The 1987-D Lincoln cent comes from a modern era of United States coinage.
The Denver Mint struck this penny for regular circulation in 1987.
By this time, the Mint was making Lincoln cents using a zinc core with a thin copper plating.
Billions of these pennies left the mint facilities for everyday spending.
Most of them spent years passing through cash registers and pockets.
Because so many were made, common pocket change from this year carries little collector value.
Finding a standard 1987-D cent in your change is easy.
Finding one in pristine, flawless condition is an entirely different challenge.
The designation "RD" stands for Red, meaning the coin retains its original bright copper color.
An exceptional example of the 1987-D RD cent brought a winning bid of 5/23.
The sale took place through the auction house EA.
Professional coin graders certified this specific piece at an extraordinary Mint State 69.
On the standard grading scale, 70 represents absolute perfection.
A grade of 69 means the coin is virtually perfect to the naked eye.
Only microscopic imperfections keep a coin of this grade from a 70.
Coins struck for general circulation almost never achieve such a high certification.
A piece certified at this level represents one of the finest known examples in existence.
Serious registry set collectors often compete aggressively for top-grade modern pennies.
The primary driver behind this coin's value is condition rarity.
The Denver Mint produced vast quantities of cents in 1987, so the date itself is not rare.
However, modern copper-plated zinc cents are very fragile.
The thin copper coating can easily develop spots, plating bubbles, and surface corrosion over time.
Handling marks and bag scratches occurred at the mint before these coins even reached banks.
Finding an example that escaped all contact marks and environmental damage is statistically very rare.
Preserving the bright Red color requires complete protection from air and moisture.
When a modern penny survives in pristine condition, registry collectors pay high premiums to add it to their sets.
The price reflects the immense difficulty of finding another example in the exact same condition.
You can begin checking your coins under a bright light source.
Look below the date on the front of the coin for the "D" mint mark.
Use a 5x or 10x jeweler's loupe to inspect the surfaces closely.
Check the portrait of Abraham Lincoln and the Memorial building on the back for tiny nicks or scratches.
Look carefully across the smooth fields of the coin for dark spots, stains, or plating blisters.
A true high-grade candidate must show full luster and retain a bright, natural red color across both sides.
If you have a large pile of pocket change, you can use the Coin Value Checker app to scan and organize your coins quickly before doing a closer inspection.
Keep in mind that worn or brownish coins from regular circulation are worth face value.
Only professionally certified, near-perfect specimens reach record auction prices.
For a hands-off estimate, take a look at a closer look at which coin valuation app actually works.