2017 Lincoln Cent Errors: Value Guide & Rare Varieties
Is your 2017 penny worth money? The historic 2017-P (the only P-mintmark penny ever made) and Doubled Die varieties can fetch $10–$100+. Learn to identify the Fat Y hub doubling, WDDO-001, notched ERTY, die clashes, and off-center strikes with our expert guide.
Most 2017 pennies are worth face value, but the historic 2017-P — the only Lincoln cent in history to carry a Philadelphia "P" mintmark — and genuine Doubled Die varieties can reach $10–$100+ certified, with gem MS68 examples selling for $655 or more.
- 🔵 2017-P circulated: Face value — worth keeping as a permanent one-year type
- 💚 2017-P MS67 RD uncirculated: $12–$35 | MS68 RD: $655+
- 💰 2017-P Major DDO (WDDO-001): $10–$25 raw; $50–$100 certified
- 💎 2017-S Enhanced Uncirculated SP70: $35–$87
⚠️ Warning: The vast majority of apparent "doubling" on 2017 cents is worthless Machine Doubling — flat, shelf-like steps on letters worth exactly $0.01. True Doubled Dies show swollen or notched letters at full relief.
2017 Lincoln Shield Cent Errors Error Checker
Check your coin for valuable errors and varieties
Values shown are typical retail estimates as of 2026-01.
The 2017-P is the only Lincoln Cent to bear a P mintmark — a one-year type for the 225th Anniversary of the U.S. Mint.
Many 2017-P cents show Fat Y hub doubling from Doubled Working Hubs (WWHO-001/002). This is common and different from rarer major Doubled Die varieties with unique die markers.
Machine Doubling (flat, shelf-like steps on letters) is NOT a valuable error — it is worth face value only.
Plating blisters and zinc rot on copper-plated zinc cents are common defects, not valuable errors.
Professional authentication (PCGS/NGC) is recommended for any coin believed to be a Doubled Die variety or significant error.
Error coin values vary significantly based on grade, eye appeal, certification, and current market conditions.
In 2017, for the first time in 225 years, the Philadelphia Mint stamped its "P" mintmark onto a Lincoln penny — creating a one-year-only collector's coin that quietly slipped into everyday pocket change. A collector in Black Mountain, North Carolina, discovered the first example at a gas station on January 13, 2017. On top of that historic debut, flawed master tools called working hubs seeded a whole family of Doubled Die varieties across millions of coins. This guide tells you exactly what your 2017 penny is worth and how to identify a genuine jackpot from a common manufacturing blemish.
2017 Lincoln Cent Specifications & Mintage
The 2017 Philadelphia cent — the only Lincoln penny in U.S. history to display a "P" mintmark.
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 19.05 mm |
| Thickness | 1.55 mm |
| Weight | 2.50 g (tolerance ±0.10 g) |
| Composition | 97.5% Zinc, 2.5% Copper (copper-plated zinc core) |
| Edge | Plain (smooth, no ridges) |
| Philadelphia (P) Mintage | 4,361,220,000 |
| Denver (D) Mintage | 4,272,800,000 |
| San Francisco (S) Mintage | Special sets only — never released to circulation |
ℹ️ Why the 2017-P Is Historically Unique
The Philadelphia Mint has struck pennies continuously since 1793 and never once placed a "P" mintmark on a cent — until 2017. The U.S. Mint added the mark for exactly one year to celebrate the Mint's 225th anniversary. Starting in 2018, Philadelphia cents returned to having no mintmark. That makes the 2017-P a permanent one-year type: the only Philadelphia Lincoln cent in history that collectors can positively identify by mintmark alone.
🎖️ The 2017-S Enhanced Uncirculated Cent
San Francisco struck a third variety of the 2017 cent exclusively for the 225th Anniversary Enhanced Uncirculated Coin Set. It was never released to circulation — only available directly from the U.S. Mint as part of the set.
