Look for high-grade mint state examples, rotated dies, trails, lathe lines, CUDs and retained CUDs, and very strong die clashes on both obverse and reverse of the coin. Also look for mint-produced errors such as clipped planchets, partially plated planchets, struck off-center, strong misaligned dies, broad-struck, struck through, multiple-strike, partially clipped planchets, capped dies, off-metal strikes, and so on. All these things will command a premium over face value. Damage to the coin after after the striking process will NOT command a premium and will drastically reduce the value of the coin and/or variety/error. In some cases reducing the value to face value (1¢).

Shield Reverse (2010-present)

Obverse ----- Look at the “RTY” of “LIBERTY” and the date for extra thickness, distortion, and
notching. Also look at the ear lobe for any signs of doubling. Many times the
appearance of a doubled ear lobe will be a plating bubble which can be very
deceiving in appearance. When determining if what you’re seeing is hob related; look at the surrounding design features to see if there is any similar doubling that would give evidence of a doubled die. Also, remember that the mint mark stopped being hand punched into the dies in 1989 and were placed on the actual design of the obverse with the following year. This means that if you think you may have found a re punched mint mark on a coin dated 1990-preesent; look for signs of the Date, Liberty, and In God We Trust being doubled. Many cases a slight case of machine doubling, plating disturbance doubling, or split-plate doubling will be the culprit of the appearance but there is a possibility of it actually being a doubled die.

Reverse ----- Look at “LB”, “JFM”, and “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” for extra thickness, distortion, and notching. Since the motto “E PLURIBUS UNUM” in incused into the die, the letters will appear thin and in some cases “ITALICS”.

Bicentennial Reverse (2009)

Obverse ----- Look at the “RTY” of “LIBERTY”, “IN GOD WE TRUST”, and the date for extra thickness, distortion, and notching. Also look at the ear lobe for any signs of doubling.

Reverse ----- Look at each of the artist initials, “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” for extra thickness, distortion, and notching. Also look at the very center of the coin for indication of any centrally-located doubling. Formative years you’ll look at the hand holding the book. Early childhood you’ll look at the ends of the logs in center of the coin (usually directly to the left of the bottom of the window). Professional life you’ll look for doubling of the window frames and pillars. (This will usually appear from the middle of the top window down to the top of the bottom window of the 3rd bay from the left. It will also appear on the columns on either side of bay 3. Presidency you will look at the area that has the window frame with the circle above it, two empty bays, and then the window with the square above it that is in middle of the coin. Most generally this will show extra thickness and distortion in the window frames and columns.

2001-2008

Obverse ----- Look at the “RTY” of “LIBERTY” and the date for extra thickness, distortion, and notching. Also look at the ear lobe for any signs of doubling.

Reverse ----- Look at “FG”, “E PLURIBUS UNUM”, and “ONE CENT” for any signs of extra thickness, distortion, and notching. (This will sometimes include separation lines along the ceiling and/or the floor of the memorial.) Also look for any indication of column doubling within the middle of each bay in the memorial. Also look in the very center of the memorial at the bay that the Lincoln statue is in for any indication of a doubled 6th and/or 7th column and also for doubling of any part of the statue. (Knees, hands, chair, ect.)

1996-2000

Obverse ----- Look at the “LIBE” of “LIBERTY”, “IN GOD WE TRUST”, and the date for extra thickness, separation lines, and notching. Also look at the ear lobe for any signs of doubling.

Reverse ----- Look at “FG”, “E PLURIBUS UNUM”, and “ONE CENT” for any signs of extra thickness, distortion, and notching. (This will sometimes include separation lines along the ceiling and/or the floor of the memorial.) Also look for any indication of column doubling within the middle of each bay in the memorial. Also look in the very center of the memorial at the bay that the Lincoln statue is in for any indication of a doubled 6th and/or 7th column and also for doubling of any part of the statue. (Knees, hands, chair, ect.)

***** Design Variations

1998-2000 ----- Some of the 1998-2000 cents from the Philadelphia mint has been struck with the reverse die designs of the proof coins. These coins are commonly referred to as “Wide AM” (the same design that is on the reverse of 1989-1992 cents). The Reverse Design that is supposed to be on this coin can be referenced on varietyvista.com as “RDV-007” but were mistakenly stuck with the “RDV-006” die design.

