Check out the myriad of varieties that are not only searchable, but can net a tidy premium when you sell it.
1939 DDR Monticello- Easily distinguishable by the dramatic separation in the words "Monticello" and "Five Cents". This is the marquee doubled die date in the series. To date, numerous examples have been found coin roll hunting. Circulated VG examples sell in the $30 range, a MS65 with bold full steps can sell upwards of $9k per the PCGS price guide. A rewarding and sweet find in any condition!
1954 S/D- Talk about the sleepers of the series, the over mint marked coins of the early dates in the series feature a host of opportunities for coin roll hunters and cherrypickers alike. Some dates, such as this 1954, and the 1955 D/S are an easy spot with the naked eye. The 1949 D/S is the main over mint marked date, so be sure to check all pieces you come across. As you can see from our reference photo, the underlying D in this one is quite apparent and noticeable. Lower grade circulated examples have been an easy sell in the $10-15 range, and mid-mint state examples command in the $100-150 arena. Easy money!
1942 D/Horizontal D- And for the finale, the D over horizontal D is the cherrypicker's dream. With higher graded AU+ examples, the underlying D is clearly defined. Make use of a good glass with a power of 6x or higher to make sure. Often times the circulated examples hide some grease or dirt that masks the true diagnostics. Reported lower graded examples sell consistently in the $50 area while monster graded mint state pieces command close to $1k.
Photos courtesy of PCGS coinfacts www.PCGS.com
