1969 penny error? 0

[Jfanth]

Is it an error if a 1969 penny doesn’t have the initials on the back? Sorry the pictures aren’t perfect.

[Mr.Bill347]

A pgcs 1969 D penny in ms66, which this coin certainly is not, sold for $500. MISSING V.D.B. HANG ON TO THIS ONE, 

1969 D Pennies Missing Designer Initials

The initials of coin designers have been included in the obverse or the reverse of the United States coins since they have been minted. Most of the initials are so small and almost unnoticeable.

But there have been debates about pennies being seen in circulation that are ‘lacking’ the initials of the designer. One of them is the 1969 D penny, which usually has the FG initials on the reverse.

Is it an error penny?

There were different opinions about it. Some say during the process of polishing, those coins were polished strenuously that the designer initials disappeared. Others believe they were caused by die abrasion or a grease blockage over the FG initials.

Regardless of what caused the absence of designer initials, these coins are being sold for cash. In 2012, a 1969 D penny missing the reverse designer initials actually brought $240 at a coin auction.