My Deep Dive into the 1990 Error Penny: Grading Insights and Collecting Wisdom

You know, after fielding so many coin questions over the years, one that really grabbed my attention recently was about a 1990 Lincoln penny with traces of the Memorial building visible on Lincoln’s side. It sent me down a rabbit hole of error coins, grading quirks, and collector wisdom that I think you’ll find interesting.

That Weird Design Transfer: Die Clash Explained

When I first examined coins like this, I recognized it as a classic die clash. Imagine the front and back dies slamming together without a coin blank between them – like an accidental high-five at the mint! This transfers ghostly design elements from one die to the other. Grading services like NGC call these “Clashed Dies,” and they’re legitimate mint errors. While they add character to a coin, I’ve come across enough over the years to know they’re fairly common and rarely command big premiums.

Should You Grade This Penny?

Honestly? I wouldn’t bother sending this one in. Here’s the reality:

• Grading fees ($30-$50) easily outpace what most die clash pennies fetch – even nice red MS-63 or MS-64 examples might only bring a few bucks
• You’ll almost certainly lose money after fees. I’d keep it as a cool pocket piece or trade it at a coin show

In my experience, grading only makes sense when a coin’s potential value clearly justifies the cost – think major errors or pristine condition rarities.

Error or Variety? A Collector’s Dilemma

This debate always sparks great conversations at club meetings! Some insist die clashes are errors since they result from mint mistakes. Others argue they’re varieties because the same clash appears on multiple coins. Take Morgan dollar VAMs or the Franklin half “Bugs Bunny” effect – both began as die clashes but became cataloged varieties. Personally? I see them as errors because the mint never intended them. Think of it like a misprinted stamp – it’s still an error even if several exist, and while it makes a great story, it doesn’t always mean big money.

Mintmark Confusions Solved

Missing mintmarks can really trip up collectors! For that 1990 cent, a proof without a mintmark is genuinely rare and valuable – that’s a San Francisco error. But for regular circulation coins? No mintmark just means Philadelphia production. Here’s how I keep it straight:

• Cents: Philly didn’t use mintmarks except in 2017
• Nickels: No mintmark from 1938-1979 (wartime 1943 nickels show a ‘P’ over Monticello)
• Dimes/Quarters/Halves: No mintmark before 1980, added afterward

Always cross-check dates and types – I’ve seen too many collectors mistake common coins for rarities!

My Grading Service Reality Check

Let me share a lesson learned the hard way. Once I submitted a coin with a minor mint error to NGC, paid extra for attribution, and they refused to slab it – called it insignificant. They kept my fee though! It taught me that grading services sometimes override collector requests without warning. My advice? Research thoroughly before submitting. Ask yourself: Is this error truly special enough to justify the cost and potential headache?

At the end of the day, coins like this 1990 penny remind me why I collect – they’re wonderful conversation starters that teach us to value knowledge over expensive services. Keep looking at those coins closely, and happy hunting!