Rare 2012 Penny Errors Worth Money (Full List With Pictures)

A 2012-P Lincoln Shield penny with a broadstrike error sold for $1,120 at a 2020 Great Collections auction. 2012 penny errors range from about $5 for minor die cracks to four figures for dramatic striking mistakes.

Philadelphia and Denver produced billions of Shield cents that year, and quality control let a surprising number of defective coins slip through. Below are 12 documented error types sorted from least to most valuable, with auction records and identification tips for each.

1. 2012 Penny BIE Error (Up to $10)

The BIE error is exclusive to Lincoln cents. A vertical die crack develops between the “B” and “E” in LIBERTY, creating what looks like an extra letter “I”—effectively spelling “LIBIERTY.”

Die fatigue causes this after thousands of strikes. The gap between B and E is where stress concentrates on Lincoln cent dies, making this particular crack location predictable.

Multiple BIE varieties exist for 2012, each from a different cracked die. Collectors assemble BIE date sets spanning decades of Lincoln production, which sustains steady demand even at this price tier.

Value: A typical 2012 BIE penny sells for $5 to $10 in circulated or low-grade uncirculated condition. Well-defined examples with a tall, clear “I” may push slightly above that range among specialized BIE collectors.

No major auction house records exist for this variety—most trading happens on eBay and collector forums. The low entry price makes BIE errors one of the most accessible Lincoln cent errors for hobbyists building a first error set.

How to Identify: Use a 10x loupe and focus on the word LIBERTY on the obverse. Look between “B” and “E” for a small vertical raised line resembling the letter “I.”

The crack ranges from a hairline bump barely visible without magnification to a bold line matching the height of surrounding letters. Die cracks in other locations do not count—the crack must fall specifically between those two letters to qualify as a BIE.

The raised line should share the same metal texture and color as the rest of the coin. If the mark looks scratched or incised rather than raised, it is post-mint damage, not a die crack.

Multiple BIE dies exist for 2012, so each shows the crack at a slightly different position or thickness. Fastest confirmation: a raised vertical line between B and E in LIBERTY with the same surface texture as the surrounding coin.

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2. 2012 Penny Die Chip Error (Up to $25)

Die chips form when small fragments of the die’s steel surface break away during production. Each cavity left behind fills with metal during the next strike, producing a small raised bump or blob on the finished coin.

These chips appear randomly—inside letter openings, on Lincoln’s portrait, across the shield design, or in open fields. Location drives collector interest more than size.

A chip filling the loop of a “D” or sitting inside the “O” of ONE CENT attracts more attention than one in an empty field. The chips accumulate as the die ages, so late-state coins may show multiple examples.

Value: Most 2012 die chip errors sell for $2 to $10 on eBay. Chips in prominent locations—inside letters, on Lincoln’s face, or in the date area—can reach $15 to $25.

No major auction house records exist specifically for 2012 die chips. This sits at the bottom tier for error value, but collectors who specialize in die varieties buy them consistently, and volume sellers move them in date-sorted lots.

How to Identify: Examine the coin under 10x to 20x magnification, focusing on letters, numerals, and design elements. Die chips appear as small raised dots, bumps, or irregular blobs that do not correspond to any normal design feature.

The chip should have identical metal texture and patina to the surrounding surface. If the bump can be scraped off or shows a different color, it is adhesion or corrosion—not a mint error.

Check inside letter openings like the “O” in GOD or ONE, the loops in “B” and “D,” and around the date numerals. These are the most collectible locations.

Die chips are permanently struck into the coin and cannot be rubbed off. Fastest confirmation: a raised metallic blob with the same color and texture as the coin, located in or near a design element.

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3. 2012 Penny Clipped Planchet Error (Up to $50)

This error occurs before the coin is struck. When the mint punches blank planchets from metal strips, the punch sometimes overlaps a previously punched hole, creating an incomplete blank with a curved bite missing from its edge.

The clipped blank enters the press and receives the full die impression, but the missing section remains. The area near the clip shows weakened design detail called the Blakesley effect—caused by reduced metal flow on the opposite side during striking.