- Enhanced Uncirculated finish: Laser-frosted raised devices (Lincoln portrait, shield) with unpolished matte-like fields — visually distinct from both standard business-strike cents and mirror-finish proofs
- Standard Proof (from annual Proof Set): Also struck at San Francisco with the classic deep-mirror finish
- Value: Enhanced Unc raw: $5–$10 | SP70 certified: $35–$87 | Standard Proof: $3–$8
- Collector note: Required for a complete 2017 cent type set — the "third leg" alongside the 2017-P and 2017-D
PCGS CoinFacts: 2017-S Enhanced Uncirculated Lincoln Cent →
For grade-by-grade values across all three mints, visit: 2017 Lincoln Cent Complete Value Guide →
2017 Lincoln Cent Quick Checks: Do You Have a Valuable Error?
2017 Lincoln Cent Quick Checks: Do You Have a Valuable Error?
Grab a 10x magnifying loupe (a small folding magnifier available for under $10). Run through these checks in order. Checks 1–3 apply only to 2017-P cents. Checks 4–7 apply to all mints. The final two are traps that catch many beginners.
Left: True Doubled Die showing swollen, thickened letters at full height. Right: Machine Doubling with worthless flat shelves shaved into letter edges.
Check 1: Fat Y in LIBERTY — Doubled Working Hub (2017-P only)
The word LIBERTY on the front of the coin. Focus on the letter Y — specifically compare the two upper diagonal arms.
The upper left arm of the Y is noticeably thicker or fatter than the upper right arm. The letters B, E, and R nearby may also look swollen or crowded. This means your coin was struck by a die made from a defective master tool called a Doubled Working Hub (WWHO-001 or WWHO-002).
Both Y arms being equally thin and sharp = normal coin. Flat, shelf-like steps on letter edges = Machine Doubling (worth face value only — see Trap Check 1).
Check 2: Major Doubled Die Obverse — WDDO-001 (2017-P only)
LIBERTY, the date 2017, and IN GOD WE TRUST. Then check for a tiny die gouge (small pit in the metal) near the rim to the right of the second T in TRUST, and a gouge to the left of Lincoln's head.
Letters in LIBERTY and the date look bloated and swollen — plus the specific die gouge markers confirm WDDO-001 specifically. Stage B coins also show a small die chip on the shield above the E in E PLURIBUS UNUM on the reverse. The die markers are the fingerprint that separate this valuable variety from common hub doubling.
Plain hub doubling (Check 1) without the specific die markers is the common minor variety. Other WDDO numbers (002–017) have their own different die markers. Machine Doubling is always flat and worthless.
Check 3: Notched ERTY — WDDO-009 (2017-P only)
The bottom of the letters E, R, T, and Y in LIBERTY. Also check for a tiny die gouge to the right of the center of the numeral 1 in the date — this confirms the specific die.
Clear, crisp notches cut into the bottom corners of the letters ERTY — like a tiny chip taken out of each letter's corner. Notching is the textbook sign of a true Doubled Die and is far harder to confuse with Machine Doubling than simple overall letter thickness.
Machine Doubling produces flat shelves, not crisp corner cuts. A worn die makes letters fuzzy overall — fuzz is not the same as a sharp, defined notch in the corner.
Check 4: Thick Designer Initials on Reverse — WDDR-001 (2017-P)
Flip to the reverse (shield side). Look at the tiny designer initials at the base of the shield: LB (Lyndall Bass) and JFM (Joseph Menna).
On a normal coin these initials are very fine and crisp. On WDDR-001, LB and JFM appear noticeably bold, thick, and distorted. This is doubling on the reverse die (DDR = Doubled Die Reverse).
A worn die makes all fine details fuzzy across the whole coin. On the DDR, the initials are specifically thicker while other nearby details may still look normal. Plating blisters over the initials can also mimic thickening — look for smooth roundness (blister) versus angular thickening (DDR).
Check 5: Die Clash / Prisoner Lincoln (All Mints)
The front (obverse) field around Lincoln's portrait, especially across his face. Also check the reverse shield area for a faint ghost of Lincoln's profile.
Faint lines running across Lincoln's face that follow the pattern of the reverse shield bars — creating a "Prisoner Lincoln" effect where it looks like bars are behind his head. A die clash happens when the front and back dies accidentally strike each other without a coin between them, pressing each die's design into the other.
Random scratches from post-mint handling. True die clash lines match the exact pattern of the opposing die and appear in the identical location on every coin struck by that die pair.
Check 6: Off-Center Strike (All Mints)
The overall position of the design on the coin. One side will show a crescent-shaped area of bare, unstruck metal where the design is missing.
The design is clearly shifted off-center with a blank crescent of bare planchet (the metal blank) visible. The rim is absent on the shifted side. Value rises sharply with percentage off-center — and the date and P mintmark must remain visible for maximum value. Major examples (50%+) with visible date are the most desirable.
