The San Francisco Mint struck this Lincoln cent in 1970.
Most pennies from that year are ordinary copper coins that people spend without a second thought.
A small number of these coins received an extra impression when the Mint prepared the die.
That mistake created a doubled die variety on the front of the coin.
It ranks number 4 on our list of the 200 most valuable coins.
Collectors refer to this specific variety as the Large Date FS-101.
The coin keeps its bright, original red copper color rather than turning brown from age.
That combination of a major error and original color makes it stand out from typical pennies.
An exceptional example of this coin brought $38,400 at Heritage Auctions in August 2024.
The coin was certified in MS-66 condition with a full Red designation.
An MS-66 grade means the coin is in top-tier Mint State condition with only tiny, minor flaws.
The Red label confirms the copper still has the bright luster it had right off the dies.
Copper reacts quickly to air, moisture, and handling over time.
Finding a 1970 penny that stayed this clean and untarnished is tough.
Bidders competed hard because finding another FS-101 in this exact grade is nearly impossible.
Top prices like this belong to certified coins in supreme condition, not everyday pocket change.
The main reason for the high price is the dramatic doubling on the coin.
The Cherrypickers' Guide lists this variety as FS-101, marking it as a premier collectible.
You can see strong doubling across the date, the word LIBERTY, and the motto IN GOD WE TRUST.
Major doubled dies always draw strong interest from penny collectors.
This variety combines clear visual appeal with true rarity.
Very few genuine FS-101 cents survived the decades without damage or discoloration.
Because so few exist, demand stays consistently high whenever a nice one enters an auction.
You will need a magnifier with 10x power to check your coin properly.
First, make sure you have an S mint mark below the date.
Next, confirm you have the Large Date style.
On the Large Date, the top of the 7 sits level with the 1, 9, and 0 in the date.
Look closely at the word LIBERTY and the motto IN GOD WE TRUST under your lens.
A genuine doubled die shows raised, rounded secondary letters with clear separation lines.
Do not confuse this with machine doubling, which looks flat, shelf-like, and scraped.
If you want a fast way to review your change, Coin Value Checker can do a quick first pass for you.
After a digital check, always take a promising coin to a professional grader for formal authentication.
If you have a stack to go through, our roundup of the best free coin identifier apps options speeds it up considerably.
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