Rare 2015 Penny Errors Worth Money (Full List)

Is the 2015 penny worth collecting? Are there 2015 penny errors worth a lot of money? These are some things you might be curious about if you are building your Lincoln quarters collection. If so, you have come to the right place! Our 2015 penny errors list will help you discover some of the most valuable Lincoln error coins in the 2015 series.

Collecting error coins is one of the most rewarding ways to improve the value of your Lincoln pennies collection. Ordinary pennies are generally only worth their face value of $ and $ in circulated condition— even more reason to collect errors, which could be worth hundreds and even thousands!

So, without further ado, let’s jump onto our 2015 penny errors list and discover some of the most valuable 2015 Lincoln penny errors.

1. 2015-P MS60 Lincoln Shield Cent Die Crack Error

One of the errors you will come across when collecting 2015 pennies is the die crack. This is quite a common error and you will likely not have any problem adding it to your collection. 

A die crack error, as the name suggests is a crack that appears on the die’s surface as a result of normal wear and tear, accidental fall, or pressure arising from the striking process.

When the die cracks, metal fills in and when the die strikes, the crack leaves an impression on the planchet. On the final coin, the impression of the die crack error appears very similar to a crack on the surface of a table, for example.

The value of a die crack error depends on the size and appearance of the error. A larger, peculiar-looking die crack will generally be more valuable than a small, unassuming die crack.

In 2018, a collector paid $205 for a 2015-P Lincoln cent graded MS60 with a die crack error.

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2. 2015-P MS62 Lincoln Shield Penny With Improper Annealing Error

Another error you might come across when collecting Lincoln shield pennies is the improper annealing phenomenon. Annealing is the process of heating and cooling the metal used to make blank planchets that will later be minted into coins.

Any fluctuations in the heating and cooling process can cause changes in the metal’s color, with the metal taking on colors such as purple, grey, yellow, black, or hues of the rainbow instead of the usual brown copper color that’s typical of pennies.

If you find a Lincoln shield penny with a peculiar coloration, it is probably due to an improper annealing error. One such coin was auctioned for a whopping $325 at a 2016 Heritage Auctions sale, making it a worthwhile addition to your collection.

Also read: 12 Most Valuable Lincoln Penny Worth Money

 

3. 2015-D MS60 Lincoln Shield Penny with Grease Struck Through Error

A grease struck-through error can be quite dramatic and is often worth a premium. This error occurs when some grease comes between the die and planchet, creating a film that prevents the die from completely transferring the design onto the planchet.

A grease struck through, which is only one type of the various strike-through errors will make the coin appear smooth or smudged in some areas, or as though the strike is weak.

The value of the strike-through error will depend on how much of the design is missing or ineligible. The more smudgy the coin appears the more valuable the strike-through error.

A collector paid $100 for a 2016-D Lincoln penny graded MS60 with a grease struck-through error.

 

4. 2015-D MS62 Penny With Off-Center Strike Error

Another equally dramatic error is the off-center strike. As the name suggests, this error occurs when the design on the obverse or reverse appears away from the center of the coin and is rather positioned more toward the center.

This error typically occurs when the coin is improperly placed in the collar, resulting in the die striking only part of the coin. This results in part of the design missing.

The percentage of off-centeredness usually determines the value of the coin. The further away from the center the design is, the more valuable it likely will be. For example, a coin with a 20% off-center strike error will generally be more valuable than one that has a 5% off-center strike.

A 2015-D penny graded MS62 with an off-center strike error was sold for a value of $120. According to the Great Collections auction, this coin had an off-center percentage of 20%.

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5. 2015-D MS65 Lincoln Penny With Rim Cud Error

Another interesting and valuable error to look out for when collecting 2015 Lincoln penny errors is the rim cud. This rim error occurs when the edge of the die breaks, leaving a space that eventually fills with metal.

When the die strikes the planchet, the metal-filled space along the coin’s edge leaves its impression in the form of a rim cud. A rim cud will appear like a raised, tampered bump along the coin’s edge. Sometimes cuds can be so dramatic that they take up a large chunk of the coin’s rim—such peculiarities can be worth a lot.

