Are you thinking about getting Lincoln cents? Maybe you’re not sure if saving pennies is worth it if this is your first time.
Are penny from 2006 worth anything? You’re in the right place because our list of 2006 penny mistakes will answer your questions and show you valuable pennies that you should collect.
Like most pennies, the 2006 pennies are only worth what they’re worth when they’ve been used. Even uncirculated ones aren’t worth much because there are so many of them that any fan can get their hands on one.
Even so, you can still add valuable pennies to your collection. One way to do this is to gather mistakes. Sometimes error coins are worth a lot of money, but you need to know what to look for to find them.
You can find some of the most valuable pennies to add to your collection on our list of 2006 penny mistakes. Let’s get started and find tiny mistakes that are worth money!
1. 2006-D MS66 Lincoln Cent Doubled Die Obverse Error Coin
There is a common mistake called “doubled die” that you might find when collecting 2006 Lincoln pennies. There is a mistake here because the writing and designs on the front and back are visible twice.
A doubled die mistake happens when the die hits the planchet more than once, but at slightly different angles each time. This makes some parts of the coin double.
Any mistake is more likely to be useful the stronger the doubling. The state of the coin also makes it valuable, of course.
A buyer paid $1050 at a Heritage Auctions sale in 2023 for a 2006-D Lincoln penny with a doubled die error on the front. This is a great coin to add to your collection.
2. 2006-D MS63 Penny Wrong Planchet Error
When the dies hit a planchet meant for a different denomination, this is called a wrong planchet error. As an example, the dies that are meant to make a Lincoln cent might be used to make a Jefferson nickel planchet instead.
The nickel is bigger than the penny, so there will be more space between the edge of the coin and the writing on it. Besides that, the coin will be heavier than a penny.
People who collect coins are ready to pay more for ones that have wrong planchet errors, which are also called wrong denomination errors. In a Great Collections sale in 2022, a collector paid $920 for a 2006-D penny that was graded MS63 but had a mistake on the planchet.
Have a professional grader look at your penny if it feels a little heavier or bigger. It could be a wrong planchet mistake worth a lot of money.
3. 2006-P MS60 Off Center Error Lincoln Cent
The next mistake we’ll look at is off-center, which happens when the die and planchet are not lined up correctly. When this happens, the die hits the planchet less in the middle and more along the edge.
When the die hits the planchet, it should be in the middle, but if it’s not quite lined up right, the image might be pressed closer to the edge of the planchet. This can happen on either the front or back of the coin.
The off-set percentage has a lot to do with how much your off-center strike mistake is worth. Any mistake is more likely to be useful if the number is higher.
In general, a penny with a 20% off-set strike will be worth more than one with a 5% off-center strike.
Another valuable mistake that fans are willing to pay a lot of money for is the off-center. One buyer paid an amazing $710 at a Heritage Auctions in 2023 for a 2006-P Lincoln penny graded MS60 that had a 10% off-center error on the front.
4. 2006-P MS65 Lincoln Cent Die Cap Mint Error Coin
The connected planchet will keep hitting other planchets that come at it. These new planchets will have the reverse design impressed on their heads.
These planchets that come in after being struck by the linked planchet are called “brokage error coins.”
The connected planchet changes the shape of the die as it works. In the end, the planchet will have raised edges around the die and a hollowed-out center, like a cap. This is why it is called a “die cap error.”
You’ll agree that a die cap mistake is pretty big, which is why it can be worth more. For example, a collector paid a crazy $1250 on eBay for this 2006-P Lincoln cent that was rated MS65 and had a mistake on the die cap.
Also See:-_The $80 Million Bicentennial Quarter This Coin Will Change Your Life
5. 2006-P MS62 Double Struck Obverse and Reverse Error
We’ll now talk about the double struck mistake on the 2006 penny. This happens when the planchet doesn’t come out of the minting press and is struck a second time.
The coin should leave the striking hub so that room is made for the next planchet after the die has fully impressed the front and back designs on the planchet.
This doesn’t always happen, so the planchet doesn’t always leave the handle and is hit twice or more.
Most double-stricken mistakes show up on the front, but sometimes the planchet will be double-stricken on both the front and back. For a penny, the back of the coin will have two pictures of Lincoln’s face and two pictures of the Eleventh Amendment.
A double strike mistake stands out and can be very useful. One 2006-P MS62 Lincoln penny from the Great Collection that had a mistake on both the front and back was sold for an amazing $835.
6. 2006-D MS62 Lincoln Penny With Retained Wire Strike-through Error
The strike through is another mistake you might find when collecting 2006 Lincoln pennies. This mistake happens when an outside item gets stuck between the die and the planchet and leaves its mark on the coin.
Random things that could be hit include grease, metal or wire pieces, hair strands, strings, and small pieces of wood, to name a few.
The item will usually fall off the planchet after being hit. But sometimes the item will stick to the coin’s surface, which will cause a retained strike through error.
The stray item often leaves a dramatic mark on the front or back of the coin, which makes this mistake very valuable. In 2021, a collector at a Great Collections sale paid $630 for a 2006-D Lincoln penny that was graded MS62 but still had a wire strike-through error on it.
7. 2006-P MS65 Lincoln Memorial Cent Clamshell Lamination Error Obverse
There are different kinds of lamination mistakes, but they all happen because the ties between the clad layers get weaker. Layers can become weaker because of impurities, which can cause them to peel, lift, bubble, crack, or change color.
The top layer splits and lifts, separating from the copper core and making what looks like a clam shell. This is called a clamshell lamination mistake. Not only is this mistake rare, but it can also be worth a lot of money.
8. 2006-P MS60 Lincoln Penny Obverse Interior Die Break Error
The die break is another mistake that you should look for. It’s easy to add this common mistake to your collection, and based on its shape, size, and form, it may also be worth a lot.
Die breaks happen when a piece breaks off from the surface of the die, leaving a hole that is finally filled with metal pieces.
The metal-filled break will leave its mark on one or more planchets as the die keeps hitting, which is called a die break error. Some die mistakes are round, some are square, and some are tall. They all look like raised bumps on the coin’s surface.
Most of the time, big die breaks that look funny are worth more. The Great Collections sold a 2006-P Lincoln penny rated MS60 with an obverse die break for a very nice $675 in 2021. This would be a nice addition to your penny collection.
9. 2006-P MS64 Lincoln Penny Missing Clad Layer Obverse Error
The next mistake we’ll show you is the missing outer layer. Like the name says, this is a mistake where the top layer of the coin is missing on one or both sides.
If the link between the upper clad layer and copper core is weak, the upper clad layer may peel off on the front and/or back of the coin, leaving a missing clad layer.
Heritage Auctions sold a 2006-P Lincoln penny rated MS64 with a missing clad layer on the front for a huge $1045 in 2023.
Summary
A lot of people collect Lincoln pennies, even though they are only worth what they say on the coin. Getting mistake coins is the best way to make your set more valuable. There are some mistakes that can be worth a lot of money if you know how to find them.
Our list of the best penny errors from 2006 shows this. It’s a great time to start collecting high-value penny mistakes to add to your Lincoln penny collection, whether you have been collecting for a long time or this is your first time.