Straight clips from the strip’s edge are less common than curved clips. They tend to carry a small premium.

Value: Clipped planchet errors from 2012 typically sell for $5 to $30 on eBay depending on clip size and type. Larger clips removing 10% or more of the planchet push toward $30 to $50.

Multiple clips on a single coin increase value further. No major auction records exist specifically for 2012 clipped cents, but the error type has consistent demand across all modern Lincoln dates at these price points.

How to Identify: Look for a curved or crescent-shaped section missing from the coin’s edge. The clipped area should have a smooth, unstruck surface—not jagged or rough from damage.

Weigh the coin on a precision scale. A normal 2012 penny weighs 2.5 grams; a clipped example will be slightly underweight.

Check the rim directly opposite the clip for the Blakesley effect: a flat, weak spot where the rim failed to form properly during striking. This opposite-side weakness is the primary authentication marker.

Post-mint damage from pliers or cutting tools produces irregular edges with tool marks and no Blakesley effect. A genuine clip has a clean concave edge paired with that telltale opposite-side weakness.

Straight clips from the strip edge are rarer than curved clips. Fastest confirmation: a smooth curved missing section paired with a weak or flat rim directly opposite the clip (Blakesley effect).

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4. 2012 Penny Die Clash Error (Up to $200)

A die clash occurs when the obverse and reverse dies slam together without a planchet between them. The collision transfers design elements from each die onto the other in mirror-image form.

Coins subsequently struck from these clashed dies carry ghost-like impressions of the wrong side’s design. On the obverse, faint traces of the shield reverse may appear in the field around Lincoln.

On the reverse, outlines of Lincoln’s profile can show up behind the shield. The transferred images are raised because they represent new design elements impressed into the die surface.

Value: Die clash errors from 2012 typically sell for $15 to $75 on eBay and collector forums. Strong clashes with clearly visible transferred design elements can reach $100 to $200 depending on visual impact and coin grade.

These errors rarely appear at major auction houses for modern cents. Value scales directly with how visible the ghost design is to the naked eye—subtle clashes requiring magnification trade near the low end of the range.

How to Identify: Tilt the coin under a strong directional light at various angles. Ghost images from a die clash are raised areas that do not belong to the normal design of the side you are examining.

On the obverse, look for faint outlines in the open field around Lincoln—traces of the shield may appear as subtle raised lines or shapes. On the reverse, check behind the shield for hints of Lincoln’s profile or obverse lettering.

A 10x loupe helps with subtle clashes, but strong examples are visible to the naked eye under good lighting. The ghost images appear consistently on every coin struck from the same clashed die pair.

Do not confuse clash marks with die polishing lines, which are typically incuse (recessed) rather than raised. Fastest confirmation: faint raised design elements from the opposite side visible when tilting the coin under strong directional light.

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5. 2012 Penny Retained Die Break Error (Up to $300)

A retained die break forms when the die surface cracks but the broken piece does not fully separate. It sinks slightly below the die face while remaining attached, creating a cavity that fills with metal during each strike.

The result is a raised, irregular lump on the finished coin. Unlike rim cuds, retained die breaks appear within the design field—on Lincoln’s portrait, across lettering, or in the shield area.

The shape is always random, determined by how the die steel fractured. Larger breaks that distort recognizable design elements draw the most collector interest.

Value: Heritage Auctions sold a 2012-P Lincoln penny graded MS62 with a retained die break for $200 in 2022. Values generally range from $50 to $300 depending on size, location, and visual impact of the break.

Breaks on Lincoln’s portrait or across major lettering command the highest premiums. Small, inconspicuous breaks sitting in open field areas with no design context trade near $50 on eBay and collector forums.

How to Identify: Look for raised, irregular lumps or blobs on the coin’s surface that do not correspond to any normal design element. The raised area should have identical metal color and texture to the surrounding coin—this confirms mint-origin.

Use a 10x loupe to examine the edges of the raised area. Genuine retained die breaks show an irregular, organic shape with a slight seam line where the broken fragment meets the intact die surface.

