Discover Which US Penny Is Worth the Most Money

The humble US penny - it's something we often overlook, but did you know that some of them can be worth a small fortune? In fact, the 1943 Lincoln Wheat cent is one of the rarest and most valuable pennies in circulation.

This penny was minted during World War II, when copper was in short supply, and the government made the unusual decision to mint pennies with a zinc core and a copper coating. As a result, only 40,000 of these pennies were produced, making them extremely rare.

The 1943 Lincoln Wheat cent can sell for upwards of $60,000 in mint condition.

The most valuable pennies are a fascinating topic, and I'm excited to share some of the rarest and most valuable ones with you.

The 1914-S Lincoln Penny is one of the rarest and most valuable pennies in the world, with a value of over $100,000.

The 1909-S VDB Lincoln Penny is another highly sought-after coin, featuring a unique design and a value of over $60,000.

The 1969-S Lincoln Penny-Doubled Die Obverse is a rare error coin that can sell for over $50,000.

The 1943 Lincoln Penny (Bronze Alloy) is a unique coin made from a combination of metals, and it's worth over $40,000.

Here are some of the most valuable pennies in US history, based on auction sales figures:

The 1944-D Lincoln Penny (Zinc-coated steel) and the 1944-S Lincoln Penny (Steel) are also highly valuable, with prices reaching over $30,000.

The 1958 Lincoln Penny (Double Die Obverse) is another rare error coin that can sell for over $20,000.

These are just a few examples of the most valuable pennies in US history, and there are many more rare and valuable coins out there waiting to be discovered.

The value of US pennies can vary greatly depending on the year they were minted. The 1943 copper penny, for instance, is a rare and valuable coin.

In 1943, pennies were made of steel due to copper shortages during World War II, but a few copper pennies were accidentally produced. This error makes the 1943 copper penny highly sought after by collectors.

The 1959 Lincoln cent, on the other hand, is a relatively common coin but still has some value due to its age and collectibility.

The 1914-S Lincoln Penny is a rare coin that's worth a pretty penny, valued at $85,000. This coin is one of the most valuable Lincoln pennies in US history, and its value is a testament to its rarity.

The 1944-D Lincoln Penny, made of zinc-coated steel, is another highly valuable coin, worth around $60,000. This coin is unique because it was made during World War II, when metal was scarce.

The 1909-S VDB Lincoln Penny is a rare coin that's worth around $60,000. This coin is one of the first Lincoln pennies ever made, and its value is a testament to its historical significance.

The 1983 Doubled Die Reverse Penny is a rare coin that's worth $7,050. This coin has a unique error that makes it highly valuable, and it's a great example of how small mistakes can make a big difference in the value of a coin.

The 1998 Wide AM Penny is a rare coin that's worth around $5,000. This coin has a unique error that makes it highly valuable, and it's a great example of how mistakes can make a coin more valuable.

Here's a list of some of the most valuable Lincoln pennies, along with their values:

The 1969-S Lincoln Penny-Doubled Die Obverse is a rare coin that's worth around $126,500. This coin has a unique error that makes it highly valuable, and it's a great example of how small mistakes can make a big difference in the value of a coin.

The 1958 Lincoln Penny (Double Die Obverse) is a rare coin that's worth around $4,500. This coin has a unique error that makes it highly valuable, and it's a great example of how mistakes can make a coin more valuable.

The 1944-S Lincoln Penny (Steel) is a rare coin that's worth around $3,000. This coin is unique because it was made during World War II, when metal was scarce.

The 1872 Indian Head Penny is a rare coin that's worth around $2,500. This coin is one of the oldest Lincoln pennies in existence, and its value is a testament to its historical significance.

The 1864 Indian Head Penny-"L" on Ribbon is a rare coin that's worth around $2,000. This coin is unique because it has a small error that makes it highly valuable.

The 1943 Lincoln Penny (Bronze) is a rare coin that's worth around $1,500. This coin is unique because it was made during World War II, when metal was scarce.

The 1993 Doubled Die Lincoln Penny is a rare coin that's worth around $1,000. This coin has a unique error that makes it highly valuable, and it's a great example of how small mistakes can make a big difference in the value of a coin.

The 1972 Lincoln penny is a valuable coin, especially the doubled die Type 1 variety. This coin has a strong doubling visible to the naked eye.

The doubling is noticeable on all four numbers of the date, the motto IN GOD WE TRUST, and the word LIBERTY. Examples of this variety are scarce.

In fact, the 1972 doubled die Type 1 Lincoln penny is the scarcest of its kind. This scarcity increases its value significantly.

