Hello Collectors! Is Your 1990 Error Penny Worth Grading? My Deep Dive into Die Clashes

You know how it goes—every now and then, a coin like that 1990 Lincoln cent with odd markings pops up and gets everyone talking. It took me right back to my early collecting days. After handling mountains of coins over the years, I’ve picked up a few things about these errors that might help you out.

What Exactly Is a Die Clash?

I still remember the first time I spotted one of these. There was Lincoln’s ghostly memorial floating where it shouldn’t be! That’s a die clash for you—when the obverse and reverse dies smack together without a blank planchet in between. Personally, I love these accidental mint mishaps. Some folks argue whether they’re true errors or just varieties, but I call ’em errors since they happen by mistake. They remind me of classics like the “Bugs Bunny” Franklin halves or those quirky Morgan dollar VAMs.

Should You Grade That 1990 Penny?

Let’s be real: slabbing a common 1990 die clash penny rarely makes financial sense. You’ll drop $30-$50 on grading fees, but even in sharp MS-63 or MS-64 red condition, the coin itself might only bring a couple bucks. Unless yours is truly spectacular or crazy rare, you’ll probably lose money. My advice? Skip the grading and enjoy it as a neat pocket piece. Save your cash for bigger fish.

Mintmarks and Errors: Straight Talk

Mintmarks trip up so many collectors—especially on Lincoln cents. Here’s the lowdown from what I’ve seen at shows and in my own albums:

• No mintmark? Usually just means Philadelphia struck it (normal for most years).
• Real errors happen when branch mints like Denver or San Francisco forget to add their mark pre-1991. That’s how you get rarities like the 1990-S proof cent missing its ‘S’.
• Other coins play by different rules:
  • Nickels: No mintmarks 1938-1979; started adding them in 1980
  • Dimes, quarters, halves: Same deal—blank pre-1980, marked after

I’ll never forget pulling a 1943 nickel with that tiny ‘P’ over Monticello—a cool wartime silver piece that taught me to always research mintmark quirks.

Grading Services: My Two Cents

Here’s the scoop after sending in plenty of coins: Grading companies shine for authentication, but I’ve had my share of headaches. Like when they rejected minor errors I paid to slab, or completely ignored my instructions. Nothing stings quite like paying for a service you don’t get. Before you submit, really crunch the numbers—especially for common errors.

At the end of the day, if you’ve got one of these 1990 clash pennies, treat it as a great conversation starter rather than grading fodder. The real win is the thrill of the hunt itself. Keep searching, and happy collecting!