1945 Penny Error List with Pictures
Seven documented error types — from repunched mint marks to dramatic double strikes
The intensive wartime production schedule of 1945 — with dies and presses operating at maximum capacity across three mint facilities — created ideal conditions for minting errors. Equipment fatigue, high-speed striking, and the novel shell-case copper alloy all contributed to a documented roster of error types. For the most current 1945 Penny Value on specific error varieties, professional authentication is recommended for any coin potentially worth $100 or more.
1945 Penny — Error Coin Reference
| # | Error Type | Rarity | Circulated | MS / Uncirculated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Obverse Cud Die Break | Occasional | $50–$150 | $150–$300+ |
| 2 | Double Struck | Rare | $100–$200 | $200–$500 |
| 3 | Clipped Planchet | Occasional | $20–$100 | $100–$200+ |
| 4 | Lamination Error | Uncommon | $90–$120 | $120–$200 |
| 5 | Off-Center Strike | Occasional | $25–$75 | $75–$300+ |
| 6 | Broadstrike | Uncommon | $50–$100 | $100–$200 |
| 7 | Repunched Mint Mark (RPM) | Uncommon (D & S only) | $25–$75 | $75–$150 |
Error #1: Obverse Cud Die Break
Die fatigue at the rim creates a raised, featureless blob of metal on the struck coin
1945 Obverse Cud — raised blob attached to rim where die fragment broke away
Cud die break errors result from die fatigue under intensive wartime production schedules. When a piece of the die breaks away at the rim, metal flows freely into that void during striking, creating a raised, flat, detail-free blob on the coin's surface attached to the rim.
How to identify: Look for a raised, flat blob of metal extending inward from the rim • No design detail should appear in the cud area • The most valuable cuds appear on the obverse and affect lettering or Lincoln's portrait • Distinguish from post-mint damage: genuine cuds are always raised, not incused
Value: $50–$150 (circulated) — $150–$300+ (large cud, MS grade)
Error #2: Double Struck
Planchet struck twice with a positional shift between blows — creates overlapping impressions
1945 Double Struck — secondary impression offset from primary, shadow effect on all design elements
Double struck errors occur when a planchet is struck twice with a positional shift between blows. The result is two complete overlapping impressions of the design. During 1945's intense production pace, mechanical malfunctions occasionally caused a struck coin to remain in the press chamber for a second blow.
How to identify: Look for complete duplicate impressions on all design elements — not just lettering • Doubling should show a clear offset shadow effect on Lincoln's portrait, wheat ears, and all inscriptions • Distinguished from doubled die errors (die manufacture issue) by the fact the entire design doubles, including both sides • Coins showing the second strike partially outside the rim are particularly dramatic
Value: $100–$200 (circulated) — $200–$500 (MS, clear separation)
Error #3: Clipped Planchet
Missing curved or straight section from improper blanking — curved clips most common
1945 Clipped Planchet — curved section missing where overlapping blanks were punched
Clipped planchet errors arise when the metal strip is improperly positioned during blanking, causing a planchet to be punched overlapping a previously punched hole (curved clip) or at the strip's edge (straight clip). High wartime production targets increased the likelihood of such quality control lapses.
How to identify: Examine the coin's edge for a missing curved or straight section • Curved clips show a smooth arc; straight clips show a flat edge • Most valuable clips retain the full date and mint mark with 10–25% missing • The rim should be absent at the clip location • 1945-D clipped planchets can exceed $200 in MS grade
Value: $20–$100 (circulated) — $100–$200+ (large clip, date visible, MS)
Error #4: Lamination Error
Metal layers peel or bubble due to impurities in recycled wartime copper alloy
1945 Lamination Error — surface peeling and bubbling from impurities in shell-case copper
The 1945 penny's shell-case copper alloy — sourced from recycled ammunition casings — made lamination errors especially likely. Impurities or gas pockets trapped during planchet preparation create weak zones where the metal separates into layers over time, resulting in peeling, bubbling, or flaking surfaces.
How to identify: Look for raised bubbles, surface peeling lines, or flaky weak spots on the coin's face • Examine at an angle under good lighting to see raised areas indicating subsurface separation • Genuine lamination shows horizontal, clean separation rather than jagged post-mint corrosion • Retained lamination (flap still attached) is more desirable than a fully separated piece • Most visible on the obverse
Value: $90–$120 (minor) — $120–$200 (dramatic peeling, multiple areas)
Error #5: Off-Center Strike
Misaligned planchet leaves a blank crescent — date visibility is the critical value factor
1945 Off-Center Strike — blank crescent visible opposite the shifted design
Off-center strikes occur when a planchet is improperly positioned in the coining chamber at the moment of striking. The feeding mechanisms on high-speed wartime presses occasionally failed, allowing a planchet to shift before the dies came together. A blank crescent appears where the die never contacted the metal.
Value drivers: Date must be fully visible to maximize value • 10–50% offset is the most desirable range • 1945-S off-center strikes command premium prices over Philadelphia examples • Uncirculated examples bring 2–3x the circulated value • Dramatic 50%+ off-center strikes with visible date are the rarest and most valuable
Value: $25–$75 (10–25%) — $150–$300+ (40–50%, date visible, MS)
Error #6: Broadstrike
Struck without retaining collar — metal spreads beyond normal diameter, rim absent
1945 Broadstrike — wider than 19.05mm, no raised rim, design spread outward
Broadstrike errors occur when the retaining collar fails to engage before the dies strike, allowing the copper planchet to spread freely outward under the immense striking pressure. The result is a coin wider than the standard 19.05mm diameter and completely lacking the normal raised rim.
How to identify: Measure the diameter — a genuine broadstrike exceeds 19.05mm, sometimes reaching 20–21mm • The coin will have a plain, undefined edge with no raised rim anywhere • The design appears slightly spread and flattened toward the periphery • Both sides show the same broadstrike characteristics • Distinguish from mechanically flattened coins: genuine broadstrikes show full design detail in the center
Value: $50–$100 (circulated) — $100–$200 (dramatic spread, MS)
Error #7: Repunched Mint Mark (RPM)
Hand-punched D or S applied multiple times in slightly different positions — 1945-D & 1945-S only
1945 RPM — doubled D or S mint mark with visible shadow impressions from earlier punch positions
Before the Mint adopted automated mintmark punching, the D and S marks were hand-punched individually into each working die. This process sometimes required multiple attempts for proper depth or alignment, leaving ghost impressions of earlier punch positions around the final mint mark — the repunched mint mark error.
How to identify: Examine the D or S mint mark under at least 10x magnification • Look for doubling, tripling, or spreading of the letter • Traces of earlier impressions appear as shadows, thickened serifs, or clearly offset secondary marks • Most commonly found on 1945-D and 1945-S varieties • Compare to photos of known RPM varieties for accurate attribution before submitting to PCGS or NGC
Value: $25–$75 (circulated) — $75–$150 (strong, prominent repunching, MS)