Examples in grades MS67 and above have sold for as much as $14,000. Even brown pennies can fetch a handsome amount in the $1,200 to $2,000 range.

The 1983-D Bronze Lincoln Penny is a rare and valuable coin. It's one of the most valuable Lincoln Memorial pennies due to its transitional status and scarcity in mint state.

This coin was produced in 1983, when the United States Mint transitioned from making copper pennies to producing zinc core pennies due to high copper prices.

The 1983-D Bronze coin is scarce in mint state, especially in grades MS67 and above. Expect to pay at least $1,400 for a red 1983-D Bronze Lincoln Memorial penny in mint condition.

In comparison, other error coins like the 1943-S Lincoln Cent and the 1943 Lincoln Cent – Struck on Bronze Alloy are also valuable, but their values are significantly higher, at $282,000 and $164,500, respectively.

Here's a quick comparison of the values of these error coins:

The 1981-S Type II Proof Lincoln penny is a highly sought-after coin among numismatists. It's valued between $900 and $1,200 for specimens graded PF68 and above.

The Type II variety has a clearer S mint mark with distinct serifs, making it more visible than the Type I. This modification was made by the Mint in the late 1970s.

About 10% of Lincoln Memorial proof pennies were struck with the Type II mint marks, making them relatively scarce.

The 1992 Close AM penny is a rare find, with only three examples discovered so far. It's a transitional design, meant to appear on 1993 pennies but somehow ended up on 1992 coins.

This anomaly is visible to the naked eye, making it a standout among Lincoln pennies. The first example was found in 2006, 14 years after it was minted.

The second example is believed to be in About Uncirculated condition, but its current status is unknown. The third example, graded MS62 with a Red color designation, is the most recent discovery.

In 2017, a Red-color 1992 Close AM penny sold for $25,850 at a Heritage Auction.

The 1970-S Small Date penny is a highly sought-after collectible. It's worth a whopping $18,400, with the most valuable specimen graded PF69 and designated Deep Cameo status.

This particular penny was struck by the San Francisco Mint in 1970, and its scarcity made it an instant favorite among collectors. They spent years searching rolls and pocket change for these coins.

The 1970-S Small Date penny can be distinguished from its Large Date counterpart by looking at the date. In Small Date coins, the top of the number 7 aligns with the other digits (1,9 & 0).

The word LIBERTY also serves as a distinguishing feature, appearing weak on the Small Date variety.

The 1990 No S Proof penny is one of the most sought-after coins in the series.

It's extremely rare, with fewer than 200 specimens known to exist.

The Mint accidentally struck this coin using a mint state die that didn't have a mint mark, which made it unique.

In 1985, the Mint began punching the mint mark on the working hub instead of the coin dies, but they made a mistake with the 1990 No S Proof penny.

The Mint admitted to destroying several of these rare coins, making them even more valuable.

Even the lowest-graded examples are worth high five or low six figures.

The PCGS graded the most expensive example, a MS69, which sold for $20,700.

The 1944-S Lincoln Steel Penny is a rare and valuable coin, with only a handful produced due to a minting error. It was supposed to be made with the original bronze alloy, but two zinc-plated steel planchets were used instead.

This error led to a significant increase in value, with a high-grade example graded NGC MS 66 selling for $373,750 in 2008.

The 1958 Lincoln Cent is a rare find, especially when it comes to the Doubled Die Obverse variety. This specific penny is highly prized by numismatic collectors.

The reason for its desirability lies in its rarity, with only three known examples existing in Mint State Red condition. The 1958 Doubled Die Obverse Lincoln Penny is a mystery, with one theory suggesting a mint employee might have smuggled the coins out of the US Mint in Philadelphia.

One of these rare pennies sold for a record-breaking $336,000 in a Stack's Bowers sale in March 2018.

The 1914-D Lincoln Cent is a rare coin that's highly prized by collectors. It's valued at $152,750, as seen in an auction sale in August 2017.

This coin's value is due to its rarity, specifically because few were in good condition. Many people in the early 20th century collected circulated coins, which led to a shortage of well-preserved 1914-D pennies.

An uncirculated example of this coin can command top dollar, as proven by the auction sale. The buyer paid a significant amount for the privilege of adding it to their collection.

The 1926-S Lincoln Cent is a penny that collectors can actually get their hands on fairly easily, but finding an uncirculated example is a different story.

The 1926 penny had low mintage numbers, making uncirculated examples highly valuable.