A Misaligned Die (MAD) strike shifts the design slightly but the rim remains complete all the way around. A true off-center strike must show a missing rim and exposed blank metal on the shifted side.
Check 7: Broadstrike (All Mints)
The rim and overall size of the coin. Set it next to a normal cent — a broadstruck coin will be noticeably wider than 19.05 mm.
The coin is wider than normal with a flat, spread-out, or entirely missing rim. The design appears uniformly expanded in all directions. This happens when the collar die — the steel ring that normally constrains the planchet during striking — is absent or malfunctioning.
A coin flattened by a railroad track or squeezed in a vise (post-mint damage) shows uneven distortion and surface damage. A genuine broadstrike has fully struck, properly formed design details that are simply expanded uniformly wider than normal.
Trap Check 1: Machine Doubling — NOT Valuable (All Mints)
LIBERTY, IN GOD WE TRUST, the date, and all other raised lettering.
Each letter appears to have a flat, step-like shelf carved into one side — as if a tiny ledge was shaved into the letter edge. The main letter body looks narrower (the shelf subtracts from it). Serifs (the decorative tips of letters) are often flattened or sheared off.
- Machine Doubling (MD) occurs when the die slides or bounces after striking, damaging the already-struck design — it is not an error in the die itself
- True Doubled Dies show letters that are swollen and thicker at full relief, or show crisp notching at letter corners
- MD letters are narrower overall with a sunken flat shelf — a totally different appearance
- The 2017-P is frequently misrepresented on resale platforms; learn to recognize MD before buying
Trap Check 2: Plating Blisters & Zinc Rot — NOT Valuable (All Mints)
Anywhere on the coin surface — fields, letters, portraits. Also look for grey, black, or powdery white discoloration spreading across the coin.
Smooth, rounded bumps anywhere on the surface (plating blisters). Or dark grey to white crumbling patches where the copper plating has cracked and the zinc core is corroding outward (zinc rot).
- The 2017 cent's copper plating is only about 8 microns thick — thinner than a human hair — over a reactive zinc core
- Trapped gas pushes the thin plating into bubbles; this is a common manufacturing defect, not a mint error
- Once plating cracks, humidity attacks the zinc, which corrodes and expands (zinc rot) — these coins will eventually crumble
- Valuable die chips appear in the exact same spot on every coin from that die; blisters appear randomly and vary coin to coin
2017 Lincoln Cent Value Chart
The first table covers grade values for standard (non-error) coins by mint. Highlighted amber rows mark significant premiums worth knowing. The second table below covers error and variety prices with links to full descriptions.
| Coin | Grade | Estimated Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-P | Circulated | Face value | Worth keeping — only P-mintmark penny ever |
| 2017-P | MS65 RD | $0.50–$2.00 | Commonly found in rolls |
| 2017-P | MS67 RD | $12–$35 | Entry-level for serious registry sets |
| 2017-P | MS68 RD | $655+ | Extremely rare — plating blisters make perfection almost impossible |
| 2017-D | Circulated | Face value | Standard circulated cent |
| 2017-D | MS67 RD | $12–$35 | Similar premium to P-mint in this grade |
| 2017-D | MS68 RD | $1,595 | Auction record 2021 — driven by registry competition (PCGS) |
| 2017-S Proof | PR65–PR70 | $3–$8 | From annual Proof Set; mirror finish |
| 2017-S Enhanced Unc | Raw (SP65–SP68) | $5–$10 | 225th Anniversary Set; laser-frosted finish |
| 2017-S Enhanced Unc | SP70 | $35–$87 | Top-grade certified examples — see set details |
2017 Lincoln Cent Error & Variety Price Table
| Error / Variety | ID | Mint | Rarity | Raw Value | Certified Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Major DDO (WDDO-001) | WDDO-001 | P | Scarce | $10–$25 | $50–$100 |
| Notched ERTY (WDDO-009) | WDDO-009 | P | Scarce | $10–$25 | $50–$100 |
| Doubled Working Hub (Fat Y) | WWHO-001/002 | P | Common | $2–$5 | $25–$40 |
| DDR-001 (Thick Initials) | WDDR-001 | P | Uncommon | $5–$20 | $25–$50 |
| Die Clash / Prisoner Lincoln | — | All | Uncommon | $5–$10 | $30+ |
| Off-Center Strike (10–20%) | — | All | Uncommon | $15–$25 | $50–$100 |
| Off-Center 50%+ (date visible) | — | All | Rare | $50–$100+ | $150+ |
| Broadstrike | — | All | Uncommon | $15–$30 | $50–$80 |
2017 Lincoln Cent Valuable Errors: Detailed Identification Guides
Each entry below covers how to identify, what to avoid confusing it with, and what it's worth. Philadelphia-mint varieties are listed first because they have the richest error landscape of any 2017 cent.
