Rare 2011 Penny Errors Worth Money (Full List With Pictures)

Heritage Auctions sold a 2011-D Lincoln cent with a misaligned die error for $1,115 — over a thousand dollars for a coin that costs one cent to spend. The complete 2011 penny error list covers twelve documented error types, with confirmed prices ranging from $5 for a minor BIE variety to four figures for capped dies, clipped planchets, and rotated dies.

Here is every error sorted by value, with auction records and identification tips for each one.

1. 2011 Penny BIE Error (Up to $25)

The BIE error is a penny-specific die break that appears between the letters “B” and “E” in “LIBERTY” on the obverse. A thin vertical crack in the die fills with metal during striking, producing a raised line that resembles the letter “I” — making the coin read “LIBEITY.”

Die breaks in this exact position are common enough on Lincoln cents that collectors gave them their own name. The crack forms because the narrow space between “B” and “E” concentrates metal fatigue over thousands of strikes.

Value: BIE pennies are entry-level errors and price accordingly. Circulated examples sell for $5 to $10, and uncirculated specimens with a sharp, prominent raised line bring $15 to $25.

No major auction house records exist for 2011 BIE pennies specifically, but the error trades actively on eBay and in collector forums. A strong BIE on a gem red coin pushes toward the top of the range.

How to Identify: Look at “LIBERTY” on the obverse under 5x to 10x magnification. The BIE appears as a thin, raised vertical line between the “B” and “E” — it should look like an extra letter squeezed into the gap.

The line must be raised, not incised. Run your fingernail across it and you should feel a slight ridge, just like any other die crack.

Check that the line is vertical and roughly centered between the two letters. Random die cracks running horizontally or diagonally through other parts of “LIBERTY” are ordinary die cracks, not BIE errors.

The fastest test: raised vertical line between B and E, and nowhere else.

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2. 2011 Penny Die Break Error (Up to $200)

Die breaks happen when the steel die fractures from repeated striking under extreme pressure. Small cracks produce thin raised lines across the coin’s surface, and as the damage worsens, larger chunks of the die face break away entirely.

When a piece of the die edge breaks off, it leaves a raised, featureless blob at the rim called a cud. Cuds are the extreme version of die breaks and where the real premiums start — a cud that obliterates part of Lincoln’s profile is worth far more than a hairline crack through a letter.

Value: No specific 2011 penny die break has surfaced at a major auction with a confirmed record. General market pricing for modern Lincoln cent die breaks: minor cracks add $3 to $10 and medium cuds covering part of the rim bring $15 to $50.

Large cuds affecting Lincoln’s face or major design elements can reach $150 to $200. Die breaks on the reverse Union Shield are less popular and price lower.

How to Identify: Scan both sides under magnification and bright, angled light. Die breaks appear as raised lines or blobs — they stick up from the surface, unlike scratches which are cut into it.

For rim cuds, look for a raised, smooth, featureless area touching the rim where design elements should be. The opposite side of the coin should strike normally, which distinguishes cuds from post-mint damage.

Small die cracks often connect letters or run from the design to the rim. Check Lincoln’s portrait closely — breaks crossing his face are the most valuable.

The fastest test: if the anomaly is raised and smooth, it is a die break. If rough and incised, it is damage.

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3. 2011 Penny Off-Center Strike Error (Up to $300)

An off-center strike occurs when the planchet feeds into the press misaligned with the dies. The dies stamp the design toward one edge, leaving a blank crescent on the opposite side where no design transferred.

Each off-center strike is unique in direction and degree. More displacement means more value — but only if the date “2011” remains visible, because a dateless off-center coin cannot be attributed to a specific year and its premium collapses.

Value: No 2011-specific off-center penny has a confirmed major auction record. General pricing for modern Lincoln cent off-center strikes: 5% to 15% displacement sells for $3 to $20, and 20% to 35% brings $30 to $100.

Dramatic 40% to 50% strikes with a fully visible date can reach $200 to $300. The date sits at the lower left of the obverse, so a shift toward the upper right preserves it even at high percentages.

How to Identify: Look for design elements cut off along one edge with a blank, unstruck crescent on the opposite side. The blank area should show raw planchet surface — smooth zinc with no design impression.

Measure the displacement as a percentage of the coin’s diameter. The rim will be missing or incomplete on the shifted side.

