16 August 2019

The "wide AM" - an uncommon variety of the 1999 Lincoln penny

The US Mint produced two major varieties of the 1999 Lincoln Memorial Cent (Penny). The most common variety for the Philadelphia-minted 1999 is the close "AM" variety...

In the word "AMERICA" on the reverse of the coin: The close "AM" meant that the letters "A" and "M" were very close and almost touching while the wide "AM" had the two letters separated much more. In Addition: The initials "FG" was closer to the Lincoln Memorial Building on the wide "AM" variety and it was further away on the close "AM" variety. The difference between the close "AM" and wide "AM" varieties are shown in the example image below... 

USA Coin Book Estimated Value of 1999 Lincoln Memorial Penny (Wide AM Variety) is Worth $518 or more in Uncirculated (MS+) Mint Condition 
I can't tell what year the source article was written.  Can any readers with numismatic knowledge estimate a current value for circulated coins?

5 comments:

  1. https://www.ngccoin.com/coin-explorer/lincoln-cents-memorial-reverse-1959-2008-pscid-100/1999-wide-am-1c-msbn-coinid-819553

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  2. The guy in this video gives some ideas of why the two "AM" variations exist.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2KYWYjuUOc

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    Replies
    1. So, the wide AMs were made using a die left over from stamping a previous year's proof pennies. That explains why so few of them exist. I was really puzzled. Thank you, unknown.

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  3. 'numismatic'
    What a lovely word. I just wish I could drop it into casual conversation without sounding like a complete poser.

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