Coin collecting, also known as numismatics, is a hobby people have enjoyed for centuries. It involves acquiring, cataloging, and studying various types of coins, from ancient artifacts to modern-day currency. Coin collecting can be a fun and educational pastime and a potentially profitable investment.
Collectors may focus on a specific type of coin, such as a particular denomination or era, or they may choose to collect a diverse array of coins from all over the world. This article will take a detailed look at the famous 1957 D Wheat Penny.
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History of the 1957 D Wheat Penny
The 1957 wheat penny is a Lincoln cent that the United States Mint produced in 1957. The wheat penny design, which features two stalks of wheat on either side of the coin’s denomination, was first introduced in 1909 and was used until 1958. The design was replaced in 1959 with the Lincoln Memorial design, which is still used today.
In 1957, the Philadelphia Mint produced over 648 million 1957 wheat pennies, which is considered a high mintage coin, and as such, it is not considered particularly rare or valuable. However, if the coin is in uncirculated condition or has other factors that make it unique, it may be worth more to collectors.
It is also worth noting that there was another version of the 1957 wheat penny that was minted in Denver and it has a “D” mint mark. The mintage of the 1957 D wheat penny is approximately 1.2 billion, which is also considered a high mintage coin.
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1957 D Wheat Penny Errors
Since over a billion coins were minted in Denver, various errors can be identified in the 1957 D penny. Some of these errors and their estimated value are given below:
Double die errors:
This occurs when the coin is struck twice with a die, resulting in a doubled image. This can be visible on the date, lettering, or other coin parts. The value of 1957 D coins with the couple dies error can range from $2.5 to $15, depending upon the type of die error and the coin’s condition. The double die error is further divided into four types:
- CDDO-001
The letters LIBERTY and the slogan are perfectly doubled in this variant. A repunched mintmark that is straight to the south is also present. - CDDO-002
The word LIBERTY, the number “9,” and the date are all very slightly doubled and notched in this variant. - CDDO-003
There is some evidence of doubling on the numbers “9” and “7” in the date as well as a very slight doublet of the word “liberty” in this instance. - CDDO-004
Due to only having one condition, this final variation is quite difficult to distinguish. To the southeast of the dominant eyelid, there is a second eyelid.
Repunched mint marks
This occurs when a mint mark is punched into the die multiple times, resulting in a slightly different or doubled appearance of the mint mark. An MS(65) grade red coloured 1957 D penny can cost around $100.
Misaligned die errors
This occurs when the die is not properly aligned with the coin when it is struck, resulting in an off-centre image. The value of these coins is not determined correctly, but a brown-coloured MS(65) penny with this error was once sold for $240
Value Of 1957 D Penny
In 1957, the Denver mint produced more than a billion pennies. Therefore, unless they have a significant error, they won’t be worth more than roughly 5 cents, just like Philadelphia pennies.
An MS67-graded 1957 Denver dime is valued at about $275. The finest samples in existence are rated MS67+ with an estimated worth of just over $4,000. In April 2022, an auction featured a 1957 brown D Wheat penny that was error-free. It was given an MS66 grade and showed a lovely tone. It was sold for about $100.
Similar Coins
Similar coins to the 1957 D wheat penny would be other wheat pennies minted in the same era, such as the 1909-1958 Lincoln Wheat Penny. These coins have a similar design and were produced by the United States Mint during the same time period. Other similar coins may include other denominations of U.S. coins from the same era, such as the Buffalo nickel or the Mercury dime.