Is That 1990 Error Penny Worth Grading? My Numismatic Insights

I’ve always been drawn to error coins, and recently a 1990 Lincoln cent caught my eye—it had ghostly traces of the Lincoln Memorial showing through on Lincoln’s portrait side. That got me wondering: is this quirky penny worth sending in for grading? After decades of collecting, I’ve learned a few things about spotting these oddities and making smart grading choices. Let me walk you through what I discovered about this particular error.

That Mysterious Die Clash

What you’re describing sounds like a classic die clash to me. These happen when the front and back dies smack together without a coin blank between them, leaving an imprint from one side on the other. In your 1990 penny, that’s why you see bits of the memorial building on Lincoln’s side. Grading services like NGC and PCGS recognize these as “clashed dies.” They’re not super rare, but I love how they give ordinary coins a bit of minting history. Every time I find one, it feels like uncovering a secret.

Is Grading Worth It?

Honestly? I’d skip professional grading for this coin. Here’s why: Grading fees start around $30, but most 1990 die clash pennies only bring $5-$10 even in mint state condition. You’d spend more than the coin’s worth. Unless it’s a stunning gem with perfect surfaces, you’re better off enjoying it raw in your collection. Save your grading budget for rarer errors or key dates—this one’s more of a conversation piece than an investment.

Error or Variety? My Take

This debate comes up often at coin club meetings. Some collectors insist die clashes are true errors since they’re accidental minting mistakes. Others argue they’re varieties because multiple coins share identical marks, like those “Bugs Bunny” Franklin halves. Personally? If the mint didn’t intend it, I call it an error. But labels matter less than the story behind the coin. What really counts is that moment when you first notice something’s off—that little jolt of discovery we all live for.

Watch for Mintmark Surprises

While we’re on surprises, don’t overlook mintmarks! For Lincoln cents, no mintmark usually means Philadelphia. But exceptions can be jackpots:

• The rare 1990 proof cent from San Francisco without a mintmark? That’s a die error treasure—PCGS values it highly.
• And remember, mintmark rules changed over time. War nickels (1942-45) featured a huge ‘P’ over Monticello, while other denominations didn’t get mintmarks until 1980.

I’ve learned to check every coin twice. That extra glance once turned a common wheat penny into a $200 find for me!

Grading Service Lessons

Here’s a hard-won tip: be picky about what you submit. Early in my collecting days, I sent a minor error coin to a grading service. They rejected it but kept my fee—a frustrating experience I’ve heard echoed by other collectors. Now I only submit coins with obvious, dramatic errors or true rarity. Even with reputable companies, ask yourself: “Will grading actually increase this coin’s value enough to cover costs?” Sometimes the answer’s no.

If you’ve got one of these 1990 die clash pennies, I say enjoy its character as-is. Building knowledge slowly and appreciating these little mint mishaps—that’s where the real joy of coin collecting lives for me. Happy hunting!