Lincoln Memorial cents feature the word AMERICA on the reverse. The Close or Wide AM refers to the distance between the A and the M in AMERICA on struck coins. When the A and the M are a normal distance apart as compared to the other letters in AMERICA this is known as a Wide AM. When the A and the M are almost touching this is known as a Close AM. Show The interest in this is that there are rare instances where, in a particular year, the spacing on a small number of coins is different from the spacing on the vast majority of regular coins struck in that year. Another characteristic that is used to differentiate these rare coins from others of the same year is the distance of the reverse designers initials, FG, from the right side of the memorial. On Close AM cents the initials are farther away from the memorial than on the Wide AM cents. Also, there is a horizontal serif on the end of the straight vertical part of the G on the Wide AM cents.
In 1993 the reverse side design of both business strikes and proof coins transitioned from the Wide AM as normally found on 1992 and prior cents to a Close AM design. However a few 1992 cents were produced with the newer Close AM design of 1993 instead. These are rare and valuable. For proof coins in 1994 the mint reverted back to the Wide AM design so that proofs and business strike coins up to 2008 have the opposite design on the reverse sides. In 2009 four different Bicentennial Lincoln designs replaced the Memorial cent in recognition of the 200th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birth and the 100th anniversary of the Lincoln cent. In 2010 the Union Shield became the new reverse. However in 1998, 1999, and 2000 some business strike coins were found having the wide AM design (using a proof reverse die) when the norm was then the Close AM design. These are also valuable but not as rare as the 1992 cents. Also in 1998 and 1999 some proof coins were struck with the Close AM design (using a business strike die) making them also valuable. To summarize the following is normal:
What this means is that the following list of confirmed variations from these rules are valuable in order from most to least rare:
On more thing, in 1988 rare alternate reverses from both the Philadelphia and Denver mints were produced where the A and the M were Wide as normal but the FG initials were close to the memorial rather than far as they should be for that year. These are 1988 coins with the transitional year reverse of 1989. This variety has sometimes been unfortunately called the 1988 Wide AM even though a Wide AM is normal for that year. If all this is too confusing then perhaps a better explanation can be found by understanding that there were eight different Reverse Die Varieties (RDV) used on the Memorial Cents from 1959 to 2008. These are well listed at Variety Vista. The collectible coins are those that deviate from the norm in the year the coin was minted. The 1988 cents of interest normally struck with RDV-005 instead were produced with a 1989 RDV-006 die. The 1992 cents of interest normally struck with RDV-006 instead were produced using a 1993 RDV-007 die. The other coins of interest listed above were either business strike coins struck with a proof die or a proof coin struck with a business strike die. So, what exactly is a Wide AM and Close AM Cent? So, what are the varieties? The next rarest is the 1998S and 1999S Proof Strike Close AM variety. The 1998 being the rarer of the two, generally selling in the $300 range, and the 1999S around $100. The third and final variety is the 1998, 1999, and 2000 Wide AM, with the 1999 being the rarest, then 1998, and finally the 2000. Although the least valuable in this article, they may be the most exciting as it can generally be found in circulation. The 2013 Redbook values the 1999 at $500, 1998 at $25, and 2000 at $20. I have personally found the 1998 Wide AM in pocket change. So, How do I tell them apart? The other way to tell them apart is to look at the distance between the initials “FG” and the base of the Lincoln Memorial. The Close AM variety will have wide initials, whereas the Wide AM variety will have close initials. Just remember the opposite will be true for the initials and the AM. I personally find this method unnecessary and more difficult than the first. Example of Wide AM (top) and Close AM (bottom) Image Courtesy of NGC Notable Mention: Wide AM vs Close AM Lincoln Varieties What penny is worth $200000?A rare copper penny that a Massachusetts man found in his lunch money more than 70 years ago has been auctioned for more than $200,000. The 1943 penny is one of 20 that were accidentally minted when the federal government was trying to conserve copper for World War II.
What year Wide am pennies are worth money?The dates to watch for are 1992, 1992-D, 1998, 1999, and 2000. To better understand why these are valued by collectors, you first need to understand how they came to be. In 1993 the mint changed the reverse design of the cent that better spaced the letters on UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
How much is a 1999 wide Am penny worth?USA Coin Book Estimated Value of 1999 Lincoln Memorial Penny (Wide AM Variety) is Worth $558 or more in Uncirculated (MS+) Mint Condition. Click here to Learn How to use Coin Price Charts.
How much is a 1988 wide Am penny worth?$500-$800 +Value.
|