Coin Value Contents Table
- 1. 2018 Lincoln Shield Cent Misaligned and Struck Through VDB Error
- 2. 2018 Lincoln Penny Doubled Die Error
- 3. 2018 Penny Retained Reverse Die Cud Error
- 4. 2018 Penny With Die Chip Reverse Error
- 5. 2018 Penny With VDB Doubling Error
- 6. 2018 Penny Die Clash Error
- 7. 2018 Penny Missing Clad Layer Error
- 8. 2018 Penny With A Broad Strike Error
- 9. 2018 Lincoln Penny With A Grease Struck Thru Error
- Summary
Do you love collecting Lincoln pennies? Or perhaps you are new to collecting these popular coins? You are probably wondering if Lincoln cents are worth it.
Lincoln pennies are some of the most collected U.S. coins. While uncirculated specimens might be worth a premium, circulated examples are only worth their face value.
One of the best ways to add value to your Lincoln penny collection is by investing in error coins. As you will see in our 2018 penny errors list, errors can be worth hundreds or even thousands. If you know what to look for, you can spot Lincoln error coins worth a fortune.
This article will list some of the most lucrative and well-known 2018 penny errors. Each of these Lincoln cents is worth adding to your collection if you are keen on exponentially increasing the value of your coin collection.
So without further ado, let’s jump in and discover 2018 Lincoln penny errors worth money:
1. 2018 Lincoln Shield Cent Misaligned and Struck Through VDB Error
On some 2018 pennies, Lincoln’s portrait is so misaligned that it pushes out the VDB initials on the left side of the coin.
As the name suggests, a misaligned error occurs when the design on the coin is not centered due to the dies not lining up properly. This results in the design, usually on the obverse being slightly offset, one side of the coin being thinner, and parts of the design missing.
In this case, Lincoln’s portrait is misaligned to the left, causing that side of the coin to appear thinner and the VDB initials missing.
On some of these same pennies, you might notice another error known as a struck-through. This error occurs when a foreign object is struck between the die and planchet, leaving its impression on the final coin.
A 2018 penny error coin with both a misaligned and struck-through error can be worth as much as $25.
2. 2018 Lincoln Penny Doubled Die Error
A doubled die is one of the most common errors you will see on Lincoln pennies. This error occurs when the die strikes the planchet multiple times at slightly different angles, resulting in a doubling of the devices and inscriptions.
When collecting 2018 penny errors, look out for coins with doubling on the inscriptions such as IN GOD WE TRUST and LIBERTY. You may also notice some doubling on the year date on the obverse.
On the reverse, inscriptions such as UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ONE CENT, and EPLURIBUS ENUM can be prone to doubling.
FREE Appraisal & Sell Your Coins
If you are still unsure about the price of your coins, you can appraise and sell your coins for free through our verified platform.
A 2018 penny with a doubled die error can be an interesting find. One such piece was sold for $10.
Also read: 12 Most Valuable Lincoln Penny Worth Money
3. 2018 Penny Retained Reverse Die Cud Error
A retained die cud is an error that occurs when a piece of the die’s face breaks but does not fall off; instead sinking into the surrounding metal. When the die strikes the planchet, the retained cud appears like a raised step on the coin’s surface.
Some 2018 pennies show a retained cud on the reverse where you will notice a thick, tail-like, raised bump on the letter O in ONE CENT.
Unlike a true cud where the piece of die falls off resulting in some of the design missing, a coin with a retained cud will still have the devices and inscriptions intact even where the cud appears.
One example of a circulated 2018 penny with a retained reverse dies cud error sold for $15.
4. 2018 Penny With Die Chip Reverse Error
When collecting 2018 pennies, another common error you are likely to come across is the die chip. A die chip error is a small, raised line or bump on the coin’s surface.
As the name suggests, a die chip occurs when a small piece of the die chips or breaks and falls off, leaving a tiny hole on the die’s surface. As the die continues to be used, metal fills inside the small hole, so the die chip leaves its impression as a raised line on the coin’s surface.
Some die chips are considerably big and easy to identify while others can be very tiny and may need you to look carefully to notice. As a general rule, the value of a die chip error depends on its size—a bigger, more visible die chip error will usually be more valuable than a smaller one that’s hard to identify.