Doubled Working Hub Varieties (WWHO-001/002) — The "Fat Y"
Normal coin (left): both Y arms equally thin. Doubled Working Hub (right): left arm visibly thicker — the "Fat Y" diagnostic.
Origin & Background
The root cause of the 2017-P variety landscape is not a single doubled die — it is two defective Working Hubs. A Working Hub is the master tool used to manufacture all working dies. WWHO-001 shows moderate extra thickness on LIBERTY letters; its most diagnostic feature is that the upper left arm of the Y is considerably thicker than the upper right arm. WWHO-002 shows the same trait but stronger. Because these hubs made dozens of dies — and those dies struck millions of coins — the "Fat Y" is actually quite widespread. Varieties WDDO-004, 006, 007, 008, 010, 013, 014, and 015 all trace back to WWHO-001; WDDO-011, 012, and 016 trace to WWHO-002.
How to Identify
- Under 10x magnification, compare both arms of the Y in LIBERTY — the left arm on a hub-doubled coin is noticeably fatter
- Letters B, E, and R in LIBERTY may also look swollen or crowded together
- The doubling style is called Class VI: Distended Hub Doubling — letters look balloon-inflated, not split into two separate images
- This is the base variety for the year; to attribute a specific WDDO number, you must find that die's unique markers (gouges, chips, scratches)
False Positives to Avoid
Machine Doubling (MD) shows flat, shelf-like steps on letter edges — the main letter is actually narrower, not wider. True hub doubling makes the overall letter fatter. Die deterioration (worn dies) makes letters fuzzy overall, but equally in all directions, without the asymmetric arm-thickness of the Fat Y.
Market Values
- Raw (ungraded): $2–$5
- PCGS/NGC certified: $25–$40
Auction Record
No specific auction record on file for base hub varieties. The value range above reflects current raw and certified market estimates.
Major Doubled Die Obverse — WDDO-001 (The Discovery Variety)
WDDO-001: Bloated LIBERTY letters plus the tell-tale die gouge near TRUST (circled in red) that confirms this specific variety.
Origin & Background
WDDO-001 was the first confirmed Doubled Die variety for the 2017-P cent. It features Class VI Distended Hub Doubling — letters appear bloated and swollen rather than showing two visibly separated images side by side. This is the variety that first drew the attention of numismatic researchers including John Wexler and variety attributors at Variety Vista. Being the discovery coin, it carries a "first discovery" premium above other WDDO numbers.
How to Identify
- Moderate extra thickness visible on the letters of LIBERTY and the date 2017
- Key die marker: small die gouge near the rim to the right of the second T in TRUST
- Secondary die marker: a gouge to the left of Lincoln's head
- Stage B reverse: small die chip on top of the shield north of the E in E PLURIBUS UNUM
- The specific die markers are essential — hub doubling alone (Check 1) without these markers is the less-valuable common variety
False Positives to Avoid
Many 2017-P cents show the Fat Y of the Doubled Working Hub. WDDO-001 requires both swollen lettering and the specific die gouge near TRUST. Without the gouge, you likely have a different, less specific WDDO variety. Machine Doubling is always flat and worthless regardless of how noticeable it appears.
Market Values
- Raw (ungraded): $10–$25
- PCGS/NGC certified: $50–$100
Auction Record
No specific confirmed auction record on file for WDDO-001. Value driven by its first-discovery status. External resources: Wexler's Coins DDO listings | Variety Vista WDDO-001
Notched ERTY — WDDO-009
WDDO-009: Crisp notches cut into the bottom corners of E, R, T, Y in LIBERTY — the classic doubled die signature that cannot be faked by machine doubling.
Origin & Background
WDDO-009 is distinctive among 2017-P varieties because it shows clear, crisp notching on the bottom corners of the letters E, R, T, and Y in LIBERTY. Notching — a sharp, defined cut in a letter's corner — is the textbook hallmark of a genuine Doubled Die and is much harder to confuse with Machine Doubling or die wear than the more common "puffy" Class VI swelling. Some numismatists consider notched varieties more desirable precisely because the evidence is unambiguous under magnification.
