There are certain coins that would be a great addition to any coin collection. The 2017 penny is especially intriguing for its history, features, errors, and varieties that make it an appealing choice for collectors. Whether you’re looking to start collecting coins or expanding your existing collection, 2017 pennies can add value and interest.
In this coin centered blog post, we will explore the 2017 penny in detail so that you have all the information you need when deciding whether or not it should be part of your numismatic strategy. We will discuss everything from their history and features to their potential errors and varieties as well as what makes them valuable both now and in the future. So let’s get started by learning more about 2017 pennies!
Here we go!
2017 Penny Details
- Category: Lincoln Shield penny
- Mints: Philadelphia, Denver, San Francisco
- Total mintage: 8 billion+
- Obverse designer: Victor David Brenner
- Reverse designer: Lyndall Bass, Joseph Menna
- Edge: Plain
- Diameter: 19 millimeters (0.75 inches)
- Thickness: 2.5 millimeters (0.10 inches)
- Composition: 97.5% zinc, 2.5% copper
- Weight: 2.5 grams
The 2017 penny is a beautiful coin. It is the latest version of the Lincoln penny, first minted in 2010. The very first penny was actually made in 1793, and 2017 marks the 224th year since its introduction into circulation.
The first Lincoln penny was in 1909, designed by sculptor Victor David Brenner. The back contained a wheat image. The next and most well known Lincoln design contained the Lincoln Memorial on the back.
This newest version is called the Lincoln Shield penny, featuring Victor David Brenner’s design on the obverse (front) and a design created by Lyndall Bass and sculpted by Joseph Menna on the reverse (back).
The 2017 penny features a portrait of President Abraham Lincoln on the obverse, with the words “IN GOD WE TRUST” and “LIBERTY” around it. The 2017 penny also features a Union Shield on its reverse side, representing the enduring strength of democracy in America.
The 2017 penny, weighing 2.5 grams, is composed of 97.5% zinc and 2.5% copper, making it very durable for handling or circulation. They have an edge that is plain, a diameter that is 19 millimeters, which in inches is 0.75, and a thickness that is 2.5 millimeters, which in inches is 0.10.
Lastly, 2017 pennies were minted in Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco with a total mintage of over 8 billion, which is a whole lot!
2017 Penny Value Chart |
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| Mint Mark | Good | Fine | Extremely Fine | Uncirculated |
| 2017 “P” Penny | / | / | / | $0.34 |
| 2017 “D” Penny | / | / | / | $0.34 |
| 2017 “S” Penny Proof | / | / | / | $5.84 |
| 2017 “S” Penny Enhanced Uncirculated | / | / | / | $20 |
2017 Penny Value and Varieties
The 2017 penny has a varying value depending on its condition and depending on its mint location. As mentioned before, 2017 pennies were minted in Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco. As far as condition goes, 2017 pennies can range in value from “Good” to “Fine” to “Extremely Fine” to “Uncirculated”.
Let’s look at the value of each 2017 penny according to their condition:
2017 “P” Penny
- Type: Lincoln Shield penny
- Edge: plain
- Mint mark: P
- Place of minting: Philadelphia
- Year of minting: 2017
- Face value: $0.01
- $ price: $0.01 to $0.34
- Quantity produced: 4,361,220,000
- Designer: Victor David Brenner, Lyndall Bass, Joseph Menna
The 2017 “P” penny was produced at the Philadelphia Mint, and it has an average value of all pennies from this date. It is worth only $0.01 in “Good” condition, as well as in “Fine” condition and in “Extremely Fine” condition. In “Uncirculated” condition, 2017 “P” pennies are worth up to $0.34.
There were 4,361,220,000 2017 Lincoln Shield pennies produced, so it is not considered a rare penny. However, one of these coins in mint state did sell online at an eBay auction a few years ago for over $700, so you just never know!
2017 “D” Penny
- Type: Lincoln Shield penny
- Edge: plain
- Mint mark: D
- Place of minting: Denver
- Year of minting: 2017
- Face value: $0.01
- $ price: $0.01 to $0.34
- Quantity produced: 4,272,800,000
- Designer: Victor David Brenner, Lyndall Bass, Joseph Menna
The 2017 “D” penny was produced at the Denver Mint and its value is the same as those from the Philadelphia Mint. This means they are worth $0.01 in “Good” condition, in “Fine” condition, and in “Extremely Fine” condition, and in “Uncirculated” condition they’re sought-after with a maximum value of up to $0.34!
At this mint location, there were 4,272,800,000 Lincoln Shield pennies produced in 2017, so this penny isn’t hard to find in circulation.
2017 “S” Penny – Copper Plated Zinc Proof Variety
- Type: Lincoln Shield penny
- Edge: plain
- Mint mark: S
- Place of minting: San Francisco
- Year of minting: 2017
- Face value: $0.01
- $ price: $5.84
- Quantity produced: 979,498
- Designer: Victor David Brenner, Lyndall Bass, Joseph Menna
The 2017 “S” penny was produced at the San Francisco Mint and is the copper plated zinc Proof variety. Proof coins are special coins that are produced specifically for collectors and contain a very shiny mirror-like surface. They aren’t a part of business circulation.
It has a significantly higher value than those from other mint locations. 2017 “S” pennies are worth up to $5.84 in “Uncirculated” condition! This price is due to its condition as well as its low mintage of 979,498.
2017 “S” Penny – Enhanced Uncirculated Variety
- Type: Lincoln Shield penny
- Edge: plain
- Mint mark: S
- Place of minting: San Francisco
- Year of minting: 2017
- Face value: $0.01
- $ price: $20
- Quantity produced: 223,210
- Designer: Victor David Brenner, Lyndall Bass, Joseph Menna
The 2017 “S” penny was also produced at the San Francisco Mint, but this time it is the enhanced “Uncirculated” variety. This one was produced with a special finish on it in order to commemorate the 225th anniversary of the United States Mint.