A collector paid an impressive $310 for a 2015-D Lincoln shield penny graded MS65 with a rim cud error. This is a good sign that a rim cud error might be a valuable addition to your collection.

Also read: 13 Most Valuable Wheat Penny Worth Money

 

6. 2015-P MS62 Lincoln Shield Penny Wrong Planchet/Dime Planchet Error

For various reasons, a coin may be struck on the wrong planchet. This minting is rare, making it a potentially high-value addition to your collection.

An example of a wrong planchet error is when a Lincoln penny is struck on a Roosevelt dime. A dime, which weighs 2.27grams and has a diameter of 17.0 millimeters is much smaller than a penny, which weighs 2.50 grams with a diameter of 19.0 millimeters.

A penny struck on a dime planchet will be noticeably lighter and the design on the obverse and reverse will not properly fit on the planchet. The wrong planchet penny will have the inscriptions appear so close to the edge they will look like they are overflowing.

A wrong planchet error can be worth quite a lot. Unsurprisingly, a collector paid $500 for a 2015-P Lincoln shield penny at an eBay auction.

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7. 2015-D MS65 Lincoln Shield Penny with Lamination Error

Lamination errors are rare but you can still identify and add them as a potentially high-value error coin to your collection.

There are different types of lamination errors, but a common factor is that they are as a result of the presence of impurities in the metal used to prepare planchets.

When impurities contaminate the metal it can result in errors such as bubbling, cracking or lifting of the upper layer of the coin. A lamination crack is arguably the most dramatic of the lamination errors and will likely fetch the most amount in the coin market.

In a 2020 eBay auction a collector paid an impressive $615 for a 2015-D Lincoln shield penny graded MS65 with a lamination error.

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8. 2015-P MS64 Lincoln Memorial Penny Doubled Die

A doubled die is one of the most common errors you will come across when collecting 2015 penny errors.

This error occurs when the die strikes the planchet multiple times at slightly different angles resulting in visible doubling of the devices and inscriptions.

A doubled die error can occur on the obverse or reverse. The intensity of doubling significantly contributes to the value of the coin—the more intense the doubling, the more valuable the error is likely to be.

In 2016 a collector paid $140 for a 2015-P Lincoln penny graded MS64 with a doubled die obverse and reverse error

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9. 2015-D MS63 Lincoln Penny Die Clash Error

A die clash error occurs when the obverse and reverse dies hit against each other. Because there is no planchet between, the anvil and hammer die might impress their respective designs onto each other.

When a planchet is finally placed between the dies, you might notice some elements of the reverse design on the obverse of the planchet and vice versa.

For example, on the Lincoln penny, you might identify a subtle hint of the liberty shield on the obverse of the coin. On other coins, a subtle hint of the date, usually found on the obverse, may appear on the reverse due to the dies clashing.

In 2018, Heritage Auctions sold a 2015-D Lincoln penny for an impressive $495. The coins was graded MS63 with a die clash error where part of the date showed on the reverse.

Also read: 17 Most Valuable Indian Head Penny Worth Money

 

10. 2015-P MS60 Lincoln Cent Broad-Struck Error

Another dramatic and sought-after error is the broad-struck, which occurs when the die strikes the planchet outside the collar.

The collar holds the planchet in place, ensuring it retains its diameter when it is struck. If the planchet is not properly placed inside the collar, it might expand well beyond its diameter when struck by the die, leading to a broad-struck error.

A broad-struck coin will retain all its details on the obverse and reverse but will have a deformed shape due to the extended diameter.

A collector paid $220 at a 2020 online auction for a 2015-P MS60 Lincoln cent with a broad-struck error.

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Summary

Lincoln pennies are relatively popular among U.S. coin collectors. But, unless you are collecting gems/uncirculated specimen, there is not much value in circulated Lincoln cents. Your other best option is to start adding errors to your collection and as you can see from our 2015 penny errors list, you don’t have to break your bank to get started! Most of these error coins are affordable and fetch a premium in the coin market. Happy collecting!