If you come across a 1926-S in uncirculated condition, it likely maintained its copper-red color and is worth thousands of dollars.

In January 2006, an uncirculated example of the 1926-S Lincoln Cent sold for a stunning $149,500 at Heritage Auctions' FUN Signature Auction.

Some US pennies are worth a lot more than their face value. The 1970-S small date penny, for example, can sell for $18,400 in mint state condition.

This penny is particularly scarce, with collectors searching rolls and pocket change for years to find one. There are two ways to distinguish a Small Date Lincoln cent from a Large Date penny: look at the date, or examine the word LIBERTY.

The most valuable 1971-S Doubled Die Obverse Proof Penny sold for $3,220 in 2005, making it a valuable addition to any collection.

Here are some notable pennies that are worth a lot of money:

These pennies are rare and highly sought after by collectors, making them valuable additions to any collection.

The 1971-S Obverse Proof penny is a highly sought-after collectible. It comes in two varieties, one with weak doubling and the other with strong doubling.

Strong doubling is visible to the naked eye around the words LIBERTY and IN GOD WE TRUST.

This penny is very scarce, which boosts its value among collectors. I've seen many collectors add this penny to their collection due to its increased value and interest over the years.

A cameo specimen graded PF67 sold for $3,220 in 2005.

The 1960-D Over D Small Date penny is a rare and fascinating coin. It's a result of a re-punched mint mark error where the initial D mint mark was punched in the wrong orientation.

Mint workers attempted to fix this mistake by striking another D mint mark in the correct orientation, resulting in the mint marks appearing piled one on top of the other.

This unique error also features a repunched date, where a large date was struck first and a smaller date was struck on top.

These Lincoln pennies are extremely scarce, especially in gem condition. In 2008, one example graded MS66 was sold for an impressive $4,025.

The Denver mint produced this peculiar variety of pennies in 1960, making it a highly sought-after collectible for coin enthusiasts.

The 1969-S Lincoln Cent with a double-died obverse is one of the most interesting error coins out there. This coin was discovered in 1970 and initially believed to be counterfeit by the US government.

The error coin features a doubling of the obverse's lettering and date, making it a rare and valuable find. Officials confiscated a handful of the coins, but later realized they were genuine error examples.

The 1969-S Lincoln Cent with a double-died obverse was allowed to circulate, but uncirculated versions are extremely hard to come by. This scarcity drives up the price of these coins, making them highly valuable.

A notable sale of this coin was made through Heritage Auctions in January 2008 for $126,500.

The 1909-S VDB Lincoln Cent is a highly sought-after coin in numismatics. It was the first one-cent series to replace the Indian Head penny with the portrait of President Abraham Lincoln.

The coin's designer, Victor David Brenner, added all three of his initials to the coin, but the Treasury Department ordered for them to be removed. This overnight change made the coin all the rage in the early 1900s.

Only about half a million of these pennies were minted before production stopped. This low mintage number makes the 1909-S VDB Lincoln Cent one of the rarest and most valuable pennies around.

In March 2014, a superb example of the coin sold in a Heritage Auctions sale for $117,500.

The 1795 Liberty Cap Large Cent is a highly sought-after penny, with one example selling for a record price of $408,000 in 2020.

This coin is known for its rarity, particularly the Lettered Edge Jefferson Head cent variety, of which there are only five known examples worldwide.

Each of these coins is unique, representing two different die marriages and five different subvarieties, making them extremely scarce.

The ESM example of the 1795 Liberty Cap Large Cent sold at auction in 2020 was the finest known quality example of its type, and it's 100% copper.

The rarest and most valuable US pennies are a treasure trove for collectors. Among them, the 1959 D Mule Lincoln Penny stands out, valued at $31,050.

The 1969 S Double Die Obverse Lincoln Penny is another highly sought-after coin, with a value of $126,500.00. Its rarity and unique characteristics make it a prized possession among collectors.

The 1993 D Lincoln Penny, Roosevelt Dime Reverse is a rare error coin, valued at $51,000. This coin's unique combination of a Lincoln penny and a Roosevelt dime reverse makes it highly valuable.

The 1990 No-S Proof Lincoln Penny is another highly valuable coin, worth $8,813. Its unique proof-like finish and lack of mint mark make it a rare find.

The 1959 D Mule Lincoln Penny, 1969 S Double Die Obverse Lincoln Penny, 1993 D Lincoln Penny, Roosevelt Dime Reverse, and 1990 No-S Proof Lincoln Penny are the top 5 most expensive US pennies, with values ranging from $8,813 to $126,500.00.