Looking for treasure is always a fun pastime. You may have some treasure in your pocket, below are some of the more common or well known coins in circulation that are worth more than face value.

The most important thing to know is that some errors are more common than others. For instance it is highly unlikely that one will find a 1969-S Double Die penny unless it is a counterfeit, but others are much more common and can still be valuable. Below I've listed some of the better known coins errors that can be found in circulation today. It's worth a look through your change to find some of these.

Some of the coins below have prices listed most don't. Coins like anything else are only as valuable as the market determines them to be. One of the best ways to get a guideline on price for these is to look on Ebay or purchase a coin book that specializes in error coins.

If you do start searching through you change chances are that sooner rather then later you will come across a coin that's worth keeping. That may be a wartime nickel or an odd variety penny, but the search is enjoyable.

1960-D Large Date Over Small Date doubled die
    Excellent description
    Prices up to $500.

1963D    
    In the date 3/3, a three is over another three
    Three in the date appears to be doubled.
    Minimal value but still worth looking for. (20 cents)
    Up to $5

1968D "D" stamped over "D" variety
    Doubled mint mark
    Medium value ($10.00)
   

1968D     Double-die Reverse, strong doubling in the word America
    Doubled words on back America doubled
    Medium value ($25.00)

1969-S Double Die (often counterfeited) Penny
    This error occurs on the obverse(front) of the coin.
    The entire front should look doubled like a blurry photo except the mint mark which is struck seperately.
    Especially visible on text on coin and date.
    Highly valuable up to $35,000

1970-S "Atheist" cent
    For some coins the die filled and didn't print the words "we trust" from the phrase "In God we Trust"
    Moderately valuable.

   
1970-S small date Lincoln cent
    7 is higher in date than in regular coins of this type.
      Moderately valuable ($25-50)

1970-S Doubled Die Obverse
        Doubling in the words "Trust and Liberty"
        (Valuable for significant doubling up to $2000)

1971-D Doubled Die Obverse
    Doubling in the words Liberty and in God we trust
    (Medium $25.00)

1972 doubled-die Lincoln cent
    Doubled date
    (Medium $40.00)



1980-D S/D
    Shadow of S mint mark can be seen over the D mint mark.
    

1981-S Clear Mint mark
    Dies for the S mint mark were changed mid-year. The newer die having much clearer mark. Easily seen compared to other 1981-S            coins.

1982 Double Die Obverse
    Doubling in the words In God We Trust
    http://www.coincommunity.com/forum/topic.asp?ARCHIVE=true&TOPIC_ID=18057
    http://www.coincommunity.com/forum/uploaded/300%20coin%20guy/20078884243_1982DDO.jpg

1982 Double Die Reverse
    Doubling in E Pluribus Unum
    http://askaboutcoins.com/new-discovery-1982-doubled-a27.html

1983 doubled-die Lincoln cent
    Doubling in the words In God We Trust

1984 doubled-die Lincoln cent
    Lincoln's ear is doubled



1992-D Close AM Reverse
    The A and M in America are unusually close

1994 Doubled Die Reverse (Extra Column)
    Doubling the last 3 columns
    http://koinpro.tripod.com/Articles/19941cV001.htm
    http://www.coppercoins.com/lincoln/diestate.php?date=1994&die_id=1994p1dr001&die_state=mds

1995 Doubled Die
    Liberty doubled
   
1995-D Double Die
    Strong doubling, in "In God We Trust" and date

1997 Doubled Ear Obverse
    Lincoln's ear is doubled

1998 Wide AM Reverse
    Wide AM in America on the back of the coin.
    http://koinpro.tripod.com/Articles/_Ty-2_Reverse_Cent_Varieties.htm

1999 Wide "AM" Reverse Lincoln Cent
   Wide AM in America on the back of the coin.
   http://koinpro.tripod.com/Articles/_Ty-2_Reverse_Cent_Varieties.htm

2000 Wide AM Reverse
    Wide AM in America on the back of the coin.
    http://koinpro.tripod.com/Articles/_Ty-2_Reverse_Cent_Varieties.htm

2006 Doubled Die Obverse
    Doubling in Liberty and to a lesser extent other text and date.
    http://coins.about.com/b/2007/05/21/major-2006-doubled-die-penny-featured-in-die-variety-news-7.htm
    http://hermes.csd.net/~coneca/content/20061cDDOClassicCONECAArticle.htm

2006 Doubled Die Reverse (Extra Knees)
    Lincoln appears to have an extra set of knees. You will need a good magnifying glass to see this.



