1900 Indian Penny Worth?

This is the modern variety and error forum. This isn't a modern coin, and you don't seem to be asking about a variety or error.

Circulated and looks wizzed . VG-10 Details .

Also I got that penny when I first got to the US and joined a coin club when I was in middle school about 18yrs ago and he had it in a cardboard cut out with a plastic film protecting the coin from air or elements so no it has never been cleaned since I had it over 18yrs ago. I took it out of packing so I can show u guys there's also a 1917 dime in a case but I'm over it negative people aren't worth my time I'll find someone else

We're just trying to help. The coin is over 120 years old and may have been cleaned long before you acquired it. We're just looking for a pic that shows the true color without the harsh flashback. One way or another, the value is pretty low.

Nice coin but not worth a lot of money.

I second what Greasy Fingers said.

From what you said, you are going through a very stressful time.

A few members can come off as rather curt in their responses, but as someone who has had friends and coworkers from all over the world—much like the membership of this group—that might be cultural as well as personality.

If you can adapt and tolerate all the different personalities here, this group might prove itself to be immensely helpful.

An example: if you are inheriting a collection, are you prepared to recognize corrosion caused by storage in PVC, or the types of holders to steer clear from? There is a good chance that this might be a problem with the coins you are inheriting.

Members here can also direct you to the best resources so that you can do your own research. If it weren't for the posts by specialists in Canadian coinage, I would have wasted a lot of time and money trying to get the right references for my small collection of large cents.

Or, just as in the discussion above about cleaned/not cleaned, making that call sometimes takes experience. Depending on what/how/when it was done, a cleaning done decades ago might or might not have a large effect on valuation. I am betting a lot of us on here have spent too much on a "details" coin at some point. Finding out that your prized coin was compromised can sting a bit, but it is best to learn early on and grow from the experience.

Good luck with working through your inheritance. It will take time. Actually working through it honors their legacy. Much classier than thoughtlessly dumping boxes at the first pawn shop one drives by.

It is understandable. Good to see you back.

May I make a few suggestions? Take what you will:

1. Take your time. You seem to be rushing yourself. If you have thousands of coins, pick out one type and try to figure it out. I did some collecting as a kid. Just in the past few years, I started back into the hobby. I have been studying errors and varieties, but I know I have a long way to go yet before I can spot the real deal on many of the true doubled dies. Those seem to be far more subtle than what the uninitiated realize. Consequently, I don't post many questions on those, yet. I study the posts and discussions on here. If you hang around and watch, several people who comment here are really, really good. I learn a lot from reading their posts, but I usually study the OP's pics first and see if my assessment is correct before reading the comments of experts.

2. For quick and easily accessible info, get yourself a " RedBook" (published by Whitman). Will cost you about $10 and gives you a rough idea of a high retail value. If you find something that is tens of dollars or more in it, then start checking ebay sold prices, not asking, and ignore the fanciful $50k parking lot victims advertised as errors.

3. For grading of US coins, the pictures in a free app from PCGS (CoinFacts) plus the verbal grade descriptions in the book above will get you started.

4. For "random" coins, accept that valuable varieties are valuable partly because of scarcity as well as demand. I recall a knowledgeable member stating here recently that their good finds are measured per thousands of cents searched. "Machine doubling," "Split plating," and " Die Deterioration Doubling" followed by "Face value" is a really common answer to "What's it worth?"

5. Be prepared for the possibility that some of us collectors have stuff squirreled away that isn't worth much more than face value. We have our reasons. Maybe you can figure out your father's. It may not be that they are rare varieties. I have kept coins because of personal or family history, and I will pass those coins on, because of that connection, not because of monetary valuation. I document that info in my collection because it is valuable to me.

6. Use some of the info on this site to understand the minting process and how mint made anomalies occur. If you go down the error varieties rabbit hole, you can expect to do some homework on sites such as Variety Vista and error-ref.com.

7. Beware YouTube... You are safer here.