An opened 1973 "Penny Bag" exhibits 15 Lincoln cents five each from the Philadelphia, San Francisco and Denver Mints and a content certificate from the Mint.
A curious product offered by the U.S. Mint in 1973 was the "Penny Bag." It consisted of a small canvas bag that was a miniature replica of the large bags used to transport coins from the Mints to the 37 Federal Reserve Banks and Branches. Inside were 15 Uncirculated cents, five each produced at the Philadelphia, Denver and San Francisco facilities.
For a month-long period early in 1973, bags containing 1972 cents were offered by mail order at prices starting at $2 for five bags, and priced at just 32 cents per bag when purchased in quantities of 25 bags or more. During the summer of 1973, similar versions of these bags containing 1973 Lincoln cents went on sale at the same prices.
Condition sensitive collectors also pay keen attention to these dates, normally pursuing certified examples of the 1972, 1972-D, 1972-S, 1973 and 1973-D cents graded Mint State 66 red. These coins command prices ranging from $20 to $40 when certified by Numismatic Guaranty Corp. or Professional Coin Grading Service. They are all very scarce in MS-67 red, and bring prices from a few hundred to several thousand dollars, depending on the issue.
The 1973-S Lincoln cent is the standout condition rarity because it was poorly made and exhibits numerous planchet issues. Certified MS-66 red examples can be tricky to locate, and trade for a couple hundred dollars. It is a major rarity in MS-67 red.
The "Penny Bags" are a good source of nice Uncirculated examples as well as a fun collectible. The offering clearly met with some success when originally issued, as examples with coins from both years are still readily available in the secondary market today.
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