🚨 Breaking News: A single 1959 Lincoln Cent has sold for $1,000,000 at a Los Angeles auction in 2025! Known as the “Transitional Mule” penny, this one-of-a-kind error has become one of the most talked-about coins in U.S. numismatic history. Could there be a second specimen waiting to be discovered?
🔥 Why the 1959 Penny Is Worth $1,000,000
This rare cent is the product of a historic minting mistake:
- Error Type: Struck with a 1958 Wheat reverse instead of the new Memorial design.
- Rarity: Only 1 confirmed specimen exists.
- Record Price: $1,000,000 (PCGS MS-65RD, 2025 LA Auction).
👉 This makes it rarer than the legendary 1913 Liberty Nickel and more valuable than many classic U.S. coin rarities.
💎 Key Features of the $1M 1959 Mule Penny
Collectors look for these details to authenticate the coin:
- ✅ Date: 1959 obverse with Lincoln portrait
- ✅ Reverse: Wheat ears (should show Memorial building)
- ✅ Mint: Philadelphia issue (no mint mark)
- ✅ Color: Bright Red (RD) with full luster
- ✅ Weight: 3.11 grams (copper composition)
- ✅ Edge: Plain, no reeding
⚡ Value & Grading Premiums
| Grade / Condition | Estimated Value |
|---|---|
| AU Details | $500,000+ |
| Mint State | $750,000 – $1,000,000+ |
| Superb Gem | Priceless (only 1 known) |
💡 Even in circulated condition, a discovery like this would still command half a million dollars or more.
🧐 How to Spot This Million-Dollar Error
✅ The $1M Checklist
- Obverse: Normal 1959 Lincoln portrait
- Reverse: 1958 Wheat ears instead of Memorial
- Weight: 3.11g (copper alloy)
- Edge: Plain (standard cent)
❌ Avoid Worthless Look-Alikes
- Normal 1959 Memorial cents (worth 1¢)
- Standard 1958 Wheat cents
- Altered or counterfeit coins
🧤 What To Do If You Think You Have One
- Handle with archival cotton gloves
- Photograph both sides under natural light
- Submit immediately to PCGS or NGC for authentication
- Insure for $1M+ before mailing or transporting
- Contact Heritage Auctions or Stack’s Bowers for private sale options
⚠️ Warning: Authentication is absolutely essential — most “finds” are fakes or altered coins.
📖 The Discovery Story
✨ “Found in an old coin roll from my grandfather’s collection – it changed my family’s life forever.”
— Anonymous 2025 Seller (realized $1,000,000 sale)
🏆 Why This Error Is Priceless
✔️ The only known transitional mule in the Lincoln cent series
✔️ A once-in-history minting mistake
✔️ More valuable than many famous 19th-century rarities
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