On a related note, the 1998 Proof and 1999 Proof cents from the San Francisco mint were struck with the reverse dies meant for business strikes commonly referred to as “Close AM”. The die that is meant to be on the proof reverse of these dates is the “Wide AM” design can be referenced on varietyvista.com as “RDV-006” but were mistakenly stuck with RDV-007 (Close AM) reverse designs.

1990-1995

Obverse ----- Look at the “LIBE” of “LIBERTY”, “IN GOD WE TRUST”, and the date for extra thickness, separation lines and notching. Also look at the ear lobe for any signs of doubling.

Reverse ----- Look at “FG”, “E PLURIBUS UNUM”, and “ONE CENT” for any signs of extra thickness, separation lines, and notching. Also look for any indication of doubled columns within the middle of each bay of the memorial. Many times these dates are plagued with plating disturbance doubling, die deterioration doubling, and split plate doubling, linear plating bubbles which could similar to a doubled columns in the middle of each bay. The doubling must maintain the shape of that which it is doubling perfectly and must not extend past the bays of the memorial.

***** Design Variations

1992 ------ Cents minted from both the Philadelphia and Denver mints had mistakenly struck cents using the RDV-007 (Close AM) dies that were meant for production of the 1993 cents that following year. These are referred to as “Transitional Varieties”. The Reverse design that was meant for 1992 is RDV-006 (Wide AM).

1982-1989

Obverse ----- Look at the last 2 or 3 digits in the date for distortion, extra thickness, separation lines and notching on the numbers. It will be most noticeable on the tails of the 2nd and 4th numbers in the date. The “8” in the date will be distorted and possibly with separation lines. The “holes” of the number “8” will appear smaller and very eclipse-shaped instead of perfectly round. Look for extra thickness, distortion, and notching on the bottoms of the letters “RUS” in TRUST. Look at “LIBER” of “LIBERTY” for extra thickness, separation lines, distortion, or notching. Also another indication of it being a doubled die is the bottom of chest of the Lincoln portrait will typically have a separation line and notching. Also look for evidence of a re punched mint mark on cents minted in Denver or San Francisco. Look at the ear lobe for any indication of doubling.

Reverse ----- Look at “FG”, “E PLURIBUS UNUM”, and “ONE CENT” for any signs of extra thickness, separation lines, and notching.

***** Design Variations

1988 ----- Both Denver and Philadelphia mints had mistakenly struck cents using the RDV-006 dies that were meant for production of the 1989 cents the following year. These are referred to as “Transitional Varieties”. The reverse design meant for 1988 is RDV-005. Both RDV’s are “Wide AM” and can be quite tricky when trying to find a 1988 with an RDV-006. The main thing you’re going to look at to find the 1988 RDV-006 is the appearance of the “FG”. The bushes on the memorial design are also slightly different but quite difficult to notice. The best way would be to keep a 1989 cent to the side to compare any 1988 cent to. If the 1988 does not look exactly like the 1989 cent, 99.9% it is an RDV-005 (normal).

*****Special Notes

1984, 1988 & 2006 ----- It is VERY important to look at the ear on these three coins that were minted in Philadelphia. They all have verified examples of doubling of the ear. The 1984 is very well known and as far as I know there has only be ONE example found of the 1988 doubled ear. (Which sold for $2,000 if I am not mistaking) The 2006 not quite as valuable but still commands a decent premium for a penny!

1983 ----- There is a valuable die counter die clash on the obverse that will be visible right below “IN GOD” showing a faint “IN GOD”. Also when looking for one of the doubled dies listed for the reverse (1983p-1dr-002); it is easiest to see if you have the light source coming from the bottom of “UNITED”. I check my 1983 reverse with “UNITED” being upside down under my microscope so that the light-source will always be in the direction that makes it easiest to see. Also weight your 1983 cents, there have been some struck on a copper planchet that have been found.

1982 Small Date ----- There is a very valuable doubled die reverse on the cent minted in Philadelphia.

The 1982P SD DDR variety was discovered 25 years after it was minted! (2007) Which alone should be indicative that no matter the year or mint mark there are still a lot of valuable varieties waiting to be discovered by a searcher! Just because there’s no record of something does not mean it does not exist, it just hasn't been found yet. That’s why searching everything on every coin is very important!