Confirm that the struck portion shows sharp design detail consistent with a single strike. Do not confuse with broadstrikes, which show the full design on an oversized coin with no blank crescent.

The fastest test: blank crescent plus partial design, with the date still readable.

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4. 2011 Penny Lamination Error (Up to $330)

Lamination errors occur when the copper plating separates from the zinc core, creating a peeling, flaking, or split surface. Impurities trapped in the planchet during manufacturing weaken the bond between layers, and the stress of striking causes the copper skin to lift away.

On 2011 pennies — copper-plated zinc, not solid copper — the lamination typically shows as a raised blister or a flap of copper peeling from the underlying grey-white zinc. Larger separations exposing significant areas of raw zinc core command the strongest premiums.

Value: In 2013, a collector on eBay paid $330 for a 2011-D Lincoln penny graded MS60 with a reverse lamination error. That price reflects a large, visually dramatic separation.

Minor lamination flaws add $5 to $25. Medium-sized peeling areas that expose the zinc core sell for $25 to $100, and large separations covering a significant portion of the coin push toward $200 to $330.

How to Identify: Look for areas where the copper plating appears to be lifting, bubbling, or completely missing, exposing grey-white zinc underneath. The affected area should follow the coin’s surface contours naturally — it was part of the planchet before striking.

Genuine lamination flaws show clean separation along the metal’s internal plane. Post-mint damage from scraping or chemical exposure looks rough and often shows tool marks.

Check the edges of the separated area: lamination splits have smooth, metallic edges, while damage has ragged, torn edges. The fastest test: copper plating lifts cleanly to reveal smooth zinc beneath.

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5. 2011 Penny Struck Through Error (Up to $660)

Struck-through errors happen when foreign material lands between the die and planchet just before striking. Wire fragments, cloth fibers, grease, or metal shavings block the die from fully transferring its design, leaving a weak or blank zone on the finished coin.

Grease-filled die errors are the most common subtype — lubricant prevents design transfer, creating smooth, featureless patches. When the foreign object stays embedded in the coin, it is a retained struck-through, and those command higher premiums because the culprit is visible.

Value: In 2016, a collector on eBay paid $660 for a 2011-P Lincoln penny graded MS61 with an obverse grease struck-through error. The extensive grease coverage left large sections of Lincoln’s portrait poorly defined.

Minor grease spots add $5 to $20. Dramatic struck-throughs showing clear shapes or large blank areas sell for $50 to $300, and retained struck-throughs with visible debris push past $400.

How to Identify: Look for areas where design details are weak, blurred, or absent while surrounding areas show normal full-strike detail. The affected zone should have defined boundaries — not a gradual fade like circulation wear.

Grease fills produce smooth, flat patches where the design was blocked. Wire strikes leave thin raised lines, and fabric struck-throughs may show thread textures.

Check whether foreign material remains on the coin — this dramatically increases value. The affected area should show metal flow consistent with striking pressure, not post-mint scraping.

The fastest test: sharply defined blank or weak zone on one side only, with the opposite side struck normally.

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6. 2011 Penny Doubled Die Error (Up to $720)

Doubled die errors originate during die manufacturing, not coin striking. When the Mint presses a hub into a die blank, a slight shift between impressions creates a permanent doubled image in the die itself.

Every coin struck from that flawed die shows identical doubling, making this a collectible die variety rather than a random error. On 2011 pennies, doubling appears on “LIBERTY,” “IN GOD WE TRUST,” the date, or the Union Shield’s lettering — though the 2011 doubled dies are far subtler than the famous 1955 and 1972 examples.

Value: Heritage Auctions sold a 2011-D Lincoln penny graded MS64 with a doubled die obverse error for $720 in 2012 — one of the highest DDO prices for a modern Lincoln cent. Typical doubled die examples from this year range from $25 to $600 depending on doubling strength.

Weak doubling visible only under heavy magnification sits near the bottom. Clearly visible doubling on multiple design elements commands the premium end.

How to Identify: Examine “LIBERTY” and “IN GOD WE TRUST” under 10x magnification first — these show doubling most readily. Look for a distinct secondary image with rounded, raised contours offset from the primary design.

Machine doubling — flat, shelf-like steps on one side of letters — is worthless and extremely common on 2011 cents. True doubled dies show rounded, three-dimensional doubling.

Check the date and reverse inscriptions “E PLURIBUS UNUM” and “ONE CENT” for consistent doubling. The fastest test: rounded, raised doubling across multiple design elements versus flat shelf-like steps that are worth nothing.