How to Identify
- Under 10x magnification, look at the bottom of each of the letters E, R, T, Y in LIBERTY
- True notching looks like a tiny wedge or chip removed from the corner of each letter — sharp and defined
- Confirm with the key die marker: a die gouge to the right of the center of the numeral 1 in the date
- The notching is ERTY-specific; if only Y is thick without corner notching, you likely have hub doubling (Check 1) instead
False Positives to Avoid
Machine Doubling creates flat shelves on letter sides — never crisp corner notches. A worn die produces overall fuzz, not the sharply defined cuts of genuine notching. If the corners look like they have tiny shelves shaved into them rather than wedges taken out, it is likely MD.
Market Values
- Raw (ungraded): $10–$25
- PCGS/NGC certified: $50–$100
Auction Record
No specific confirmed auction record on file for WDDO-009.
Doubled Die Reverse — WDDR-001 (Thick Initials)
WDDR-001: Normal thin, crisp initials (left) vs. visibly bold and distorted LB and JFM on the DDR variety (right).
Origin & Background
While most attention falls on obverse doubling, the 2017-P also produced a Doubled Die Reverse (DDR). WDDR-001 is identified by extra thickness on the tiny designer initials LB (for sculptor Lyndall Bass) and JFM (for Joseph Menna) located at the base of the shield on the reverse. On a normal coin these initials are fine and sharp; on the DDR they appear bold and distorted.
How to Identify
- Flip to the reverse and locate the small initials at the very bottom of the shield design
- Compare LB and JFM against a known normal 2017-P reverse under 10x magnification
- On WDDR-001, the initials appear noticeably thicker, bolder, and spread compared to the fine, sharp normal initials
- Other shield details nearby may still appear normal — the doubling is concentrated in the initials
False Positives to Avoid
A worn die degrades all fine details uniformly — if the entire reverse looks fuzzy and soft, it is likely die wear, not DDR. Plating blisters directly over the initials can create a rounded, raised appearance that mimics thickening; look for smooth roundness (blister) versus angular, even thickening across the letter strokes (DDR).
Market Values
- Raw (ungraded): $5–$20
- PCGS/NGC certified: $25–$50
Auction Record
No specific confirmed auction record on file for WDDR-001.
Die Clash / Prisoner Lincoln
"Prisoner Lincoln": faint reverse shield bars pressed across Lincoln's face after a die clash. Compare the clean obverse (left) to the clashed coin showing bar-lines over the portrait (right).
Origin & Background
A die clash occurs when the obverse (front) and reverse (back) dies accidentally strike each other without a coin planchet between them. Each die picks up a faint impression of the opposing die's design. On subsequent strikes, this phantom impression is transferred to real coins. The most popular result on Lincoln cents is the "Prisoner Lincoln" effect — faint shield bars from the reverse appear across Lincoln's face on the obverse, as if he is peering through jail bars.
How to Identify
- Tilt the coin under a strong, directional (raking) light source
- Look for faint incuse lines across Lincoln's portrait that follow the exact pattern of the reverse shield's horizontal bars
- On the reverse, check the upper shield area for a faint ghost impression of Lincoln's profile
- Die clash marks are consistent: they appear in the identical location and orientation on every coin struck from that die pair
False Positives to Avoid
Post-mint scratches and bag marks are random and unique to each coin. Die clash impressions are systematic, repeatable, and geometrically match the opposing die's design. If the lines are random and do not follow the shield bar pattern, they are damage, not a clash.
Market Values
- Raw (ungraded): $5–$10
- PCGS/NGC certified: $30+
Auction Record
No specific confirmed auction record on file for 2017 die clashes.
Off-Center Strike
Off-center strike with approximately 30% of the design missing. The date remains visible — critical for maximum value.
Origin & Background
An off-center strike happens when the planchet (the metal blank) is not properly centered under the dies when the press fires. The design is struck only on the portion of the coin where dies and planchet overlap. The unaffected area remains flat and blank, producing the characteristic crescent shape. At high-speed modern mint production rates, off-center errors still escape quality control with some regularity.
