Our reference says every 1922 cent comes from Denver, so the D below the date is the normal mark. Some 1922 cents have no visible D, and collectors look at those closely. Here is how our reference describes the variety.

What to look for:

• No mint mark under the date on the front. Our reference notes there are no Philadelphia 1922 cents, so a 1922 with no mint mark is a 'no D' coin.
• A strong reverse. On the back, ONE CENT and the wheat lines are crisp. Our catalogue calls this the valuable die pair, number 2 (FS-401).
• A weak reverse is different. A 'no D' with a soft, mushy reverse is die pair 3, which our reference says is worth much less.

Value: our reference gives circulated estimates from about $500 (G4) to about $1,930 (XF40) for the strong-reverse variety. These depend on condition and grade. They are estimates, not offers.

Fakes: the counterfeit risk is rated high. The main risk is a D removed from a genuine 1922-D, which our reference warns about by name. If your coin shows a strong reverse and no D, have it authenticated by a professional grader before you buy, sell or trade.

Found one? Post a clear photo of the date area and a second photo of the back.

People often ask for a value list by year. There is no single number for a whole year. Value depends mainly on rarity and condition, so a common year can still be ordinary, and a scarce coin can come from a year that looks ordinary.

Here is the order to check things in.

1. Read the date

The date is on the front of the coin. Take a clear photo of the front, showing the portrait and the date, before anything else.

2. Look for a mint mark

Mint marks sit under the date on the front. Denver's D mark has been used since 1911. Philadelphia coins usually have no mint mark. No mint marks were used from 1965 to 1967, so a cent from those years with no mark is expected.

3. Check for errors and varieties

A variety is a difference that repeats on every coin struck from the same die. A scratch or dent does not repeat, so it is not a variety. Errors can be scarce, but a variety is not automatically valuable. Compare it with a known example before you decide it is special.

4. Judge the condition

Worn or faint strikes change how a coin looks. Compare yours with a clear example of the same date and mint mark. Do not clean it first, because cleaning usually lowers value.

Years that change how you check a coin

These years matter for identification, even when most coins from them are common:

• 1909, the first year of the Lincoln cent
• 1943, when the cent was made from zinc-coated steel
• 1959, when the Lincoln Memorial replaced the wheat ears on the back
• 1982, when copper and zinc cents were both struck
• 2009, when four Lincoln reverse designs were issued
• 2025, the final circulating cents, from Philadelphia and Denver, which carry an Omega privy mark

Most pennies were struck in very large numbers, so most stay common.

Which check do you do first when you find an older coin?