My Deep Dive into the 1990 Error Penny: Grading Insights and Numismatic Nuances

As a lifelong coin collector, I can’t resist checking pocket change for surprises, so when chatter started about a 1990 Lincoln cent with something odd going on, I had to take a closer look. It took me right back to my own finds and got me pondering grading, errors, and what makes our hobby tick.

So What’s Going On With This Penny?

I remember when I first spotted coins like this. The issue is called a die clash – it happens when the obverse die (the hammer) and reverse die (the anvil) smack together without a planchet between them. You’ll see ghostly traces of the Lincoln Memorial where they shouldn’t be, right on Lincoln’s profile. Grading services like NGC and PCGS recognize it as a legitimate mint mistake, but truth be told, these don’t bring big bucks like some errors do.

Should You Get This One Graded? My Two Cents

Here’s the practical side: sending a coin like this for grading rarely makes financial sense. Let me break it down:

• Grading costs more than the coin’s worth: You’ll pay $30–$50 for professional grading, but even a nice red MS-63 example might only sell for a few dollars. You’d actually lose money on the deal.
• They’re more common than you’d think: Die clashes pop up fairly often in 1990s cents. I’ve handled dozens in collections over the years, and unless it’s spectacularly clear or on a rare date, it won’t command much premium.
• Sometimes the joy is in keeping it raw: If it’s a family find like the one mentioned, just enjoy it as-is. It’s a cool piece of mint history and a great story starter, but not worth slabbing.

The Error vs. Variety Question: Where Do We Draw the Line?

This got me chewing on an old collector’s debate. Personally, I see die clashes as true errors – they happen when the mint messes up and the dies collide improperly. But some folks argue it’s a variety because every coin struck with those damaged dies shows the same flaw, like those “Bugs Bunny” Franklin halves or certain Morgan dollar VAMs. For me, it’s like finding a misprinted stamp – clearly a production goof, even if it affected a whole batch before someone noticed. It’s these gray areas that keep coin collecting endlessly fascinating!

Mintmark Mysteries and Real Rarities

Looking at that blank spot where a mintmark would be reminded me: no mintmark on a 1990 cent just means Philadelphia made it – perfectly normal for the time. But this brought to mind some actual treasures:

• The 1990 no-S proof cent: Now this is the real deal! Struck at San Francisco without a mintmark by accident, it’s a major rarity. PCGS values these in the thousands for high-grade examples – absolutely worth grading if you’re lucky enough to find one.
• Quick mintmark cheat sheet: Cents didn’t carry mintmarks until 2017 (except special cases); nickels, dimes, quarters and halves added them regularly starting in 1980; and those 1942-45 silver nickels? They’ve got huge mintmarks over Monticello. I’ve missed that “P” on wartime nickels myself – always double-check!

Grading Services: Lessons From My Own Slabs

I’ve had my share of hits and misses with grading companies. Once I sent in a coin with a minor error, paid the fees, and got it back labeled “insignificant” – basically paid for nothing. That taught me to be choosy: only submit coins with clear rarity or value potential. While grading can boost credibility and resale for important errors, for everyday die clashes? Save your cash. Always compare fees against what the coin might actually sell for, and check references like PCGS CoinFacts first.

So if you discover a die clash penny like this 1990 piece, appreciate it as a neat slice of mint history – but keep your grading budget for true rarities. Happy searching, and may your next roll hunt turn up one of those elusive no-S proofs!