How to Identify
- One side of the coin shows a visible crescent of bare, flat planchet with no design and no rim
- Estimate the percentage: 10% off-center = a thin crescent; 50% off-center = nearly half the coin is blank
- Crucial: confirm that the date 2017 and P mintmark are still fully visible — date visibility is the primary driver of value
- Minor examples (10–20%) are relatively common on modern zinc cents produced at high speed; major examples (50%+) with date visible are significantly more desirable
False Positives to Avoid
A Misaligned Die (MAD) strike shifts the design slightly but leaves the rim complete all the way around the coin — no blank crescent. True off-center must show missing rim and exposed blank planchet on the shifted side. Coins that have been ground, filed, or damaged to create a "crescent" will show tool marks and uneven metal removal.
Market Values
- 10–20% off-center, raw: $15–$25
- 10–20% off-center, certified: $50–$100
- 50%+ off-center with date visible, raw: $50–$100+
- 50%+ off-center with date visible, certified: $150+
Auction Record
No specific confirmed auction record on file for 2017 off-center strikes. Modern zinc cent off-centers in the 10–20% range generally trade in the $15–$25 range raw.
Broadstrike
Normal cent (left) vs. broadstruck cent (right): the broadstrike is visibly wider with a flattened, spread rim caused by a missing collar die.
Origin & Background
During normal striking, a steel ring called the collar die surrounds the planchet and prevents it from spreading sideways under the immense pressure of the press (typically millions of pounds per square inch). When the collar is missing or malfunctions, the planchet spreads outward in all directions, producing a coin that is wider than normal with a flat or absent rim. The 2017-D had a documented example — a broadstruck cent circulated in the collector market — confirming these errors do occur on this date.
How to Identify
- Measure the diameter — a genuine broadstrike will exceed the normal 19.05 mm
- The rim is flat, spread thin, or entirely absent; the design appears to extend further than normal toward the edge
- Both sides of the coin show uniform, even expansion — the design is properly struck, just wider
- Full, sharp design detail is present — the issue is geometry (spread), not strike quality
False Positives to Avoid
Railroad track coins (run over by trains) are flattened unevenly, are often elongated in one direction, and show surface scratching from the rail. A genuine broadstrike expands evenly in all directions. Intentionally squeezed or altered coins show tool marks and often have damage to the design.
Market Values
- Raw (ungraded): $15–$30
- PCGS/NGC certified: $50–$80
Auction Record
A 2017-D broadstruck cent was documented for sale, confirming these errors exist on this date. No specific graded auction record on file.
2017 Lincoln Cent Error Traps: Common Mistakes to Avoid
The 2017 cent's copper-plated zinc construction makes it especially prone to defects that look alarming but are completely worthless. Know these traps before spending money or getting excited.
⚠️ Machine Doubling (MD)
A flat, step-like shelf running along one side of letters in LIBERTY, IN GOD WE TRUST, or the date. Letters may appear to have a shadow or echo beside them.
After the die strikes the coin and the freshly impressed metal is still somewhat plastic, the die shifts or bounces. This second contact shaves a flat step into the raised design — not in the die itself, but on the already-struck coin.
- The "doubled" portion is flat and lower than the main letter — rest a mental toothpick on it, it would balance
- The main letter body looks narrower than normal (the shelf subtracts from the letter width)
- Serifs (letter tips) are sheared off or flattened rather than crisp
- True DDO letters are wider and taller overall, not narrower with a flat shadow
Value: Face value only ($0.01).
⚠️ Plating Blisters
Smooth, rounded bumps anywhere on the coin surface — on letters, Lincoln's portrait, the shield, or open fields. May look like tiny bubbles frozen in the copper surface.
The zinc planchet is barrel-plated with only about 8 microns of copper before striking. Microscopic gas pockets trapped under that thin layer expand during or after striking, pushing the plating into bubbles. This is extremely common on modern zinc cents.
- Blisters are smooth and round — die chips are angular or jagged
- Blisters appear in different locations on different coins; genuine die markers (chips, gouges) appear in the same spot on every coin from that die
- A coin with blisters actually loses grade value compared to a blister-free example
Value: Face value only. Blistered coins grade lower, not higher. Reference: Error-Ref.com on Plating Blisters →
⚠️ Zinc Rot (Damaged Cents)
Grey, black, or powdery white discoloration spreading across the coin. In advanced cases, the surface looks pitted, crumbling, or flaking.
When the copper plating is breached (cracked during striking, scratched, or worn through), moisture reaches the zinc core. Zinc oxidizes rapidly in contact with humidity, creating zinc oxide — white powder — and eventually the coin begins to physically disintegrate.
