Rare 2015 Penny Errors Worth Money (Full List With Pictures)

A 2015-D Lincoln cent with a lamination error sold for $615 at a 2020 eBay auction — not bad for a coin with a face value of one cent. The full 2015 penny error list covers errors ranging from $5 die chips to that $615 lamination flaw, with die clashes, wrong planchets, and doubled dies in between.

Most slipped past tightened post-2002 quality controls, making surviving examples scarcer than similar errors on older cents. Here is what to look for and what each type is actually worth.

1. 2015 Penny Die Chip Error (Up to $30)

Die chips form when small fragments of the die’s steel surface break away from metal fatigue. Each strike puts enormous pressure on the die, and over thousands of impressions, tiny pieces crack loose.

When a fragment falls out, it leaves a void in the die face. Planchet metal fills that void during the next strike, producing a small raised bump on the finished coin.

Die chips can appear anywhere — in the field, on lettering, or across Lincoln’s portrait. Some chips land in spots that create recognizable shapes, which collectors catalog and nickname individually.

Value: Small die chips in the field add $3 to $10 over face value. Chips landing on prominent design elements like Lincoln’s eye or the date push the range to $15 to $30.

No major auction house has recorded a standalone 2015 die chip sale above $30. The market for these is mostly eBay and collector forums, where graded examples in MS63 or above trade at the higher end of that range.

How to Identify: Under 5x to 10x magnification, die chips appear as small raised bumps with smooth, rounded tops. They sit above the coin’s surface — if the irregularity is a pit or depression, that is damage, not a chip.

Check the bump’s color and texture against the surrounding metal. A genuine chip matches perfectly because it formed during striking from the same planchet metal.

Glue residue, corrosion deposits, or debris stuck to the surface will look different under magnification and often have a different sheen. Die chips also frequently appear alongside die cracks on late-die-state coins, since both result from progressive deterioration.

The fastest confirmation: a genuine die chip is raised, smooth, and the same color as the coin’s surface.

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2. 2015 Penny BIE Error (Up to $50)

The BIE error is a specific type of die break unique to Lincoln cents. A small vertical crack or die chip forms between the letters “B” and “E” in LIBERTY, and the resulting raised metal on the struck coin looks like an extra letter “I.”

The crack occurs because the recessed area between B and E concentrates stress during striking. BIE varieties exist for dozens of years across the Lincoln series, making them a popular collecting niche with dedicated checklists organized by date.

Value: Most 2015 BIE errors sell for $5 to $15 on eBay in circulated grades. Uncirculated examples with a bold, well-defined “I” shape reach $20 to $25.

Exceptionally clear specimens on coins graded MS65 or above with full red designation can bring $30 to $50 from specialized variety collectors. No major auction house has recorded a high-profile 2015 BIE sale, so the secondary market sets pricing.

How to Identify: Focus on the space between “B” and “E” in LIBERTY on the obverse. Under 5x to 10x magnification, you should see a vertical raised line resembling the letter “I.”

The line may be thin and hairline-like on early die states or thick and blob-like on later states. The key diagnostic: the “I” must be raised above the field, not scratched or incised into the surface.

Do not confuse a BIE with a die crack that happens to pass through this area. A true BIE creates an isolated vertical mark resembling a letter, while a die crack extends beyond the B-E gap to connect with other elements or the rim.

The fastest check: if it looks like a raised letter “I” isolated between B and E, it is a BIE.

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3. 2015 Penny Doubled Die Reverse (DDR) Error (Up to $100)

A doubled die reverse forms during die production when the hub impresses the design onto the working die at slightly different positions across multiple impressions. The result is visible doubling on reverse elements: ONE CENT, E PLURIBUS UNUM, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, and the shield design.

DDR errors on 2015 pennies get less attention than obverse varieties because most collectors examine the portrait side first. That relative obscurity means DDR coins are sometimes undervalued compared to DDO varieties with equivalent doubling strength.

Value: Minor 2015 DDR varieties with subtle doubling on shield lines sell for $15 to $35 in uncirculated grades. Strong doubling affecting the ONE CENT inscription or E PLURIBUS UNUM pushes values to $50 to $100.