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7. 2011 Penny Feeder Finger Error (Up to $980)

Feeder finger errors are unique to modern automated coin presses. Feeder fingers are the mechanical arms that position blank planchets in the collar before striking, then retract before the dies close.

When a feeder finger fails to retract in time, it gets caught between the die and planchet during striking. The pressure leaves distinctive parallel horizontal scratch marks across the coin’s surface — usually on the obverse — that look like someone dragged a comb across Lincoln’s portrait.

Value: A collector at an online auction in August 2018 paid $980 for a 2011-D Lincoln penny with a feeder finger error. The coin showed prominent scratches clearly visible without magnification.

Faint feeder finger marks add $20 to $75, while strong, unmistakable parallel scratches covering a significant area of the design bring $200 to $980. The value scales directly with how visible and dramatic the marks are.

How to Identify: Look for a set of parallel, evenly spaced horizontal lines running across the obverse. The lines should be consistent in depth and spacing — feeder fingers are machined parts with uniform dimensions.

The scratches run straight and horizontal because the finger retracts on a fixed horizontal path. Random scratches from post-mint handling will not show this precise parallel pattern.

Under magnification, feeder finger marks show metal displacement consistent with striking pressure — the lines formed during the strike, not after. The coin’s luster should be intact around the marks.

The fastest test: parallel, evenly spaced horizontal lines with consistent depth across the obverse.

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8. 2011 Penny Improper Annealing Error (Up to $980)

Annealing is the heat treatment that prepares planchets for striking. When the furnace temperature, duration, or atmosphere goes wrong, the planchet’s surface chemistry changes and the coin emerges with abnormal coloring — dark grey, black, purple, orange, or some uneven mix.

The discoloration is baked into the metal at the molecular level before striking, not tarnish or environmental damage. Collectors call fully dark examples “Black Beauties,” and the unusual appearance gives them a dedicated following among error specialists.

Value: In 2012, a collector paid $980 for a 2011-P Lincoln penny graded MS62 with an annealed planchet error. The coin showed dramatic color deviation from normal copper-red.

Raw, uncertified examples trade for $15 to $50 depending on color intensity. Certified specimens with dramatic full-surface discoloration sell for $100 to $500, and PCGS or NGC slabs add significant premium.

How to Identify: Look for unusual coloring across the entire coin or large sections — dark grey, purple, black, or orange tones that do not match normal copper-red penny surfaces. The discoloration should appear uniform and metallic.

Tilt the coin under a single light source. Genuine improper annealing shows normal mint luster and flow lines on top of the dark surface — the luster spins as you rotate the coin.

Environmental damage kills luster and leaves a matte, non-reflective finish. Weight should be normal at 2.50 grams since the composition is correct — only the surface treatment failed.

The fastest test: spinning mint luster visible over the dark surface under a single angled light.

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9. 2011 Penny Die Clash Error (Up to $1,030)

A die clash happens when the obverse and reverse dies slam together without a planchet between them. The enormous pressure transfers a partial impression of each die onto the other — the reverse design gets stamped into the obverse die face, and vice versa.

Coins struck afterward carry faint ghost images of the opposite design. On 2011 pennies, you might see a faint outline of the Union Shield on Lincoln’s portrait, or hints of Lincoln’s profile ghosted onto the shield reverse.

Value: GreatCollections auctioned a 2011-D Lincoln cent graded MS64 with a die clash error for $1,030. A 2011-P cent graded MS60 with a prominent clash also sold for $515 at GreatCollections in 2014.

Minor clashes with faint ghost images add $10 to $25. Strong, clearly visible clash marks with unmistakable transferred design elements bring $100 to $500.

How to Identify: Examine Lincoln’s portrait under 10x magnification, looking for faint raised lines or ghosted images that do not belong to the normal obverse design. On the reverse, check the shield for transferred elements from Lincoln’s portrait.

Use a strong light source at various angles — clash marks often appear only when light hits at specific positions. The ghost images should be raised, not incised.

Compare your coin to known 2011 die clash varieties documented online. The transferred design elements are consistent across all coins struck from the same clashed die pair.

The fastest test: ghost images of the opposite side’s design visible under angled light.

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10. 2011 Penny Clipped Planchet Error (Up to $1,030)

Clipped planchets form when the blanking press punches discs from a metal strip and the strip fails to advance properly. The next punch overlaps the hole from the previous blank, creating a planchet with a curved bite out of its edge.

