The Penny Madness

AmandaVarner · February 11, 2015 9:09AM

Hello all!

I know I've been absent lately, but things have been pretty nuts since the New Year. And this is just one story of the madness ...

We had an interesting couple of days at the shop recently after the local Telemundo news crew called us up one day and asked if they could come in do to a special on "valuable pennies". "Valuable pennies" quickly became "OMG a 1943 copper penny is worth $100,000 and so is a 1944 steel penny OMG".

It was an interesting experience, to say the least.

The Penny Madness

braddick · February 11, 2015 9:27AM

How is 'penny' written in Spanish?

Cent?

Bodin · February 11, 2015 9:40AM

Congratulations on the BOOM in business!
Can I ask if any of the calls led to some great discoveries, or were they mostly inquiries/circ coins?

EurekaGold · February 11, 2015 10:04AM

<< <i>How is 'penny' written in Spanish?

Cent? >>

Centavo?

Greeniejr · February 11, 2015 10:24AM

OHHHHHHH! I was wondering where they got the rest of the coin store footage at 1:31 of the video. We have received dozens of calls and people coming in the store asking about these pennies. On Monday we had our local Telemundo station in as well. Link to video I have no idea what they are saying in the report but I hope it is what I said. I sadly don't speak Spanish. I must say A LOT of our local Spanish speaking community watch Telemundo.

segoja · February 11, 2015 10:46AM

Sounds like a new episode of why coin dealers drink part MMXCL

I had a few of those calls as well. Hard to tell some one their rusted 1943 steel cent is only worth about a nickel when they saw a TV show say it was worth $100,000

AmandaVarner · February 11, 2015 11:09AM

GreenieJr: I've had a LOT of other dealers tell me they've had floods of calls and people coming in, but you're the first I've heard that also had a visit from their local Telemundo Station! Congrats! My Facebook exploded with comments on a post I made about it ...One dealer sounded a bit miffed and joking quipped that he was going to have the calls forwarded to my cell -- yikes!

In general, through the flood of calls there was only one that seemed like it might be even remotely legit ... but of course, who knows (and it's not very likely).

To answer another question, it's apparently "centavo", though most just said penny. I did learn several new lines in spanish and was able to muddle my way through most of the time. I'm sure I sounded like a 4 year old, but we were communicating.

As I said in the post, I was really gratified to hear that the public had such a big reaction to the story ... even though it will likely lead most on a wild goose chase, there are people interested in coins and maybe this will be when some young boy or girl decides that coins are the coolest thing ever .

MsMorrisine · February 11, 2015 11:45AM

Ay,caramba!

Type2 · February 11, 2015 12:26PM

Very cool I just sent a 1970-S DDO MS65RD in for auction. But none like a 1943 copper penny.

coindeuce · February 11, 2015 1:03PM

Well, that explains why the 300 pound young Puerto Rican fella showed up at the shop yesterday at 3 minutes before closing, insisting that his VF 1944 copper Lincoln cent was worth 50 grand. Thanks Telemundo !

AmandaVarner · February 11, 2015 1:38PM

haha, oh poor Coindeuce.

ThePennyLady · February 11, 2015 1:45PM

Yes, I have had several calls from people asking about the $100,000 penny mostly from Spanish speaking people, and I had no idea why all of a sudden everyone was asking about that penny. Then I saw Amanda's post on FB and found out what was going on. Ay Caramba is right!

AmandaVarner · February 11, 2015 2:21PM

<< <i>Yes, I have had several calls from people asking about the $100,000 penny mostly from Spanish speaking people, and I had no idea why all of a sudden everyone was asking about that penny. Then I saw Amanda's post on FB and found out what was going on. Ay Caramba is right! >>

I'm surprised you didn't get really-flooded ... I'm sure your name pops up quite a bit when people are looking for pennies online!

Type2 · February 11, 2015 2:31PM

Was it this guy?

yosclimber · February 11, 2015 4:20PM

Instead of $100,000 for 1943 Bronze, the PCGS Price guide starts at $175,000 for EF-45.
Instead of $100,000 for 1944 Steel, the PCGS Price guide starts at $20,000 for VF-30.
http://www.pcgs.com/prices/priceguidedetail.aspx?ms=3&pr=1&sp=1&c=46&title=lincoln+cent+(wheat+reverse)
But I think you're safe - neither of these is likely to surface. :-)

Missing from the PCGS Price Guide is the 1943-D Bronze.
A PCGS MS-64 Brown example sold for $1.7 million in 2010, making it the price record for any Lincoln cent.

P.S. If Telemundo comes back, you should try to get a portrait 8 reales ("Pieces of Eight", 1780s - 1810s) from the Mexico City mint on screen.
It's pretty cool that big old coins like that can be purchased for $50-100.

TopographicOceans · February 11, 2015 4:35PM

America, she is a wonderful country. The pennys make you rich

thebeav · February 12, 2015 3:06AM

That sounds like a lot of fun.....
I don't think a day goes by that I don't get a call about 'my silver penny'......

Hey, Type 2, is that wrestler Dick 'the destroyer' Beyer ?

steveben · February 12, 2015 3:12AM

i have a whole bunch of these 1943 pennies that are silver. how much are they worth?

just kidding.

ricko · February 12, 2015 3:44AM

I have an old bankroll of '43 steel cents... one day I will open it and see what might be inside...Cheers, RickO

thebeav · February 13, 2015 12:53AM

That's one of the scariest rolls to buy sealed Rick. Although evidence of rust usually permeates the paper roll.
It doesn't take much humidity to trash a roll of these guys. I would say it's the leading date of Lincoln cents for the greatest attrition rate.
Too many stored in basements and garages.....

The Penny Madness

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