A 2015-P with combined DDO and DDR graded MS64 sold for $140 at a 2016 auction. Standalone DDR examples rarely appear at major auction houses, so eBay sets most of the pricing.

How to Identify: Start with the shield’s horizontal lines under 10x magnification. True hub doubling produces raised, rounded separation lines consistent across multiple design elements.

Check the letters in ONE CENT for extra thickness or notching, then move to E PLURIBUS UNUM — the letters U and M tend to show doubling most clearly. The doubling direction should be consistent across all affected elements.

Machine doubling is the most common false positive. It produces flat, shelf-like displacement, while true doubled die doubling is raised, three-dimensional, and shows crisp separation between the two impressions.

Reference varietyvista.com or doubleddie.com for documented 2015 DDR varieties before claiming a discovery.

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4. 2015 Penny Strike-Through Error (Up to $100)

Strike-through errors occur when foreign material gets trapped between the die and the planchet during striking. Grease is the most common culprit, but cloth fibers, wire fragments, metal shavings, and even other coin fragments have all been documented on modern Lincoln cents.

The trapped material prevents full design transfer, leaving blank, smooth, or distorted areas on the finished coin. Grease-filled die strike-throughs are the most frequently encountered subtype, creating featureless patches where design elements should be — sometimes wiping out entire portions of Lincoln’s portrait or the date.

Value: Minor grease strike-throughs affecting small areas sell for $5 to $15. Examples where the grease obscured major design elements — Lincoln’s face, the date, or significant lettering — bring $25 to $75.

Dramatic strike-throughs from unusual materials like cloth or wire fragments can reach $100. No specific high-profile 2015 strike-through has appeared at Heritage or GreatCollections, so eBay and specialist dealers set most of the pricing.

How to Identify: Grease strike-throughs create flat, smooth patches on the coin’s surface where the design is weak or absent. The affected area has a distinctly different texture from properly struck portions — run your fingernail across the transition zone and you will feel the change in relief.

Debris strike-throughs may leave impressions of the foreign material’s texture. Look for fabric weave patterns, linear wire marks, or irregular imprints that do not match any known design element.

On a strike-through, unaffected areas remain sharply struck while the affected zone is flat. On a worn coin, by contrast, detail loss is gradual and consistent across all high points.

Also check that the smooth area was not caused by polishing after minting — post-mint alteration shows directional scratches under magnification. The fastest confirmation: sharp detail everywhere except one distinct flat patch.

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5. 2015 Penny Off-Center Strike Error (Up to $120)

Off-center strikes happen when the blank planchet is not properly seated between the dies before the strike. The planchet shifts partially outside the striking chamber, so the die only impresses part of the design, leaving a crescent-shaped blank area on one side.

The percentage of displacement determines both visual drama and collector value. A 5% off-center is barely noticeable, while a 50% off-center with a complete visible date hits the sweet spot — dramatic enough to impress but still identifiable as a specific year and mint.

Value: Minor off-center strikes of 5% to 10% sell for $3 to $10 — barely worth the holder they go into. A 2015-D penny graded MS62 with a 20% off-center strike sold for $120 at GreatCollections.

The key variable is whether the date remains fully visible, since coins with 50% or greater displacement and a complete date can command $75 to $120. Without a readable date, the coin drops to generic error pricing regardless of how dramatic the displacement looks.

How to Identify: The blank crescent area is the first visual clue. Genuine off-center strikes have a smooth, flat blank zone where no metal contacted the die, and the rim on the struck side will be thicker than normal.

Use calipers to check the diameter — a true off-center should measure close to the standard 19.05mm because the planchet itself was not altered. Weigh the coin on a precision scale; it should still weigh approximately 2.50 grams since no metal was removed.

Check that the blank area is genuinely unstruck, not filed or ground down after minting. Post-mint damage shows tool marks and directional scratches under magnification, while a genuine off-center blank area is smooth and featureless.

The fastest check: smooth blank crescent plus standard-weight coin equals off-center strike.

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6. 2015 Penny Doubled Die Obverse (DDO) Error (Up to $150)

The doubled die obverse is the flagship variety for 2015 Lincoln cents, with at least 12 documented DDO varieties. WDDO-006 stands above the rest — discovered by collector Rodger Ryan and designated “Best Of” by researcher John Wexler, it shows strong doubling spreading southeast on the date and LIBERTY letters.