Do not confuse these with adhesions (foreign material stuck to the coin) or lamination errors (peeling of the planchet surface). Adhesions often differ in color or can be pried loose.

Lamination errors show separation between metal layers rather than a solid raised blob. Check both obverse and reverse, as die breaks occur on either side.

Fastest confirmation: an irregular raised blob with the same metal color as the coin, located within the design field rather than at the rim.

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6. 2012 Penny Rim Cud Error (Up to $350)

A rim cud forms when a chunk of the die breaks away along its edge. The resulting cavity fills with metal during each strike, leaving a raised, formless bump along the coin’s rim.

Cuds always occur at the rim because that is where die steel is thinnest and most vulnerable to fracture. Every coin struck from the damaged die shows the same cud in the same position.

Size matters—a cud spanning several millimeters is worth dramatically more than a tiny bump. Some massive cuds obliterate portions of nearby lettering, and those are the specimens that attract serious error collectors.

Value: A 2012-P Lincoln penny graded MS60 with a large rim cud error sold for $350 at a 2020 Heritage Auctions sale. Smaller cuds typically trade for $50 to $150 on eBay depending on size and visual impact.

Mid-range examples with moderate cuds in visible locations sell for $150 to $250. The value curve is steep here—double the cud size and the price can triple.

How to Identify: Run your finger along the rim of the coin. A cud feels like a raised lump or blob extending from the edge—it is physically part of the coin, not something adhered to it.

Under 10x magnification, examine the cud closely. Genuine cuds have the same texture, color, and patina as the rest of the coin—they appear as formless metal masses, not recognizable design elements.

Check both obverse and reverse rims, as cuds can form on either die. Do not confuse struck-through debris at the rim with a cud—struck-through errors create depressions, while cuds create raised areas.

Coin-counting machine damage can also deform rims but shows tool marks and uneven surface texture. A genuine cud is uniform and matches the coin’s patina exactly.

Fastest confirmation: a raised metallic blob at the rim with the same texture as the coin, appearing in the same position on every example struck from that die.

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7. 2012 Penny Doubled Die Obverse Error (Up to $415)

The doubled die obverse forms during die production, not during striking. When the hub impresses the design onto the working die, a misalignment between impressions creates permanent doubling embedded in the die itself.

Every coin struck from that die then shows identical doubling—same direction, same intensity, same location. On 2012 pennies, doubling typically appears on Lincoln’s eye, his tie, LIBERTY, IN GOD WE TRUST, and the date numerals.

The 2012 DDO is not as dramatic as famous examples like the 1955 or 1972. Strong specimens still show clear separation under magnification, and the variety draws consistent collector interest.

Value: A 2012-P Lincoln Shield penny graded MS65 with a doubled die obverse error sold for $415 at Heritage Auctions. Most examples with moderate doubling trade between $25 and $50 on eBay.

Value scales directly with doubling intensity. Strong doubling visible to the naked eye pushes prices above $100, while weak doubling requiring high magnification to detect sits at the low end of the range.

How to Identify: Use a 10x loupe and start with Lincoln’s eye—this is where doubling shows most clearly on 2012 specimens. Look for a “shadow” effect where design elements appear slightly duplicated with rounded, separated edges.

Check LIBERTY, IN GOD WE TRUST, and the date for consistent directional doubling. True doubled dies show crisp, rounded separation between the original and doubled image.

Machine doubling is the most common misidentification—it produces flat, shelf-like displacement rather than rounded separation. It also looks different from coin to coin because it results from die bounce during striking, not a permanent die defect.

If the doubling appears flat and mushy rather than crisp and rounded, it is machine doubling and carries no premium.

Fastest confirmation: rounded, separated doubling on Lincoln’s eye that shows consistent direction across all affected design elements.

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8. 2012 Penny Partial Collar Error (Up to $512)

A partial collar error happens when the planchet fails to seat properly in the retaining collar before striking. Part of the coin gets struck inside the collar while the rest extends beyond it.

The collar’s edge leaves a visible raised ridge across the coin’s surface where it partially contacted the metal. This creates a distinctive “railroad track” look—two parallel raised lines running along a portion of the coin.

