# Collectible pennies (and other coins) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 14, 2000, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/collectible-pennies-and-other-coins/22400 "2000-06-14T21:52:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Gatsby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df705f/32.png) [@Gatsby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatsby)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2000, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/collectible-pennies-and-other-coins/22400/1 "2000-06-14T21:52:42Z")
Are there any coin collecting Dopers who can point me to a good site for coin values? I looked in the SD archives, the SDMB archives, and on the web for a decent site with no success. All I found out was that 1922 and 1943 copper pennies are valuable. I don’t have either one. I do have a 1916 Indian Head nickel, a 1942 Mercury dime, a weird-ass tiny 1899 1/2 something piece (maybe Russian? I have no idea where it came from but it looks like maybe Russion characters) and about 100 or so wheat pennies. I have no delusions of retiring on any of these, but I figured maybe a few of them are worth a modest buck. I know I could buy a book, but since I’m not really an avid coin collector, it seems like a waste since what I have is probably worth squat. I’d be grateful for any help. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Kilgore\_Trout\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/6de8d8/32.png) [@Kilgore\_Trout\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kilgore_Trout_1)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2000, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/collectible-pennies-and-other-coins/22400/2 "2000-06-14T22:09:58Z")
[coin-universe.com](http://coin-universe.com/prices) [acoin.com](http://www.acoin.com/whatworth.htm) [acoin.com](http://www.acoin.com/whatworth.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Gatsby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df705f/32.png) [@Gatsby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatsby)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2000, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/collectible-pennies-and-other-coins/22400/3 "2000-06-14T22:46:17Z")
Thanks Kilgore. ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2000, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/collectible-pennies-and-other-coins/22400/4 "2000-06-14T22:52:23Z")
Please note that the value of a coin is in a very large part dependant on the grade of the coin. You can read [here](http://www.adelaide-exchange.com.au/info.html) about coin grading. There are services that will grade your coin for you, but usually it’s only worth it for valuable coins. One such service (note: I do not profit from their sales in any way but was employed by them several years ago) is [Professional Coin Grading Service](http://www.pcgs.com/). ---
**Author:** ![Danielinthewolvesden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce7236/32.png) [@Danielinthewolvesden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Danielinthewolvesden)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2000, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/collectible-pennies-and-other-coins/22400/5 "2000-06-15T01:48:22Z")
Anything they made millions of is not worth anything. this includes wheatback pennies. Oh, sure, they will sell you some at a premium, but try to sell them yourself. There basicly aren’t any 1943 copper pennies. ---
**Author:** ![Tedster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4491bb/32.png) [@Tedster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tedster)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2000, 8:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/collectible-pennies-and-other-coins/22400/6 "2000-06-15T08:24:43Z")
It’s strange, but what makes a coin valuable to collectors isn’t what you might think. Age? Nah. I can buy ancient greek and roman coins by the _pound_ (kilos, if you will, for you godless atheistic heathens) 🙂 for well under a C note. Conversely, some modern coins from the last century command prices well into the six figures or more. Rarity? Nope. Lots of U.S. Comemmorative issues minted from the 1920’s to the 1950’s, say, the Iowa Centennial fifty cent piece or the Booker T. Washington half are quite affordable, and they are relatively rare. But nobody really wants them outside of a select few. All things being equal, the condition of a coin has a direct bearing on its price, but it’s _demand_ is the key.