The doubling originated during die production when the hub pressed onto the working die more than once at slightly misaligned angles. Every coin struck from that die carries the same doubling pattern, making this a die-manufacturing defect rather than a striking error.

Value: Minor 2015 DDO varieties sell for $25 to $50 in uncirculated grades. The WDDO-006 with clearly visible doubling brings $75 to $150 depending on grade and color designation.

A 2015 DDO graded MS63RB sold for $45 at auction in 2021. Full Red examples at MS65 or above command the highest premiums, and a 2015-P with combined DDO and DDR graded MS64 realized $140 in 2016.

How to Identify: Start with the date under 10x magnification. On WDDO-006, look for separation lines and notching on the bottoms of 2, 0, 1, and 5 — the doubling spreads southeast, meaning extra thickness appears toward the lower-right of each numeral.

Move to LIBERTY — the letters R, T, and Y show the strongest doubling. Then check IN GOD WE TRUST, where the spread increases from left to right across the motto.

True hub doubling produces raised, rounded, three-dimensional letter edges. Machine doubling from die bounce creates flat, shelf-like displacement with no collector value — if the doubling looks like a shadow pressed flat, it is machine doubling.

Compare your specimen to reference photos on doubleddie.com or varietyvista.com for variety attribution.

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7. 2015 Penny Die Crack Error (Up to $205)

Die cracks develop when the steel die fractures under repeated striking pressure and accumulated micro-stresses. Each time the die hits a planchet, those stresses grow until visible cracks propagate across the die face.

During striking, planchet metal fills the crack and leaves a raised line on the finished coin. Die cracks are progressive — they start small on early die states and grow wider with continued use, and some 2015 cents show cracks crossing Lincoln’s head that collectors call “cracked skull” varieties.

Value: Small, minor die cracks on 2015 pennies add $5 to $20 depending on length and position. A 2015-P Lincoln cent graded MS60 with a dramatic die crack sold for $205 in 2018.

Cracks crossing Lincoln’s portrait or running rim to rim bring the highest premiums. Multiple intersecting cracks on a single coin also increase value beyond what a lone crack would bring.

How to Identify: Die cracks appear as thin raised lines running across the coin’s surface. Under magnification, they look like veins — slightly raised above the field with a smooth, rounded cross-section, often connecting design elements or extending from the rim.

The key diagnostic: die cracks are raised, not incised. A scratch goes into the surface; a die crack sits above it.

Run a toothpick across the line — if it catches going over (raised), it is a die crack. If it dips into the line (recessed), it is a scratch.

Check both sides, since cracks can appear on the obverse, reverse, or both. Document where each crack starts, what it crosses, and where it ends for die-state attribution and variety matching.

The fastest confirmation: raised line with smooth texture following a natural fracture pattern.

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8. 2015 Penny Broad-Struck Error (Up to $220)

A broad-struck error occurs when the die strikes a planchet outside the retaining collar. The collar normally constrains the planchet’s diameter and forms the rim during striking — without that containment, the metal flows outward freely under pressure, producing a coin wider and thinner than normal.

The complete design remains visible on both sides, which distinguishes a broadstrike from an off-center strike. A broadstrike retains all design elements but has a deformed, expanded shape with a flattened or absent rim.

Value: Mild broadstruck Lincoln cents sell for $9 to $25 on eBay. A 2015-P Lincoln cent graded MS60 with a broad-struck error sold for $220 at a 2020 online auction.

The value scales with how dramatically the coin expanded — significant size increases with noticeable design distortion bring higher premiums. Coins that are both broadstruck and slightly off-center can combine error types and push values further.

How to Identify: The first sign is the coin’s diameter — use calipers to measure. A standard 2015 penny is 19.05mm, and a broadstruck coin will measure noticeably larger, sometimes 20mm or more.

Weigh the coin on a precision scale. Despite the larger diameter, a broadstrike should weigh the standard 2.50 grams because no metal was added or removed — the coin is simply spread thinner.

Check the rim — a broadstruck penny has a weak, flattened, or absent rim since the collar was not there to form it. If one portion has a normal rim while another is flattened, you may have a partial collar strike instead.

