Among the most popular coins in American numismatics is the Lincoln dime. Like its counterparts, the 2006 penny was mass-produced; however, a few of these pennies have become valuable because of some unusual defects that occurred during the production process. These error coins, whether they were produced by a faulty minting machine or an error in design, can be worth a fortune beyond the face value. Learn these strange 2006 penny defects to help you find great values in your piggy bank.

Let’s take a look at some of these rare 2006 penny defects- double strikes, die cracks, and off-center strikes among many others. We will then see how to identify them, how much they may be worth, and where to sell.

The 2006 Lincoln Penny Design

Let’s first get familiar with the design of a 2006 penny, which will become our basis for detecting anomalies.

The lead in its newly redesigned series of Lincoln cents was first released from the United States Mint in 2006; however, a new design for the reverse took place. The obverse, or heads side, featured the traditional portrait of Abraham Lincoln sculpted by Victor David Brenner, along with inscriptions that included “LIBERTY” and “IN GOD WE TRUST,” and the mint year being “2006.”

The reverse of the 2006 penny bore the first new design, which is called the “Union Shield” design. It was a replacement for the old wheat stalks design and marked the start of a string of changes that would alter the Lincoln cent’s reverse over the following decade.


While the reverse design of the 2006 cent may be easy, the minting process is not. Several things can go wrong in the making of these pennies, creating a few error pennies of great interest to collectors.

Common 2006 Penny Errors to Collect For

Double Struck Penny Error

Double struck takes place when, in the stamping process, the coin is struck twice thus giving an overlap impression. This kind of inaccuracy is much valued by collectors due to it creating a look that is hard to replicate.

Thus, since am trying to explain this to you, it will be easier if I give you the information in a descriptive manner. Thus, here it goes:

How to identify double-struck pennies:

The most obvious sign is that of having two different impressions on the coin.

The second strike is frequently misaligned, which means the second picture may be somewhat off-center, creating a “ghosting” effect.

The second strike may appear as a doubled date, doubled letters in “LIBERTY,” or more outlines of Lincoln’s face.

The value of double-struck 2006 pennies:

– A good quality double-struck penny with an average fault can range between $10 to $50.

In the rarest of cases, where the double striking is very noticeable or a specific coin in near-mint condition, the price can run into hundreds of dollars.



An off-center strike occurs when the penny did not hit exactly centered over the die when it struck. In this case, the coin will have part of the design missing and seem to be struck off center.

Depending on the degree of misalignment, a small part of blank metal can appear on one edge, or the situation may be significant enough to be substantially off-center, with most of the design missing.

From: The value of off-center 2006 pennies:

– A slight off-center inaccuracy might cost more than a regular penny, with values ranging from $5 to $50.

– When off-center striking is more severe, that’s to say, more of the design is absent or the coin pretty much is blank, then it might be worth $100 or even more.

It can vary from simple small lines to longer lengths across the die as damage can be significant
Die Cracks and Breaks

The most common forms of minting flaws include die cracks. These are breaks in the die used to stamp the coin. These breaks during the stamping process are transferred to the coin and appear on its surface as pronounced lines or breaks in the design.

**Identifying Die Cracks and Breaks on a 2006 penny:**

– Die cracks often appear as thin, raised lines that circulate over the field. They can cross the date, Lincoln’s portrait, or text engraved around the rim of a coin.

In more extreme instances, a die break can occur, where a piece of the die breaks off and leaves a large, raised area of metal on the coin, sometimes in the form of a blob or a raised ridge.

The value of die crack or die break 2006 pennies:

– Minor die cracks ordinarily do not contribute to much value in a coin but can drive its selling price between a few dollars depending upon the location and severity of the crack.

– huge die breaks or die chips can be priced more, maybe up to $50 or more, especially if they are huge and well defined.

Clipped Planchet Error**

Clipped planchet errors happen when the metal strip where the blanks of the coins are cut is not aligned correctly at the time of cutting. This produces a coin with a portion of its edge missing. This error is usually located at the first stage of minting before the penny is struck by the die.

The value of broadstruck 2006 pennies is:

– A large broadstruck penny can cost between $10 and $100. Value depends on its size, condition, and especially the degree of the defect.

A few rare examples of broadstruck pennies even fetch higher prices during an auction.



A reverse die rotation is when the sides on a coin are turned relative to the obverse, meaning that when you flip it over, its reverse side is not aligned right. This error occurs when the reverse die is not properly aligned to the obverse die.

 
  How to Identify Reverse Die Rotations of a 2006 Penny

While the coin is flipped on to one’s side, what you will notice on the reverse side is the appearance of a flip by a few degrees-often 5 and 180 degrees.

Oooooh, I Want To Know More About 2006 Pennies with Reverse Die Rotated Errors.  Here is the value of reverse die rotation 2006 pennies:

The rarity of this mistake will raise the value of a penny. This is especially true of those rotated by more than 90 degrees.

FAQs

What are the most common types of 2006 Lincoln penny errors that are worth money?

Double Strikes – This happens when the coin is struck twice, often with slight misalignment, creating a doubled image on the penny.

How do I identify rare 2006 Lincoln penny errors?

Double Strikes: Look for multiple images of Lincoln’s portrait, the date, or lettering that appear misaligned. The second strike will often look “ghosted” or faint.

How much are rare 2006 Lincoln penny errors worth?

Double Struck Penny: $10 – $50, with more significant double strikes potentially worth up to $100 or more.