The coin may appear slightly tilted or beveled, with one side showing a normal rim and the other showing expansion where it was struck outside the collar.

Value: A 2012-D Lincoln cent graded MS64 with a partial collar ridge error sold for $512 on eBay in 2021. Most partial collar errors from 2012 trade between $50 and $200 on the secondary market depending on ridge prominence.

Strong ridges creating dramatic visual distortion with a clear tilted profile bring top dollar. Subtle partial collars with barely perceptible ridges sell near the low end of the range.

How to Identify: Examine the coin’s edge and rim under 10x magnification. Look for a raised line or ridge running parallel to the rim that does not belong to the normal design.

The coin may show a slightly tilted profile—one side normal, the other expanded. Tilt the coin under a light to see the ridge more clearly.

On pennies with smooth edges, the ridge appears as a distinct raised line. Measure the coin’s diameter with calipers—one axis may be slightly larger than the standard 19mm where the coin expanded outside the collar.

Do not confuse post-mint rim damage with a partial collar. Damage produces irregular deformation, while a partial collar leaves a clean, linear ridge.

Fastest confirmation: a smooth, linear raised ridge on one portion of the rim paired with a normal rim on the opposite side.

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9. 2012 Penny Feeder Finger Error (Up to $780)

Feeder fingers are mechanical arms that position blank planchets into the collar before striking, then retract before the dies close. When the retraction mechanism fails, the fingers get caught between die and planchet during the strike.

The result is a series of parallel grooves pressed into the coin’s surface. These marks are actually raised on the coin because the feeder finger prevented full metal flow in those areas.

This error is significantly rarer than most others on this list. Modern presses cycle fast, and the failure window for a feeder finger to get trapped is narrow.

Value: A 2012-P Lincoln penny graded MS63 with a feeder finger error sold for $780 at a 2021 Heritage Auctions sale. General market values range from $100 to $500 depending on the severity of the impressions and coin grade.

Relative scarcity keeps prices firm compared to more common errors like die cracks or clipped planchets. Many collectors have never encountered one in person.

How to Identify: Look for parallel grooves or raised lines running across the coin’s surface, typically from rim to rim in one direction. The lines should be consistent in spacing and depth—this uniformity is the key diagnostic.

Post-mint scratches are incuse (cut into the surface) and vary randomly in depth, direction, and spacing. Feeder finger marks are raised or show adjacent weak-strike areas, and they run parallel with even spacing.

The affected area may display slightly weak design detail where the finger blocked metal flow. Check both sides, though feeder finger errors most commonly appear on the obverse.

The impressions will have the same patina and wear as the rest of the coin, confirming they were created during minting rather than afterward.

Fastest confirmation: evenly spaced, parallel raised lines running across the coin with identical patina to the surrounding surface.

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10. 2012 Penny Strike Through Error (Up to $915)

A strike through occurs when a foreign object gets trapped between the die and planchet during striking. The object blocks the die from fully impressing the design, leaving its own impression in the coin’s surface.

Common culprits include grease, cloth fibers, wire fragments, wood shavings, and human hair. When the object stays embedded in the coin, it becomes a retained strike through—generally more valuable because the material is still visible for identification.

Grease-filled strike throughs create smooth, featureless blank spots. Cloth strike throughs may preserve a woven texture pattern, and wire leaves a linear impression.

Value: A 2012-D Lincoln penny graded MS64 with a dramatic struck-through error sold for $915 at Great Collections in 2021. Values range widely—from $25 for minor grease fills to several hundred dollars for large, visually dramatic impressions.

Retained strike throughs where the foreign material is still attached to the coin command the highest premiums. Size and visibility are the primary value drivers here.

How to Identify: Strike through errors appear as smooth, depressed areas where a foreign object blocked the design from forming completely. The affected area may show the texture of whatever caused the error—fabric weave, wire impression, or smooth grease fill.

The key authentication marker is that the error area shares the same patina and wear as the rest of the coin. It was created during minting, not afterward.

