Rare 2012 Penny Errors Worth Money (Full List)

Are you an Abraham Lincoln fan and are looking to collect pennies worth money? You’ve come to the right place! Whether you are a new hobbyist or a veteran, our 2012 penny errors list will help you identify high value pennies that can significantly change the value of your coin collection.

Popular as they might be, circulated Lincoln pennies are only worth their face value. If you want to add pennies worth money to your collection, you should consider penny errors.

Penny errors are coins with unique flaws acquired during the minting process. These coins may have major or subtle flaws but all in all they stand out from the ordinary coins. Aside from their peculiarity, errors can be worth a fortune—it is not uncommon for penny errors to be worth hundreds and even thousands in their uncirculated condition.

As you will discover from our 2012 penny errors list, there are many error varieties—you just need to know what to look for to spot high-value errors.

So, without taking up so much of your time, let’s dive in and discover the most expensive 2012 penny errors that can be a worthwhile addition to your collection.

1. 2012-P MS60 Lincoln Penny Rim Cud Error

A rim cud is among the most prominent errors you might come across when collecting Lincoln pennies. This error occurs when a piece breaks off along the coin’s edge and the space left behind is eventually filled with metal.

When the die strikes the planchet, the metal-filled hole on the die leaves an impression on the planchet. On the final coin, a rim cud error appears like a bump, formed laterally along the edge.

The larger or more dramatic the bump, the more valuable it tends to be. Of course, factors such as the coin’s condition will also come into play when determining the value of such a coin.

That said, a rim cud can fetch a good amount. For example, a collector at a 2020 Heritage Auctions sale paid an impressive $350 for a 2012-P Lincoln penny graded MS60 with a large rim cud error, making this a potentially valuable addition to your collection.

 

2. 2012-P MS65 Lincoln Shield Penny Doubled Die Obverse Error

Another error you might come across when collecting Lincoln pennies is the doubled die. This is one of the most common errors and can be an easy addition while also adding value to your collection.

So, how does a doubled die error occur? When the die strikes the planchet multiple times at slightly different angles, the devices and inscriptions can overlap, resulting in a visible doubling. This is known as a doubled die error, which can appear on the obverse, reverse or both sides of the coin.

The value of a doubled die error depends on the doubling intensity. A penny with strong doubling on the devices or inscriptions will generally tend to be more valuable than one with subtle doubling.

So, how much can you expect from a doubled die obverse penny error? For an estimate, let’s take the example of a 2012-P Lincoln penny graded MS65 with a doubled die obverse penny error, which Heritage Auctions sold for about $415.

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3. 2012-D MS64 Lincoln Cent Ridge Error

A partial collar error can be quite dramatic but the best part is that it can earn some good money depending on the coin’s condition.

As the name suggests, this error occurs when the planchet doesn’t sit squarely in the collar. The collar is   a holding device that helps define the planchet’s diameter during striking and imposes reeds along the coin’s edge.

Sometimes, the planchet may fail to sit perfectly in the collar so that part of the planchet’s edge hangs outside the collar. This results in the collar partially sitting on the planchet’s edge and when the die comes down, it strikes the collar which then leaves its impression on the coin’s surface.

The impression the collar leaves on the coin appears like a crescent; the impression’s line might be smooth in the case of a collar with a smooth edge. It may take on the appearance of a railroad if the coin has a reeded edge—either way it results in a partial collar ridge error.

In 2021, a collector on eBay paid a whopping $512 for a 2012-D Lincoln cent graded MS64 with a partial collar ridge error, making this an enviable addition to your pennies collection.

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4. 2012-P MS64 Lincoln Shield Cent Broadstrike Error

A broad-strike or broad-struck is one of the most dramatic errors you might come across when collecting Lincoln pennies.

 What causes a broad strike? This error occurs when the die strikes the planchet outside the holding collar. This can happen if the planchet isn’t sat well in the collar, which defines its diameter. In this case, when the die strikes, the planchet may expand beyond its normal diameter.

