Mark gets a no-prize with a jeweler's loop for explaining to us why anyone in their right mind would pay 15 grand for a single penny. His answer, found in total below, could best be summarized as "they're nuts. Rich nuts."

This is an ordinary 2003 cent. They made 3.3 billion of them in Philadelphia that year (and even MORE in Denver!).

The difference here is that this coin was graded by a professional coin-grading firm as being Mint State 70.

The term means that this particular 2003 cent is absolutely flawless. No nicks, no scratches, no bizarre discoloration, with full details..and absolutely no wear of any kind. Since coins are struck and then dumped into a hopper raw, it is almost inevitable that there would be some damage done to them in the manufacturing process, even though the coins are technically uncirculated until they actually enter commerce. So truly flawless examples of any coin intended for circulation are bound to pretty rare.

But the more important question, and I think that's what's really on your mind here, is why would someone pay effectively 1.5 million times the value of an MS-65 cent (also uncirculated, but with less-than-normal level of nicks, scratches, etc.)? You may well ask.

And well you should.

I think for the reason that they have more money than they know what to do with, and/or want to be able to say to their other coin-geek buddies (and y'all think I'm bad and out-of-control! Trust me...you have no idea!) that they have the top of the heap (so to speak) with regard to 2003 cents.

Insane.