Post-mint damage such as scratches or gouges shows tool marks and random, irregular patterns. Strike through areas are smooth and conform to the shape of the foreign object.

Use a 10x loupe to examine the texture of the depression. If it shows a pattern like cloth weave, that pattern identifies the material type.

Fastest confirmation: a smooth depression or textured impression sharing the same patina as the coin, with no tool marks or irregular scratching.

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11. 2012 Penny Off-Center Strike Error (Up to $1,100)

An off-center strike occurs when the planchet is not properly seated in the collar before the dies close. The misalignment causes part of the design to land toward the edge or entirely off the coin, leaving a blank crescent of unstruck metal.

The percentage of displacement determines value. At 5%, the shift is barely noticeable—at 30-50%, the effect is dramatic.

The sweet spot for collectors is a coin missing 40-50% of its design while still retaining the complete date and mintmark. The date is essential for attribution and pricing.

Value: A 2012-D Lincoln penny with a 35% off-center strike graded MS63 sold for $1,100 at auction in 2020. Minor 10-20% off-center examples sell for $5 to $10 on eBay with little collector interest.

Coins at 40-50% off-center with a full visible date bring $100 to $125 or more depending on grade. The premium jumps sharply once the displacement exceeds about 25% while the date remains fully intact and legible.

How to Identify: Off-center strikes are among the easiest errors to spot visually. A portion of the design is missing, replaced by a smooth blank crescent of unstruck metal.

Confirm that the blank area is genuinely unstruck—smooth and featureless with the coin’s original planchet surface showing. The blank crescent should have a clean, abrupt boundary where the struck design ends.

For maximum value, verify the date is fully legible and use a loupe to check for a mintmark. Weigh the coin—it should still be approximately 2.5 grams since no metal was removed, only displaced.

If the “missing” design area shows scratches, marks, or irregular texture, the coin was damaged after minting. Fastest confirmation: a smooth, unstruck crescent with an abrupt clean boundary where the design ends, and the coin weight at approximately 2.5 grams.

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12. 2012 Penny Broadstrike Error (Up to $1,120)

A broadstrike occurs when the coin is struck entirely outside its retaining collar—the metal ring that normally confines the planchet and creates the raised rim. Without that restraint, metal flows outward freely during striking.

The result is a coin with an expanded diameter, a weak or absent rim, and often a slightly thinner profile. Full design still appears on both sides—this is what distinguishes a broadstrike from an off-center strike, which is missing portions of the design.

Coins that are both broadstruck and off-center are particularly scarce and carry a premium above either error alone.

Value: A 2012-P Lincoln Shield penny graded MS64 with a broadstrike error sold for $1,120 at a 2020 Great Collections auction. Less dramatic examples typically sell for $50 to $200 on eBay.

Value scales with how much the coin expanded and how distorted the rim appears. Full broadstrikes with significant expansion and complete absence of a normal rim bring top dollar.

How to Identify: Measure the coin with calipers. A standard Lincoln cent is 19mm in diameter—any coin measurably wider is a broadstrike suspect. Even an extra 0.5mm is significant.

Check the rim—on a broadstrike, it will be weak, flattened, distorted, or entirely absent. Design elements near the edge may appear stretched or pulled outward because the metal flowed without containment.

Weigh the coin. It should still be approximately 2.5 grams despite its larger diameter, since the metal was redistributed rather than added.

Both obverse and reverse designs should be fully visible—if design is missing, the coin is off-center rather than broadstruck. Do not confuse a broadstrike with a coin flattened by post-mint damage, which shows uneven distortion and tool marks.

Fastest confirmation: a coin wider than 19mm with full design on both sides, weak or absent rim, and weight near 2.5 grams.

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Conclusion

The 2012 Lincoln Shield cent produced errors across the full value spectrum. BIE die cracks and die chips start the range at $5 to $25, while mid-tier errors like doubled dies, rim cuds, and partial collars occupy the $50 to $500 zone.

At the top, strike throughs, off-center strikes, and broadstrikes push past $900 to $1,120 at auction in graded condition. Third-party grading from PCGS or NGC adds the most resale confidence for anything above the $100 mark.