It has a value of up to $20 in “Uncirculated” condition due to its low mintage of 223,210 and its special finish.
History of the 2017 Penny
The 2017 penny was produced to commemorate the 225th anniversary of the United States Mint. It features a reverse design (the tail side) that is fairly new, called the Union Shield. The Union Shield contains thirteen stripes to indicate the original thirteen colonies, as well as a single band that goes across all thirteen, uniting them together.
As briefly mentioned before, the Lincoln Shield penny is the third rendition of the Lincoln penny. Featuring the 16th president of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, on the obverse, the reverse originally featured sheaves of wheat, was designed by Victor David Brenner, and was known as the Wheat Penny. The second version, which was released in 1959, featured the Lincoln Memorial and was designed by Frank Gasparro.
The 2017 Lincoln penny reverse was designed by Lyndall Bass and Joseph Menna.
Since it has only been a few years, 2017 pennies are still quite common and can be found in circulation today! They make wonderful collectibles for all levels of collectors, from beginners to advanced, as their value will only increase over time.
2017 Penny Grading
When it comes to grading pennies, it is important to remember that the condition of a coin is what determines its value. 2017 pennies can be found in “Good” condition, which means there are signs of wear and tear from circulation, as well as “Fine” and “Extremely Fine” conditions, both of which have fewer signs of wear. The 2017 penny can also be found in “Uncirculated” condition, meaning the coin has seen very little or no wear at all.
When grading a coin, it’s also important to keep an eye out for any errors on 2017 pennies. These can be minor and hard to spot, but they can significantly increase the coin’s value if spotted. 2017 pennies with errors can go for up to a lot more than their regular value!
For those looking to collect 2017 pennies, it is important to remember that the 2017 “S” and 2017 Enhanced Uncirculated variety are much rarer than others from other mint locations. They have a maximum value of up to $5.84 and $20 respectively.
If you are wondering how to get your coin graded, you can send it to one of the recognized third-party grading companies such as PCGS or NGC. PCGS stands for “Professional Coin Grading Service” and NGC stands for “Numismatic Guaranty Corporation”. They are the two most popular grading services that can give 2017 pennies a more accurate value, which is important when you are looking to buy or sell your pennies.
Something to keep in mind, however, is that it costs money to get your coins graded – therefore, you want to make sure that whatever coin you are grading is worth a lot more than what you will pay for the grading. Otherwise, grading the coin simply isn’t worth it.
2017 Penny Errors and Varieties
Now that we have looked at the value of regular 2017 Lincoln Shield pennies, let’s talk about those that are considered error coins. Error coins are coins that have abnormalities or imperfections that make them unique compared to the other coins from the same year. They can range from minor discrepancies such as a doubled die or a missing letter, to more serious errors such as a struck-through error or an off-metal error.
2017 pennies with errors or varieties are much harder to come by, and therefore they can be worth more than their original face value. Here are a few errors that have surfaced in recent years:
2017 “P” Penny – Heavily Clashed Dies Error
A 2017 penny with a “P” mint mark (meaning it was minted in Philadelphia) has been found to have what is known as a “Clashed Dies” error. This is when the images on both sides of the coin are not properly imprinted, resulting in an interesting design that looks like overlapping waves or rings. One of these pennies in a high condition sold recently for $150.
2017 Penny Frequently Asked Questions
These coins have been around for a few years now, so “Uncirculated” 2017 pennies are becoming increasingly popular among collectors. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about 2017 pennies:
What is the 2017 Penny Worth?
Uncirculated 2017 pennies are worth more than those in circulation. 2017 “S” and 2017 Enhanced Uncirculated varieties can go for up to $5.84 and $20 respectively, while circulated 2017 pennies have a face value of only 1 cent.
Are 2017 Pennies Rare?
2017 pennies are not considered rare, but certain errors could be valuable to collectors. It’s important to note that error coins can range from minor discrepancies such as doubled die or off-metal error, to more serious ones such as struck-through errors.
Are 2017 Lincoln Cents Good for Collecting?
2017 Lincoln cents are great coins for any collector, as they are readily available and can be found in many different conditions. 2017 pennies with errors or varieties could be especially valuable to collectors, so if you find one of these coins, it may be worth getting it graded by a third-party grading service. By understanding the value and details of 2017 pennies, collectors will be able to make more informed decisions when choosing which coins should go into their collection!
What is the 2017 Penny Made Out Of?
The 2017 penny is composed of 97.5 percent zinc and 2.5 percent copper. This composition was changed from previous years due to rising costs of production.
Should I Clean My 2017 Penny Before Selling It?
We recommend not cleaning 2017 pennies or any other coins for that matter as this can actually decrease their value. 2017 pennies are worth more when they appear to be in good condition, with no signs of wear and tear.
Before selling your 2017 penny, it is important to check if it has been circulated or uncirculated. If you’re not sure, you can always take it to a professional coin dealer to get an accurate assessment.
Conclusion
All in all, 2017 pennies are an excellent addition to any collection due to their intricate details, valuable condition, and historical significance. Not only do they make great conversation pieces but also help collectors add some unique coins to their stash.
The 2017 penny is an important part of the United States Mint’s 225th anniversary and it is sure to be a highly sought-after coin for years to come! If you have 2017 pennies in your possession, consider selling them when the time is right!
What are your thoughts about the 2017 penny? Let us know in the comments below.