Zinc rot: grey-white corrosion spreading from a plating breach. This is environmental damage, not a mint error, and the coin will continue to deteriorate.
- Grey or white powdery areas indicate active zinc corrosion — this is environmental damage, not a mint error
- These coins will continue degrading and are considered damaged (PMD — Post-Mint Damage)
- Any premium from being a 2017-P type coin is eliminated once visible corrosion begins
Value: Face value only. Zinc-rotted coins are environmental casualties, not collectible errors.
2017 Lincoln Cent Grading: Why Grade Matters So Much
2017 Lincoln Cent Grading: Why Grade Matters So Much
Grade spectrum for 2017-P cents: MS65 (minor spots, left), MS67 (near-perfect, center), and the extreme rarity of MS68 (right) — even one plating blister drops a coin from $655 to $20.
The 2017 cent has one of the steepest value cliffs in modern coinage. The jump from MS67 RD (about $20) to MS68 RD ($655+) is often caused by a single microscopic plating blister. This makes the copper-plated zinc planchet the enemy of high grades.
The Sheldon Scale runs from 1 (barely identifiable) to 70 (theoretically perfect). For modern cents, the meaningful grades are:
- MS60–MS65 RD: Uncirculated but with spots, contact marks, or minor blisters — common in original mint rolls ($0.50–$2.00)
- MS66 RD: Minimal marks, full Red luster — $5–$10
- MS67 RD: Superb eye appeal with almost no flaws — $12–$35; entry-level for serious registry collectors
- MS68 RD: Virtually perfect, zero blisters or spots — extremely rare; $655+
Practical advice for self-found coins: Before paying $30–$50 in grading fees, examine your coin under 10x magnification in good light. If you can see any spots, bumps, or blemishes, the coin will almost certainly grade below MS67 — and the grading fee will exceed the coin's value. Reserve certification for coins that look flawless at 10x.
2017 Lincoln Cent Authentication: When to Get Your Coin Certified
2017 Lincoln Cent Authentication: When to Get Your Coin Certified
Third-party grading services PCGS (PCGS CoinFacts 2017-P) and NGC examine, authenticate, and grade coins in tamper-evident plastic holders called "slabs." Certification adds credibility and, for high-value coins, significantly increases sale price.
When certification makes financial sense for 2017 cents:
- Your coin shows clear Doubled Die characteristics (swollen or notched letters) AND you can identify specific die markers from the WDDO listings
- Your coin shows a major striking error (off-center 20%+, broadstrike) that is visible without magnification
- Your coin appears flawless at 10x magnification — a potential MS68 candidate worth the submission fee
- You plan to sell the coin above $50 — buyers at that price point expect certification
When certification does NOT make sense:
- The doubling is subtle hub doubling (Fat Y only) with no die markers — the certified value (~$25–$40) may not cover fees plus postage
- Your coin has any visible plating blisters, spots, or surface issues — it will not grade high enough to justify certification costs
- The alleged error appears to be Machine Doubling or a plating blister — grading services will return it as "No Variety" or "Genuine — Damage"
⚠️ Do Not Clean Your Coin
Cleaning a coin with any substance — even water and a soft cloth — permanently destroys its numismatic value. Grading services will identify cleaned coins and label them accordingly, making them unsellable at premium prices. If you believe your coin is valuable, store it in a soft flip or airtight holder, handle it by the edges only, and submit it raw to a grading service as-is.
Dealer referral information is not available in the current data source. Consider attending a local coin show or contacting the American Numismatic Association (ANA) for dealer recommendations.
2017 Lincoln Cent: Frequently Asked Questions
Is the 2017-P penny really rare?
The 2017-P was struck in enormous quantities — over 4.36 billion coins — so it is not rare in an absolute sense. What makes it special is its status as a one-year type: the only Lincoln cent in history with a Philadelphia "P" mintmark. A collector assembling a type set of U.S. coins must have one, ensuring permanent collector demand. Circulated examples are face value; pristine MS68 examples are genuinely scarce due to the plating blister problem and can sell for $655+.
What is the "Fat Y" on a 2017 penny and is it valuable?
The "Fat Y" refers to a doubling effect on the letter Y in LIBERTY where the upper left arm is noticeably thicker than the upper right arm. It was caused by flawed Working Hubs (WWHO-001 and WWHO-002) — the master tools used to make all working dies. Because the defect was in the hub, it affected many dies and potentially millions of coins. The Fat Y is common enough that it adds only modest value ($2–$5 raw, $25–$40 certified). The significantly more valuable varieties (like WDDO-001) require both the Fat Y plus unique die markers.
