There’s money in your pocket, and we don’t mean bills.

$40 for this cent alone sounds unrealistic, but it isn't. Some pennies are secretly worth much more than face value, and collectors will pay for them.

There’s money in your pocket, and we don’t mean bills. $40 for this cent alone sounds unrealistic, but it isn’t. Some pennies are secretly worth much more than face value, and collectors will pay for them. You might have already spent one without knowing, or you might be lucky to still have one tucked away in a jar or drawer.

$40 for this cent is not clickbait; it is a real valuation placed on a very specific type of error coin that has caught the attention of coin collectors across the country. It’s not a myth, some pennies, particularly one from the mid-90s, are now being scooped up by collectors for serious money. If you’ve got coins sitting around, one of them could literally be your surprise $40 winner.

Why is this penny worth $40?

The key to the coin’s value is a rare error known as a “doubled die obverse.”. In simple language, when the penny was being struck, the die that impressed the design struck twice, slightly out of register. These coins are pursued by collectors because the error is visible enough to be seen by the naked eye, but rare enough to have value. The PCGS and Lincoln Cent Resource states that this coin will trade for $20 to $50, depending on the condition of the coin.

What to look for to spot the $40 cent

Bold letters and apparent errors will be your best pointers. You don’t need a microscope. Some patience and good lighting are all that you’ll need. Many people have these coins in their pocket change and don’t even know it. What’s more? You may be carrying more than one. Coins with clear doubling are generally simple to spot once you’ve learned what to look for.

$40 for just this cent has spawned a collecting craze

The more people learn of the valuable coin, the demand keeps increasing. Error coins are a collector’s favorite, and this penny stands out with its doubling feature and being discovered in circulation.

Why collectors want this $40 penny

Major coin authorities and markets, like PCGS and Lincoln Cent Resource, continue to record values and authenticate. That makes your penny able to be part of an official registry if it meets the right specifications. Some of these coins have even sold for more than $50 in auctions. However, the general market value remains constant at $30 to $50, hence, the slogan $40 just for this cent is still trending.

How to be certain that your penny is valuable

The safest way of verifying your find is to compare it to verified images and guides from trusted sources like PCGS or Lincoln Cent Resource. If you think you have a match, you can take it to a local dealer or send it in for professional grading.

You do not need to be a collector to get excited. It takes just one lucky find in your pocket to change. So, do not deposit that coin jar yet; it might be valued much more than you think. You could be holding a piece of history in the palm of your hand without even knowing it. With collectors on the hunt, spotting one of these coins can turn your next coffee run into a mini payday. Next time you’re breaking a dollar, give that penny a second glance; $40 for this cent alone might just be staring back at you.