What's the Best Variety You've Found in Pocket Change?

The Thrill of the Hunt

One of the great things about collecting Lincoln Cents is that you can still find interesting varieties in everyday pocket change. The 1995 DDO was famously discovered by roll searchers, and people still pull 1982 small date copper cents, 1983 doubled die reverses, and the occasional older Wheat cent from circulation.

With the Lincoln Shield cent now in its 16th year of production, die varieties continue to be discovered and cataloged. The sheer volume of cents produced — billions per year — means errors and varieties slip through quality control regularly.

Share Your Finds

• What's the best variety or error you've found in circulation?
• Do you actively search rolls, or do you just check your change?
• What do you look for first when examining a cent?
• Any tips for new collectors getting into roll searching?

Even if it's not a major variety — a nice die crack, a slightly off-center strike, or just a surprisingly old coin in great condition — we want to hear about it.