How do I tell a real Doubled Die from Machine Doubling?
This is the most important skill for evaluating 2017 cents. True Doubled Die: letters appear wider and taller overall — swollen and inflated, or showing crisp notches in letter corners — at full height. Machine Doubling: letters have a flat, step-like shelf on one side, the main letter body looks narrower than normal, and serifs are often sheared off. The key test: if the doubled portion is flat and lower than the main letter, it is Machine Doubling and worth exactly face value.
My 2017 penny has bubbles on it. Is that a valuable error?
No. Those bubbles are plating blisters — an extremely common defect on copper-plated zinc cents caused by gas trapped under the ultra-thin copper plating. They are not mint errors and actually reduce a coin's grade rather than increasing its value. A coin with visible blisters will grade below MS65, making it worth under $2 even in uncirculated condition. Coins turning grey, black, or powdery white have zinc rot — a form of corrosion — and are considered damaged.
What is the most valuable 2017 Lincoln cent error?
For regular business-strike coins, pristine MS68 RD examples command the highest prices — over $655 for Philadelphia examples and a recorded $1,595 for a 2017-D in 2021. Among errors, major off-center strikes (50%+ with date visible) and confirmed Doubled Die varieties (WDDO-001, WDDO-009) certified by PCGS or NGC represent the best value in the $50–$150 range. The scarcity of blister-free high-grade examples currently makes perfect condition more valuable than most error varieties.
Is the 2017-S Enhanced Uncirculated cent hard to find?
The 2017-S Enhanced Uncirculated cent was only sold as part of the U.S. Mint's 225th Anniversary Enhanced Uncirculated Coin Set and was never released into circulation. You cannot find one in pocket change. Sets can still be found from dealers and online marketplaces. Raw examples sell for $5–$10; PCGS or NGC SP70 examples have sold for $35–$87. For a complete 2017 type set, this coin is required alongside the 2017-P and 2017-D.
Should I clean my 2017 penny before selling it?
Never clean a coin you think might be valuable. Cleaning — with any substance, including water, soap, or a cloth — permanently destroys the natural surface luster that makes uncirculated coins valuable. Grading services detect cleaning under magnification and label cleaned coins with a "Details" designation, which drastically reduces resale value. Store potentially valuable coins in a soft flip or airtight holder and handle them only by the edges.
Does the 2017-D cent have any Doubled Die varieties?
Yes, DDO and DDR listings exist for the 2017-D, with some examples including die chips on the upper left shield edge as markers — suggesting similar quality control challenges with the single-squeeze hubbing process affected Denver as well. However, verified documentation for 2017-D doubled dies is scarcer than for Philadelphia issues, and the 2017-D does not have the same rich variety landscape as the 2017-P. The 2017-D is more notable for its high-grade scarcity, with a recorded MS68 RD sale of $1,595 in 2021.
Sources & Methodology
Values in this guide are based on documented sales data, certified population reports, and established variety attribution research. All external sources were verified as of January 2026.
- Wexler's Coins — 2017-P Doubled Die Listings (WDDO/WDDR) — Primary source for variety attribution and die markers
- Variety Vista — 2017-P DDO-001 — Independent variety attribution confirmation
- PCGS CoinFacts — 2017-P Lincoln Cent — Population and auction data
- PCGS CoinFacts — 2017-D Lincoln Cent — Denver mint population and auction data
- PCGS CoinFacts — 2017-S Enhanced Uncirculated — Special set variety data
- Error-Ref.com — Plating Blisters — Technical reference for plating defects
- CoinWeek — 2017-P Lincoln Shield Cent Collector's Guide
- Littleton Coin Blog — 225th Anniversary P Mintmark History
A note on images: To help illustrate coin diagnostics and rare varieties — especially complex errors that are difficult to describe in text alone — this guide uses AI-generated images. All written values, diagnostics, and variety attributions have been manually reviewed against the cited sources above. While our editorial team works to ensure every image is accurate and helpful, AI-generated illustrations may occasionally misrepresent fine details. If you spot any discrepancy between an image and its written description, please contact us or leave a comment below — we review all feedback and correct errors promptly. Numismatic knowledge is a community effort, and your input helps us build a more accurate resource for everyone.
