The Philadelphia Mint struck this special Lincoln Cent in 1963.
Proof coins are made for collectors rather than daily pocket change.
The mint prepared polished dies and planchets to give these pennies an extraordinary finish.
A standard 1963 penny was made for regular spending and lacks this mirror look.
This particular coin stands out because of its Deep Cameo contrast.
Deep Cameo proofs from this era are much harder to find than standard proof strikes.
Ranked at number 3 on our list of 200 top coins, it is one of the most remarkable modern cents in existence.
In January 2004, Heritage Auctions sold this standout piece for $40,250.
The coin was certified at PR-70 Deep Cameo before crossing the auction block.
A grade of PR-70 represents total technical perfection.
It means the coin has no post-strike damage, fingerprints, scratches, or contact marks of any kind.
Professional grading services look at millions of coins, but hardly any achieve a flawless 70.
When you combine absolute perfection with an extreme visual contrast, top collectors bid aggressively.
That level of collector competition drove the final price to this historic mark.
The main reason for this high price tag is extreme condition rarity.
Back in the early 1960s, the United States Mint had not yet perfected the modern frosting process.
Workers used acid to treat the dies, but that frost wore away quickly after striking only a few coins.
Only the very first coins off a fresh die received the heavy Deep Cameo effect.
Most 1963 proof cents ended up with brilliant or lightly frosted surfaces instead.
Finding an early 1960s cent with true Deep Cameo contrast is already very difficult.
Finding one that also survived in a perfect PR-70 grade is nearly unheard of.
Copper is also a reactive metal that spots and discolors easily over time.
Keeping a copper penny completely pristine for decades requires nearly impossible luck and care.
You can check your 1963 cents by looking closely at how the light hits the surface.
A genuine proof penny will have bright, reflective fields that look like a glass mirror.
To qualify as a Deep Cameo, the raised parts of the design must have a thick, milky-white frost.
Look at Abraham Lincoln's portrait and the Lincoln Memorial on the back.
You want to see a stark, black-and-white visual contrast between the raised devices and the flat background.
Standard proof coins are often confused with Deep Cameo pieces, but standard proofs look shiny all over without that heavy frost.
Use a 5x magnification lens to inspect the surfaces for any tiny scratches, spots, or manufacturing flaws.
To reach a PR-70 grade, the coin must show zero imperfections under that 5x magnification.
If you want a quick first look at your coin, a mobile tool like CoinKnow can help you spot the difference between regular strikes and proofs.
Keep in mind that regular pennies found in pocket change will not be worth this record price.
Five-figure sales belong only to pristine, certified proof specimens preserved since the day they were made.
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