1987 Penny Errors: Tiny Flaws, Real Money

The United States Mint in 1987 continued the large-scale use of copper-plated zinc planchets introduced five years earlier.

The total production volume at the Philadelphia and Denver facilities exceeded 9.5 billion specimens, creating conditions for the emergence of numerous technical deviations.

The minting process characterized by high press speeds led to die wear and malfunctions in planchet feeding.

The value of such specimens is determined solely by the rarity of the defect and the physical condition of the metal according to the Sheldon scale.

The information base of Heritage and Stack’s Bowers auctions confirms a stable demand for certified 1987 penny errors.

1987 Double Die Obverse

The DDO defect arises upon applying two impressions of the master hub onto the working die with a slight offset.

In 1987, specimens having doubling of the date and the word "LIBERTY" identified through the best coin value app are recognized as the most valuable.

Examining the serifs of the letters, experts identify the separation of contours characteristic of authentic die doubling.

In 2021, a 1987-P DDO specimen in MS66 RD preservation was realized for 315 dollars.

Sales statistics indicate an annual increase in the value of these varieties by 4.5% resulting from the limited number of identified specimens.

Comparison with earlier issues (e.g., 1983 or 1984) shows less pronounced doubling in 1987, paradoxically raising the price for the clearest samples.

Off-Center Strikes

Displacement of the planchet relative to the striking mechanism leads to the loss of part of the image and the appearance of an un-struck field in a crescent shape.

The coin's value correlates with the percentage of displacement and the preservation of the issue date.

• 10–20% Displacement: Possessing minimal value amounting to 5–15 dollars provided the year remains fully legible.

• 30–50% Displacement: Serving as the most sought-after segment, reaching a price of 100 dollars for specimens without traces of circulation.

• Over 60% Displacement: Often leading to the loss of the date, reducing the asset's market liquidity by 50%.

A 1987-D specimen with a 45% offset in MS64 RD condition was sold at auction for 180 dollars in 2022.

Analysis of market trends over a decade demonstrates a reduction in price volatility for this error type to 3% per year.

Broadstrike Errors

An error arises upon the deformation or absence of the retaining ring (collar) fixing the coin's diameter.

The planchet metal subjected to press pressure expands beyond the standard 19.05 mm limit.

1987 coins with this defect have a flat, expanded rim while maintaining full centering of the design.

The average value of a certified 1987 Broadstrike in MS65 condition stands at 65 dollars.

This category demonstrates stable price dynamics correlating with the overall inflation level of the numismatic market.

Wrong Planchet Errors

The rarest technical failure of 1987 is recognized as the use of planchets intended for other denominations or foreign orders.

Isolated cases of minting a cent on ten-cent planchets (Dime planchet) consisting of a copper-nickel alloy have been recorded.

Such coins possess a silvery color, a weight of 2.27 g, and a smaller diameter.

The auction record for such a 1987 error amounts to 3450 dollars for a specimen in MS62 condition.

The investment value of such assets is confirmed by a price increase of 15–20% upon each repeated appearance at public auctions.

Blisters and Gas Pockets

The specificity of 1987 zinc planchets includes the risk of copper layer blisters emerging.

This phenomenon caused by gas entrapment during the galvanization process is not recognized as a mint error having high value.

The presence of large blisters (Planchet Blisters) reduces the Sheldon scale rating to MS62–MS63.

The collector significance of such coins is minimal except for cases of extreme blistering deforming Lincoln's portrait.

The market price of such curiosities rarely exceeds 5–10 dollars, having a tendency to fall upon the appearance of corrosion.

Color Impact on Price

The value of defective 1987 coins directly depends on the color classification (RD, RB, BN).

1. Red (RD): Full retention of original luster (minimum 95% of the surface). Increasing the base error price by 2.5 times.

2. Red-Brown (RB): A mix of luster and patina. Valued 40% lower than the RD category.

3. Brown (BN): Complete oxidation of the surface. Reducing the specimen's value to minimal market levels.

Copper oxidation rates in standard storage conditions amount to 0.5–1.5% per year, making the preservation of the RD category a long-term task for the owner.

A grade reduction from MS65 RD to MS64 RB entails a market value drop of 60–70% regardless of the error's rarity.

Population Report Dynamics

The number of registered 1987 errors in grading company databases allows for calculating the probability of finding a valuable specimen.

• Double Die: Over the last 5 years, the population of certified DDOs grew by 12%.

• Off-Center: Population growth amounted to less than 2%, indicating the exhaustion of undiscovered bank bag supplies.

• Wrong Planchet: The population remains unchanged since 2018, confirming the status of exceptional rarity.

The liquidity coefficient for errors with an MS67 RD preservation degree stands at 0.9, meaning the possibility of rapid asset realization at a price close to the auction value.

Die Cracks and the Cud Effect

Prolonged die exploitation led to the formation of micro-cracks imprinting on coins in the form of raised lines.

If a die fragment breaks off completely at the edge, a "Cud" defect forms — a smooth metal elevation covering part of the design.

Cracks in the area of the Lincoln Memorial column bases are characteristic for 1987.

The average value of a small crack amounts to 2–5 dollars.

A large "Cud" affecting the date or the "IN GOD WE TRUST" inscription is valued at 150–250 dollars.

The annual price growth for the "Cud" category stands at 7% resulting from interest in specialized error type collections.

Evaluation and Verification

Identifying an authentic 1987 mint error requires the application of the following tools.

• Electronic Scales: Allowing for the exclusion of fakes created by mechanical filing of the edges (standard 2.5 g).

• Microscope with 40x Magnification: Necessary for distinguishing DDO from ordinary "Machine Doubling" having no value.

• Vernier Caliper: Used for measuring the diameter of Broadstrike and Wrong Planchet errors.

• CONECA References: Serving as a standard for matching the identified defect with registered die pairs.

The absence of error confirmation in official registries reduces its market value to the level of souvenir products.

Professional certification at PCGS or a coin scanner app check is a mandatory condition for realizing a coin at a price exceeding 100 dollars.