The fastest check: wider than 19.05mm, weighs 2.50 grams, and lacks a proper rim.

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9. 2015 Penny Rim Cud Error (Up to $310)

A rim cud forms when a substantial piece of the die breaks away along its edge. Unlike a simple die crack, a cud involves an actual chunk of steel separating from the die face, and the void fills with planchet metal during striking to create a raised, blob-like mass attached to the rim.

Each cud is unique in size, shape, and position. Some are small nubs barely extending past the rim, while others are massive enough to obliterate nearby lettering or design elements.

Value: Small rim cuds on 2015 pennies sell for $25 to $50 — enough to justify a holder and a trip to the post office. Medium cuds obscuring part of LIBERTY or the date bring $75 to $150.

A 2015-D Lincoln cent graded MS65 with a large rim cud sold for $310 at auction. Cuds that take out a significant chunk of the design on high-grade coins command the strongest premiums in this category.

How to Identify: Cuds are visually distinctive — raised, smooth blobs attached to the rim that extend into the coin’s field. The cud’s surface is typically smoother and flatter than the surrounding struck design because the metal filled a void rather than being shaped by a die.

Check that the cud is the same color and alloy as the rest of the coin. If it looks like a different metal or appears glued on, it is not a genuine cud.

Run your finger across the cud’s edge where it meets the field. Genuine cuds have smooth, slightly rounded transitions from natural metal flow, while damaged coins with bent rims show sharp edges or tool marks.

Document the cud’s location using clock positions for cataloging — “obverse cud at 3 o’clock covering part of LIBERTY.” The fastest check: raised blob attached to rim, same metal, smooth transition to the field.

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10. 2015 Penny Improper Annealing Error (Up to $325)

Before striking, blank planchets go through annealing — heating and controlled cooling that softens the metal for proper die impression. When temperature or timing fluctuates, the metal’s crystalline structure changes in ways that alter its surface color to unusual hues: purple, gray, yellow, black, or streaky rainbow-like toning.

These errors stand out immediately in a handful of change. The color variation is inherent to the metal’s structure, not a surface coating, which means it does not wear off with handling or circulation.

Value: A 2015-P Lincoln cent graded MS62 with an improper annealing error sold for $325 at a 2016 Heritage Auctions sale. General market pricing runs $100 to $200 for confirmed examples with moderate discoloration.

Coins with vivid, dramatic color patterns — especially woodgrain streaking or multi-color rainbow effects across the full surface — push toward the top of that range. The Heritage result set the benchmark for 2015-dated examples.

How to Identify: The discoloration must appear consistent and original to the coin — not spotty, not localized to one small area, and not concentrated along the rim where environmental damage tends to show. Genuine annealing errors typically display streaky patterns following the direction of metal flow during striking.

Under magnification, the coin’s details should remain sharp. Improper annealing affects color, not strike quality — if the design is mushy or weakly struck alongside discoloration, you may be looking at damage rather than a mint error.

The challenge is separating genuine annealing errors from post-mint toning and artificial coloring. Post-mint toning develops gradually and concentrates on high points, artificial coloring looks too uniform, and environmental damage from soil or chemicals produces irregular pitting.

For coins potentially worth $100 or more, third-party grading from PCGS, NGC, or ANACS is worth the fee.

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11. 2015 Penny Die Clash Error (Up to $495)

A die clash happens when the obverse and reverse dies strike each other with no planchet between them. The feeder mechanism fails to place a blank into the striking chamber, but the press cycles anyway — the hammer and anvil dies collide, each impressing part of its design into the other.

When a planchet finally enters and gets struck by the damaged dies, the coin shows faint impressions of the opposite side’s design. On a 2015 penny, you might see a ghost image of the shield on the obverse or date numerals transferred onto the reverse.

Value: In 2018, Heritage Auctions sold a 2015-D Lincoln cent graded MS63 with a die clash error for $495. The reverse showed transferred date elements from the obverse die — a strong clash with clearly visible cross-design impressions.

General pricing for minor die clashes runs $25 to $100. Strong clashes with identifiable transferred elements command $200 to $495 depending on severity and grade.

