COINS are used every day by millions of people, but few people think much about their details.
Some specific designs and features of relatively common coins can be worth thousands.
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Cents, in particular, are often overlooked for their low face value.
But some can be worth much more than a penny.
An unusual penny recently sold for $5,040.
The listing for the item, which was auctioned on June 14, points out some key features that add value.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
The coin was older than most still in circulation – it was minted in 1857.
This means it has a different design than our modern Lincoln cents.
It features a flying eagle.
But the front also contains carbon, which the listing says shows its quality.
“All the feather and crown elements show precise detail, and the luminous bronze-gold surfaces are beautifully preserved,” he says.
“A handful of obverse carbon determines the grade,” he said.
It was unclear exactly why the dark spots were important to the grade.
The coins are evaluated by professionals who verify their authenticity.
This coin was rated 65 on a scale of 0 to 70.
High grade coins are more valuable to collectors, meaning they can sell for much more.
MORE COINS
A 1909 penny recently sold for exactly the same price as the 1857 eagle.
This Lincoln cent sold for a lot of money thanks to the “sharp” details.
A rare Eisenhower dollar coin recently sold for $21,600.
The value was on the silver edge.
Unusual notes can also sell for thousands – like one with a “ladder” detail that was worth $7,000.
See why another penny is worth 20,000 times its face value.
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
