior managing director of transportation policy at the Reason Foundation (which publishes this website) and lead author of its latest annual highway report. The 2025 report ranks state highway systems across a range of metrics, including capital and maintenance spending, rural and urban pavement quality, traffic congestion, bridge quality, and safety. Similar to reports in recent years, North Carolina and Virginia continue to be top performers, respectively ranking first and fourth on this year's report. (Virginia was ranked first on last year's report.) Both states scored high on pavement quality and relatively low highway spending. Feigenbaum chalks this up to these states using quantitative metrics to select highway projects and having dedicated maintenance units within their departments of transportation. States like California that rely less on more politicized processes to select projects tend to rank much lower on the report. Despite being one of the highest spending states, it has some of the worst pavement quality, worst traffic congestion, and an uninspiring safety record. "You can spend above average if everything else in your system is good and still get an excellent ranking," says Feigenbaum, pointing to Utah (which scored eighth on the report) as an example. The state's spending is on the high side, but it also ranks highly on pavement quality, safety, and congestion. States like California and New Jersey both spend a lot of money for no apparent improvement in performance. Feigenbaum gives a couple of reasons why the infrastructure law passed during the Biden administration has failed to make a noticeable impact on the country's highways. The past administration had been relatively slow at spending highway dollars and the data from the 2025 highway report are from 2022. The infrastructure bill was also primarily nonhighway spending. And as The Economist noted back in 2023, the Biden administration's profligacy was self-defeating. While the amount of appropriated infrastructure dollars increased a lot, so did inflation (itself largely a result of pandemic-era government spending). The net result was a real decline in infrastructure spending. Early on in the pandemic, there were fears that a post-COVID return to the office mixed with a collapse in people taking public transit would result in spiking urban congestion. The Reason report finds that that hasn't been the case generally. Transit ridership is down 30 percent from pre-pandemic levels, according to the latest federal report on ridership trends. But this year's Reason highway report also shows congestion falling generally, driven by a larger decrease in morning traffic congestion and mitigated slightly by increases in daytime traffic and evening congestion. The report's congestion data is from 2022, but more recent measures of national traffic patterns also show a general decline in congestion. The August 2024 report from the Federal Highway Administration on urban congestion trends (which relies on data from 2023) shows congestion falling that year as well—although it has increased in some individual metro areas. Feigenbaum says this reflects the post-pandemic rise of more remote work and more flexible office hours. The post Report: California Continues To Spend a Lot of Money on Poor Quality Roads appeared first on