The incomplete planchet goes through plating, upsetting, and striking normally — carrying the missing chunk to the finished coin. On 2011 pennies, larger clips removing 20% or more with the date still intact are where values reach four figures.

Value: GreatCollections auctioned a 2011-D Lincoln penny graded MS64 with a clipped planchet error for $1,030. That price reflects a major clip with the date fully preserved.

Small clips under 10% sell for $5 to $25. Medium clips of 10% to 20% bring $25 to $150, and major clips over 20% with complete dates command $200 to $1,030.

How to Identify: Look for a smooth, curved indentation along the edge where metal is missing. The clipped area shows raw planchet edge — on a 2011 penny, that means exposed zinc without copper plating at the clip.

Check for the Blakesley effect — a weak or absent rim directly opposite the clip, 180 degrees away. This diagnostic signature forms because the metal could not flow properly during upsetting where the blank was incomplete.

Lincoln pennies have plain edges, so you will not see interrupted reeding at the clip. Design elements near the clip should be partially cut off or interrupted.

The fastest test: Blakesley effect on the opposite rim plus smooth curved clip edge.

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11. 2011 Penny Capped Die Error (Up to $1,095)

A capped die error begins when a freshly struck coin sticks to the upper hammer die instead of ejecting normally. That stuck coin becomes a new die face — its reverse now stamps every subsequent planchet, producing mirror-image brockage coins.

As the stuck coin gets hammered deeper with each strike, it wraps around the die’s edges and takes on the shape of a small cap or thimble. The resulting die cap is one of the most visually dramatic mint errors — a bottle-cap-shaped piece of metal with a stretched, distorted design.

Value: Heritage Auctions sold a 2011-D Lincoln penny graded MS65 with a capped die error for $1,095 in 2012. Capped die errors on modern pennies are scarce because quality control catches most press malfunctions quickly.

Early-stage caps with mild distortion bring $200 to $500. Fully formed thimble-shaped caps with dramatic metal stretching push past $1,000.

How to Identify: The coin will be obviously deformed — curved or bowl-shaped rather than flat. One side shows a normal strike, while the other shows a raised, mirror-image impression from the stuck coin that acted as the new die face.

The edges may be stretched and curved upward, giving the characteristic cap shape. Metal at the rim shows stress marks and distortion from being forced around the die.

The design on the brockage side appears reversed — text reads backward. Weight may differ slightly from the standard 2.50 grams due to metal displacement.

The fastest test: a bowl-shaped coin with a mirror-image backward design on one side. Nothing else produces this shape.

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12. 2011 Penny Misaligned Die Error (Up to $1,115)

A misaligned die error — also called a rotated die — occurs when the obverse and reverse dies fall out of their intended 180-degree alignment. The die loosens in its seat inside the press, and the result is a coin where the reverse appears tilted relative to the obverse.

Minor rotations of 5 to 10 degrees happen often and add little value. Dramatic rotations of 90 degrees or more are genuinely scarce, and a full 180-degree rotation — where the reverse is completely upside down — commands the strongest premiums.

Value: Heritage Auctions sold a 2011-D Lincoln penny graded MS60 with a significant misaligned die error for $1,115. The coin showed a dramatic rotation visible without magnification.

Minor rotations of 15 to 45 degrees sell for $25 to $150. Rotations exceeding 90 degrees bring $500 to $1,115 depending on grade and exact degree of rotation.

How to Identify: Hold the coin with Lincoln’s portrait facing you in normal upright position. Flip it along the vertical axis, left to right, like turning a page.

On a normal coin, the reverse Union Shield also appears upright after flipping. If the shield is tilted at any angle, you have a rotated die error — use a protractor or phone app to estimate the degrees.

Both sides should show complete, fully struck design details with nothing missing. Missing elements would indicate an off-center strike instead of a rotated die.

The fastest test: flip the coin on its vertical axis and check whether the reverse is tilted.

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Conclusion

The 2011 penny error market runs from $5 for a minor BIE variety to $1,115 for a dramatically rotated die. Eight of the twelve errors on this list have confirmed sales above $300, and five have cleared $900.

The highest returns go to errors visible without magnification — capped dies, large clipped planchets, and severe rotations. A digital scale, a 10x loupe, and some patience are all the equipment you need.