Perhaps you weren’t part of the group that received the $1,400 stimulus payments earlier this year, and maybe inflation continues to take a toll on your finances.
If you find yourself in both situations, you likely could use a financial boost. As for the rumored DOGE stimulus checks, they remain uncertain. Even if they materialize, it will be quite some time before they are distributed.
This brings us back to the idea that, if you’re still reading, you might need some extra cash. So why not check your change jar or empty your pockets? You may be surprised to find that a handful of change could be worth a significant amount.
Here’s some information on a couple of coins you might currently possess that could be valuable:
WHEAT PENNIES
Generally, most coins you might come across are worth very little in comparison to a 1943-D Lincoln Bronze Wheat Penny.
How much can it be worth?
According to GoBankingRates, this specific penny can sell for up to $2.3 million.
“Created by Victor D. Brenner, this is among the highest-value pennies still in circulation today,” the site noted. “During World War II, pennies were struck from steel to conserve copper for the military. However, a small number were accidentally minted in bronze, making them incredibly rare and valuable. Comprising 95% copper and 5% tin and zinc alloy, it sold for $1.7 million in 2010, but its current value is estimated at $2.3 million in mint uncirculated condition.”
There’s a caveat: Only one of these pennies is confirmed to exist, though there may be others. Even if you don’t possess the extremely rare penny, numerous other wheat pennies can also be quite valuable.
It’s advisable that if you discover a 1943 wheat penny while sorting through your change, you should take it to a coin dealer for appraisal.
GoBankingRates also mentioned that a 1944-S Steel Wheat Penny could be worth as much as $1.1 million, while “circulating coins” have been known to sell for between $408,000 to $409,000.
There are various other one-cent coins that might also yield nice returns, and you can find more information about them on the site here.
QUARTERS
Believe it or not, you may have a quarter that is valued at $10,000.
And this isn’t even a coin from ages ago; it was minted just around 26 years back.
According to GoBankingRates, 1999 state quarters from Georgia contain “several types of errors,” the most significant being one that’s not easily noticeable at first glance.
In fact, one error version was “struck on experimental metals known as planchets.” GoBankingRates explains that these planchets were actually meant for the Sacagawea dollar introduced in 2000.
U.S. Coins Guide stated in a blog that they were utilized because people back then were “curious to see how they would appear on quarters.”
“The Treasury opted not to use the alloy for quarters, but those that were minted with it were still circulated, making them highly sought after by collectors,” the blog noted.
The report indicated that some of these quarters have sold for as much as $10,000, with another fetching $7,200 in 2022. So how can you determine if you own one of these valuable 25-cent pieces?
First, as already stated, it should be a quarter minted in Georgia in 1999.
According to GoBankingRates, the quarter should weigh between 5.9 and 6.3 grams on a scale. These quarters often appear thicker than regular quarters, sporting a golden or greenish hue. Notably, they will lack the copper (orange-colored) stripe along the edge and might have fewer or none of the ridges that typically run along the edge.
So, happy searching and best of luck cashing in!
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