The result of a broad strike is a penny with a thinning edge and an expanded diameter on one side. You will have to agree that this is quite a dramatic and eye-catching error!

So, how much is a broad strike Lincoln penny worth? Unsurprisingly, this error if often worth good money. A nice example is a a2012-P Lincoln shield penny graded MS64 with a broad strike error that a collector paid $1,120 for at a 2020 Great Collections auction.

 

5. 2012-P MS62 Lincoln Shield Cent Retained Die Break

A retained die break occurs when the die’s surface breaks but instead of the broken piece falling off, it sinks below the die’s surface, resulting in a retained die break.

The broken area will fill with metal if the die continues to be used, and will eventually leave an impression on the coin’s surface. A retained die break will typically take the shape of an irregular lump on the coin’s surface.

Factors such as the peculiarity, size and shape will usually determine the value of a retained die break. A larger, odd-looking die break will generally be more valuable than a smaller, subtle one.

In 2022, Heritage Auctions sold a 2012-P Lincoln penny graded MS62 with a retained die break for an impressive $200.

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6. 2012-D MS64 Obverse Strike Through Lincoln Penny Error

A struck through is another popular error on our 2012 penny errors list. This error occurs when a foreign object is struck through the die and planchet with the foreign object leaving its impression on the coin’s surface.

Foreign objects that can accidentally come into contact with the planchet include grease, small wire pieces, specks of wood, threads, and hair strands just to mention a few.

Sometimes, the foreign object will fall off the coin’s surface after being struck, only leaving a lingering impression of itself. Other times, the object may get stuck on the coin’s surface, resulting in a retained struck-through error, which is inadvertently more dramatic.

How much can you expect from a strike-through or struck-through error? Being an eye-catching error, you can expect some good amount from it especially if the coin is in mint state. For example, the Great Collections sold a 2012-D Lincoln penny graded MS64 in 2021 for an eye-watering $915.

 

7. 2012-D MS63 Lincoln Shield Penny Off-Center Strike

Another noteworthy error on our 2012 penny errors list is the off-center strike. As you can probably guess from the name, this is an error in which the design is struck away from the center.

An off-center strike error can occur due to various reasons one of the most common being a misaligned planchet  that isn’t sat squarely in the collar. This can cause the planchet to shift around, resulting in the die striking more toward the edge than in the center where the design should ordinarily be. 

Some off-center strikes can be quite subtle and may require a keen eye to notice—these may not be as valuable. On the other hand, others might be very noticeable and can attract a premium.

So, the error’s value depends on the offness percentage such that a penny with a 30% off-center strike will generally be more valuable than one with a 10% off-center strike.

In 2020, a collector at an online auction paid $1,100 for a 2012-D Lincoln penny graded MS63 with a 35% off-center strike, making this arguably one of the best errors to look out for when building your Lincoln collection.

 

8. 2012-P MS63 Feeder Finger Lincoln Penny Error

A feeder finger error appears like lateral scratches on the coin’s surface, which would make any coin stand out.

Feeder fingers help to position the planchet inside the collar and once they do, they automatically retract. Sometimes, the feeder fingers fail to retract and will be struck between the die and planchet, causing the prominent scratches on the coin’s surface also known as feeder fingers.

Feeder finger errors are relatively rare so you’d be in luck if you were to come across such a coin. Unsurprisingly, this error can also be quite valuable. Take for example the 2012-P MS63 Lincoln penny with a feeder finger error that as auctioned for a whopping $780 at a 2021 Heritage Auctions sale.

 

Summary

Lincoln pennies are a popular collectors’ item and can be an excellent addition to your collection. But, if you really want to supercharge your collection’s value, high-value error pennies are the way to go. As our 2012 penny errors list has revealed, penny errors can be worth a premium. Whether you are new to collecting or are a veteran, the right penny errors can pay off handsomely. Happy collecting!