The 1993-D Lincoln cent is a modern zinc penny struck by the Denver Mint.
It carries the familiar portrait of Abraham Lincoln on the front and the Lincoln Memorial on the back.
Billions of these pennies entered circulation to meet the everyday cash needs of the public.
Most of them were spent, scratched, or tossed into spare change jars over the years.
Finding a standard 1993-D penny in your pocket change is very easy.
Finding one preserved in nearly flawless condition is another story entirely.
The RD designation stands for full red color, meaning the coin retains its original bright copper luster.
This page looks at one extraordinary piece that ranks at number 60 on the list of 200 notable pennies.
This particular 1993-D RD cent traded hands through the auction house BM.
It crossed the auction block with an official record price recorded in 06/10.
Professional grading services evaluated the penny and certified it at a grade of 69.
On the standard coin grading scale of 1 to 70, a grade of 69 is almost perfection.
A coin at this grade level has practically no visible contact marks or flaws even under close magnification.
The surfaces remain exceptionally clean with sharp strike details and brilliant red color.
Auction records like this one happen when serious registry set collectors compete for the finest known examples.
Everyday pocket change pennies will not sell for this kind of premium without a certified top grade.
Modern pennies are made of a core that is mostly zinc with a very thin outer plating of pure copper.
This zinc composition makes high-grade preservation difficult over time.
Zinc reacts quickly to moisture and air, which often creates dark spots, bubbling, or discoloration.
Because of this, modern copper-plated zinc cents rarely survive in true gem or near-perfect condition.
During the minting process, planchet marks, small contact hits, and minor die wear affect nearly every piece.
A coin that escapes all of those production defects is an extreme condition rarity.
Collectors who build top-ranked sets pay large premiums to own the single best piece available for the date.
The demand from these specialized collectors drives the strong market value for certified grade 69 coins.
Start by looking at the date on the front of the coin below Lincoln's portrait.
Confirm the year reads 1993.
Look directly underneath the date for the small letter D mint mark.
Next, examine the overall color and surface condition under a bright light source.
Use a 5x or 10x jeweler's loupe to inspect both the front and back for tiny contact marks, scratches, or spots.
To qualify as full red, the surfaces must show uniform copper brightness with no signs of brown oxidation.
If you want a quick first pass on your pocket change, an app like Coin Value Checker can help you identify basic coin details on your phone.
Do not confuse a standard uncirculated coin found in an old roll with a certified grade 69 specimen.
Top grades require pristine, unblemished surfaces that can only be confirmed by third-party coin grading services.
Want to know what to set aside? a closer look at which coin valuation app actually works flags the ones worth a look.