Expect to pay between $5 and $25 for a 2018 penny with a die chip error. The coin’s condition will also play a role in determining its value.
Also read: 13 Most Valuable Wheat Penny Worth Money
Best Coin Dealer Near Me
Want to Find the best coin dealer near you? Here we can help. (with customer reviews and Rating)
5. 2018 Penny With VDB Doubling Error
The initials VDB on your 2018 Lincoln penny stand for Victor David Brenner, the sculptor who designed the coin. On some coins, these initials show a noticeable doubling from a doubled die error.
Most of the time, the doubling is visible on the main inscriptions on the obverse and reverse. When the doubling appears on initials such as VDB on the obverse, that’s certainly a unique Lincoln penny.
One such 2018 penny with a strong VDB doubling sold for a whopping $444, an indication of just how unique such an error is. Consider yourself lucky if you come across such an interesting 2018 penny error.
6. 2018 Penny Die Clash Error
A die clash can be a pretty dramatic error that collectors highly seek after. This error occurs when the obverse and reverse dies hit against each other when there is no planchet between them.
The pressure with which the dies strike each other is so great that the obverse die may impress its design on the reverse and vice versa. When the dies finally strike the planchet, the resulting image may be distorted as it is a combination of the obverse and reverse images.
On some 2018 pennies, you will notice an impression of the Union Shield on the obverse, creating a somewhat distorted image of Lincoln’s profile.
A 2018 penny with a die clash error was once auctioned for $199. The more dramatic the die clash error, the more valuable the coin would be.
7. 2018 Penny Missing Clad Layer Error
Some Lincoln pennies, including those minted in 2018 show a clad layer error. This error occurs on clad coins i.e., those with a solid inner core and an outer layer or cladding.
Sometimes, in the case of Lincoln pennies, the outer nickel cladding may fail to bind to the copper core. This can result in the copper layer peeling off and exposing the copper core.
Pennies with a clad layer error may show partial or spotty peeling of the nickel layer. On some coins, either side—the obverse or reverse—may have a missing clad layer so that one side of the coin is copper and the other is nickel, making for a very interesting penny.
FREE Appraisal & Sell Your Coins
If you are still unsure about the price of your coins, you can appraise and sell your coins for free through our verified platform.
One such 2018 penny with a missing clad layer error on the obverse was auctioned for $50.
Also read: 17 Most Valuable Indian Head Penny Worth Money
8. 2018 Penny With A Broad Strike Error
A broad strike error occurs when the planchet is struck outside the collar that holds it in place.
Due to the collar not retaining the planchet’s diameter, the die applies more pressure on one edge of the coin, making it thinner than the other side. This error also often results in some parts of the coin’s design missing.
So you can identify a broad strike error by thinning on one side of the coin, a larger than usual diameter, a distorted diameter, and/or some missing details on the coin’s obverse or reverse.
If you find a 2018 penny with a broad strike error, expect to pay between $15 and $50 depending on how pronounced or dramatic the error is. Pennies with a more dramatic broad strike error are usually worth more especially if they are in mint, uncirculated condition.
Also read: 11 Most Valuable Wheat Penny Errors
9. 2018 Lincoln Penny With A Grease Struck Thru Error
Best Coin Dealer Near Me
Want to Find the best coin dealer near you? Here we can help. (with customer reviews and Rating)
Grease struck-through errors are not very common in the 2018 Lincoln cent series, but with a little patience, you can find a few examples of this interesting error coin.
This error is another form of a strike-through, only this time a layer of grease comes between the die and planchet. The grease may obstruct the die from completely transferring the design to the planchet, resulting in a coin where the design is blurry in some spots.
When collecting 2018 pennies, look out for specimens with smooth, smudgy patches on the obverse or reverse—these are likely coins with a grease struck through error.
In the past, 2018 Lincoln pennies with a grease strike-through error have been auctioned for $25 to $75 depending on the extent of the struck-through error. The more extensive the error, the more valuable it is.
Summary
Circulated Lincoln pennies are only worth their face value. One of the best ways to get the most out of these abundantly available coins is to collect error pennies. As our 2018 penny errors list shows, coins with unique errors can be worth so much more than face value. Spotting errors needs patience and a good understanding of what to look for. Hopefully, our list serves as a good starting point in identifying 2018 Lincoln pennies worth money.