Penny reference: http://www.wscoin.com/Info/CollectingLincolnCents.htm

These dates are worth throwing in a jar for later. They are not extremely valuable right now but are some of the dates/mint marks that were printed in lesser quantity. Even at a value of only 3 cents, tripling your investment is something that any wall street investor would love.

1966
1968-S
1969
1969-S
1970-S
1971
1972-S
1973-S
1974-S


Quick Reference for sorting change:

1960-D Large Date Over Small Date doubled die
1963D     in the date 3/3, a three is over another three
1966 (uncommon)
1968D "D" stamped over "D" variety
1968D     Double-die Reverse, strong doubling in the word America
1968-S (uncommon)
1969 (uncommon)
1969-S (uncommon)
1969-S Double Die (often conterfeited) Penny
1970-S (uncommon)
1970-S "Atheist" cent
1970-S small date Lincoln cent
1971 (uncommon)
1971-D Doubled Die Obverse
1972 doubled-die Lincoln cent
1972-S (uncommon)
1973-S (uncommon)
1974-S (uncommon)
1980-D S/D
1981-S Clear Mintmark
1982 Double Die
1983 doubled-die Lincoln cent
1984 doubled-die Lincoln cent
1992-D Close AM Reverse
1994 Doubled Die Reverse (Extra Column)
1995 Doubled Die
1995-D Double Die
1997 Doubled Ear Obverse
1998 Wide AM Reverse
1999 Wide "AM" Reverse Lincoln Cent
2000 Wide AM Reverse
2006 Doubled Die Reverse (Extra Knees)


Nickels
1939 Double Die
    Text on back appears doubled. Specifically "Five Cents" and "Montecello"

1942-1945 War Nickels 35% silver

1942-D D over D
    Mint mark D vertical stamped over horizontal

1943-P Double Date
    1943 stamped over 1942

1943-P Double Die
    Text, Date and Jefferson's Eye are doubled.

1945-P Double Die Reverse
   
1946-D D over D
    Vertical D over Horizontal D mint mark

1946-S  Double Die
    Doubling of the date and text "Liberty"

1949 D over S
    D mint mark is stamped over an S mint mark.

1954 S over D
    S mint mark is stamped over D

1955 D over S
    D mint mark is stamped over S

1964 Jefferson nickel with the motto E PLURIDUS UNUM
    B in Pluribus appears to be a D

1990-D Missing FS
    Missing designer's initials below shoulder of Jefferson.

2005-D Speared Bison Nickel
    Crack in Dia makes the bison appear to have a spear through it.


Coin Values for Jefferson Nickels: http://coins.about.com/od/coinvalues/l/bl-jefferson-nickel-values.htm
Anything before 1945
1946-S
1947-S
1948-D
1948-S
1949-S
1950
1950-D
1951
1951-D
1951-S
1952-S
1953-S
1955
1958
1971


Dimes
1964 or before were 90% silver save all these.

1969 Nothing special just very low mintage will be valuable.

1982 no-P Roosevelt dime
    No mint mark visible.


Quarters
1976-D Double Die
    Doubling on Liberty (very rare)

1988 no P
    No Mint mark visible

1989 no-P Washington quarter
    No Mint mark visible

2004-D Extra leaf Wisconsin State quarter

State Quarter Die Axis Rotation Errors -- This is an error where the reverse is printed off angle the most valuable are 180 degrees off.
When you hold a quarter head up and flip it from the bottom the reverse side should be upright, if it's not then it is an axis rotation error.


References:
http://www.pocketchangelottery.com/article99.htm
http://www.collectorscorner.org/pocket.html
http://www.coinpage.com/

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