How to Identify: Clash marks appear as faint, sunken impressions of design elements from the opposite side. On the obverse, look for ghost outlines of the shield or ONE CENT; on the reverse, look for traces of Lincoln’s profile, the date, or LIBERTY.

Use angled lighting to spot clash marks — tilt the coin under a desk lamp while viewing through a 10x loupe. The transferred images are subtle and often require specific lighting angles to become visible.

Clash marks are incuse (pressed into the surface), while doubled dies and die cracks are raised. If you see what looks like an extra design element sitting below the coin’s surface level, you are likely looking at a clash mark.

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

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12. 2015 Penny Wrong Planchet Error (Up to $500)

Wrong planchet errors occur when a Lincoln cent is struck on a blank intended for a different denomination. The most documented 2015 variety is a penny struck on a Roosevelt dime planchet — a dime blank weighs 2.27 grams and measures 17.91mm, compared to a penny’s 2.50 grams and 19.05mm.

The smaller planchet means the design overflows the edges, and the coin is noticeably undersized and lighter. Automated sorting systems catch most misfeeds, which is why confirmed wrong planchet errors are among the rarest modern Lincoln cent varieties.

Value: A 2015-P Lincoln cent struck on a Roosevelt dime planchet sold for $500 on eBay. Confirmed wrong planchet examples generally start around $200 and scale up based on condition and how dramatically the host planchet differs from the intended one.

Penny-on-dime-planchet errors are the most frequently documented variety for this year. The rarity keeps supply low and demand consistent among error specialists.

How to Identify: Weight is the definitive diagnostic — use a precision scale accurate to 0.01 grams. A genuine 2015 penny weighs 2.50 grams on copper-plated zinc, while a penny struck on a dime planchet weighs approximately 2.27 grams in copper-nickel clad.

Measure the diameter with calipers. A dime planchet is 17.91mm versus the penny’s 19.05mm, so the undersized blank means Lincoln’s design extends past the edges with lettering partially cut off.

Check the edge composition. A dime planchet is copper-nickel clad — you should see a visible copper core sandwiched between nickel layers, which is completely different from a penny’s copper-over-zinc structure.

The fastest check: if the coin weighs 2.27 grams instead of 2.50 grams, you have a wrong planchet candidate.

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13. 2015 Penny Lamination Error (Up to $615)

Lamination errors result from impurities or trapped gas within the planchet metal. During rolling and annealing, contaminants create weak points where the metal’s layers can separate, crack, or peel apart — on post-1982 Lincoln cents, the thin copper plating separates from the zinc core, exposing grayish-white metal underneath.

The severity ranges from tiny surface bubbles to large sections of plating peeling away like bark from a tree. Larger separations that expose the zinc core across Lincoln’s portrait are the most visually striking and command the strongest premiums.

Value: A 2015-D Lincoln cent graded MS65 with a dramatic lamination error sold for $615 at a 2020 eBay auction — the highest recorded price for any 2015 penny error type. General market pricing runs $10 to $30 for minor flaking and $100 to $300 for significant peeling on high-grade coins.

The MS65 grade on that record-setting example was crucial to the final price. Lamination errors on well-preserved coins consistently outperform equivalent errors on circulated examples.

How to Identify: Look for areas where the copper plating appears to be lifting, peeling, or missing. The exposed zinc core underneath has a grayish or silvery appearance that contrasts sharply with the surrounding copper surface.

Lamination cracks follow curved or irregular patterns — organic-looking, not straight like a scratch or tool mark. Under magnification, the edges of the separated layer should appear smooth and natural, as if the metal split along an internal weakness.

Genuine lamination exposes clean zinc with sharp, defined separation boundaries. Post-mint corrosion, by contrast, produces rough, pitted surfaces with white zinc oxide deposits and irregular deterioration.

The fastest check: clean zinc exposure with smooth, natural separation edges equals lamination error.

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Conclusion

The 2015 Lincoln cent error market starts at $5 for minor die chips and tops out at $615 for authenticated lamination flaws. The middle ground — doubled dies, off-center strikes, cuds, and die clashes — falls in the $50 to $500 range.

Most of these errors cost less than a basic coin reference book and can still be found with patience and a decent loupe. Weigh every penny, check both sides, and look before you spend.