10 Coins From the 1980s That Are Worth Way More Than Face Value

Selling collectibles online is often touted as an easy way to make money from home. Selling valuable coins, in particular, is thought of as a business anyone can get into with some simple research and a few hours spent searching through an old change jar. While selling coins on the resale market can be valuable, it’s important to know what to look for.

These 10 coins from the 1980s have been known to sell for hundreds, sometimes thousands, of dollars to the right collectors.

Editor’s note: market estimated prices are from eBay at the time each item was posted, unless otherwise stated.

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There are several types of Lincoln pennies minted in 1982 that collectors are willing to pay serious cash for, though the bronze variety, also known as copper alloy, appears to hold the auction record, according to the Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS).

The pennies are identifiable by the position of the numbers in the year on the front of the coins. All the numbers line up on small date pennies, while the 9 and 8 appear taller on other versions.

These pennies could be worth a few hundred dollars in good condition, and one considered mint, with an MS68 grade, sold for nearly $10,000 in 2014.

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Small date Lincoln pennies made of zinc can also be worth serious cash, albeit not quite as much as their bronze counterparts. The difference between the two can be felt in the weight, as the zinc pennies weigh 2.5 grams compared to the bronze’s 3.11 grams.

Zinc pennies from the Denver mint have been known to sell for good money, with several currently listed on eBay for over $200. The auction record is $1,500, according to PCGS.

If you happen upon a very shiny 1983 dime with no mintage mark (a letter indicating where it was created) on the front, you may have a highly valuable dime proof. Proofs are coins made with a highly polished planchet.

These dimes were minted in San Francisco, though the S is nowhere to be found on the coin, and were the last in a series of “no S” proof coins. In good condition, they could be worth well over $500, and one graded PR70 sold for more than $10,000 in 2014.

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A 1983 Lincoln penny, minted in Philadelphia, that has a double die on the reverse could also be worth a small fortune. According to PCGS, the double die minting is particularly evident on the words “United,” “E Pluribus Unum,” and “One Cent.”

Even with lower grades, like MS64 and MS65, these pennies have been known to sell for a few hundred dollars. The current auction record is more than $7,000.

There are reportedly a few versions of the double-struck Jefferson nickel from 1980. The minting error, which can make the coins appear off-center, has been documented in coins from both Philadelphia and Denver.

PCGS reports a Philadelphia-minted coin sold for $81 to a collector back in 2008, and today, one with a very obvious error is listed on eBay for more than $300.

Yet another valuable Lincoln penny, these double die coins were minted in Philadelphia in 1984. The doubling on the front of the coins can be seen with the naked eye, according to PCGS, and is most obvious around Lincoln’s ear, beard, and bowtie.

Coins graded MS65 and up have been known to sell for more than $200, and the auction record is nearly $4,000.

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Susan B. Anthony dollar coins first went into circulation in 1979, but were unpopular for a myriad of reasons, including how similar they looked to quarters. Mintage stopped in 1981, and far fewer dollars were made that year. The coin was minted again in 1999.

Due to the low mintage and the fact that finding these coins in high grade is rare, the 1981 dollar coin can be worth serious cash. Coins graded MS65 or lower likely won’t be worth more than $40 to $50, but one graded MS67+ sold in 2022 for a whopping $21,600.

In 1982, thousands of dimes accidentally left the Philadelphia Mint without their mint marks. The flub has made the coins quite valuable to this day. Coins graded MS65 could be worth $200 or more, and one with an excellent MS68 grading sold for over $2,000 in 2004.

You can get much more than a dollar for a Silver Eagle, first struck by the U.S. Mint back in 1986. These silver coins are regularly listed on eBay for more than $100, but higher grades can go for much more. One with a perfect MS70 grade sold for more than $21,000 at auction in 2013.

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Quarters created in 1989 were struck in very poor quality, particularly in Denver, according to PCGS. Today, it’s difficult to find one with even an MS65 grade.

Quarters with MS67 grades, which are incredibly rare, have sold for a few hundred dollars, and the auction record is $764.

Ironically, pulling some coins from your change jar could be a simple and fun way to put extra cash in your pocket, and several coins from the 1980s are worth far more than their face value. However, if you’re considering trying your luck by selling to coin collectors, be sure to get coins professionally graded so you know their worth on the resale market first.

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