25 Most Valuable Pennies (Updated)Thanks for joining the currency and coin community here on YouTube! The list above also doesnt include proof Lincoln cents which you wouldnt ordinarily findin circulation. If a 1999 penny has a large space between the A and the M, and it's in amazing condition, odds are good it's one of the most valuable pennies still in circulation. A zinc coated steel planchet is magnetic. Most Valuable Quarters: A List Of Silver Quarters & Other Rare Quarters You Should Hold Onto! 1917-S Buffalo Nickel. But the move needed Congressional approval, so the mint produced a batch of about 800 of the new pennies and presented them to the lawmakers. However, what is known for sure is that the 1922 no-D penny is quite scarce and in high demand among coin collectors. In 2021, an MS64 graded coin (pictured left) sold for $180,000. There has been talk in recent years of doing away with the pennyas we move toward a more cashless society, but we're not quite there yet. $11.50 Just as with the flying eagle cent, this coin was designed by Mr Longacre. Bottom line: The 1955 Doubled-Die Obverse (DDO) Penny is one of the most famous examples of design doubling on coinage. Mr Hernandez wrote of this coin that it's the only Lincoln cent in the entire series which lacks its intended mint mark. Sold: February 2016; Heritage Auctions, Long Beach, CA, US Coins Signature Auction. 1969-S doubled die obverse Lincoln Memorial penny, $10,000 Doubled die coins have to be one of the most popular error coin varieties out there. *All of the coin values listed from 1958 or earlier came from USA Coin Book, unless otherwise noted. Most valuable penny and Lincoln coins revealed - and one piece sold for $11,128 Anthony Russo Josephine Fuller Published: 7:45 ET, Oct 16 2021 Updated: 15:34 ET, Sep 2 2022 YOU'VE likely come across plenty of pennies in your life - but rare ones from the 1900s and before then are selling for a ton of cash online. Why It's Worth So Much: Created at the San Francisco Mint, this was a happy accident for collectors. Of all the coins ever made by the United States Mint since 1793, arguably the most popular and widely collected among them areLincoln pennies. What makes this coin extremely rare is its exceptional condition that combines a nearly flawless coin with a sharp strike from a fresh set of coin dies. What makes this coin extremely valuable is the fact that it was struck on a zinc-coated steel planchet. The 1944 steel wheat penny is another instance of the United States Mint using the wrong planchet. Also try the Interactive, sortable, searchable pennies page. . You'll receive a confirmation email shortly. This is an indication that they were not "helped" by some unscrupulous mint employee. 25 Most Valuable Pennies. It simply is a regular-issue piece that was struck in relatively low numbers. Such a clean example of doubling has made it one of the most popular and valuable DDOs in existence. . @mohammed_nanotech / Twenty20 Some little pieces of copper can be worth some huge dollar amounts. Why is this coin so rare? These are in order with the newest being on top. Take, for instance, the popular 1909-S VDB Lincoln cent. It is estimated that only 5 million of these coins were made, and very few of them were saved in uncirculated condition. We are using our database of nearly every US coin ever produced (6,000+ coins) based on year, rarity, mint mark, major varieties, errors and their associated price values to come up with a list of the top most valuable coins known. Be careful not to scratch the coin however. Sold: August 2017; Heritage Auctions, Denver, CO, ANA U.S. You Could Find This Rare Penny In Your Pocket Change Heres What To Look For. OK, we'll admit it. It may be worth taking a look, because many of the most valuable pennies on this list were made in the 20th century. Nov 2020 - MS63 Brown $500,000. There are a few different varieties of the 1873 Indian Cents, with all of them being rare and quite valuable, theres the open 3, and the closed 3, but the most valuable is the doubled Liberty. This 1982 Copper Penny Is Worth $10,000! Only nine other Lincoln wheat pennies have a lower mintage. 01 of 15. Which coins currently in circulation are worth the most? As with the 1909-S VDB Lincoln Penny, this highly valued penny proof bears all three of the coin designer's initials: "VDB." These were steel planchets that were coated in a layer of zinc to improve their luster. USA Coinbook Top 30 Most Valuable Wheat Pennies 2022 1909 S VDB MS67RD ($108,000) 1955 Doubled Die Obverse MS65+RD ($114,000) 1944 D Steel MS63 ($115,000) 1909 S VDB MS67RD ($117,500) 1917 MS67+RD Doubled Die Obverse ($120,000) 1914 PR68RD ($126,500) 1926 S MS65RD ($149,500) 1914 D MS66+RD ($158,625) 1944 Steel MS64 ($158,625) 25 Most Valuable Silver Dollars 25 Most Valuable Half Dollars 25 Most Valuable Quarters 25 Most Valuable Dimes 25 Most Valuable Nickels 25 Most Valuable Pennies 10 Most Valuable Morgan Silver Dollars 10 Most Valuable Peace Dollars 10 Most Valuable Barber Half Dollars 10 Most Valuable Walking Liberty Half Dollars Many numismatics spend their spare time searching boxes of pennies to earn a extra cash. This is an easy way to build a collection, and all it takes is time. 1918/7-D Buffalo Nickel-Doubled Die Obverse. Do you have any of these coins in your penny jar? What It's Worth: One Michigan collector, Michael Tremonti, found one in a roll of uncirculated pennies. The DDO on the coin has a very clear doubling on the lines "In God We Trust" and "Liberty." Ive contributed hundreds of articles for various coin publications including COINage, The Numismatist, Numismatic News, Coin Dealer Newsletter, Coin Values, and CoinWeek. Sold: August 2008; Heritage Auctions, Baltimore, MD, ANA US Coin Signature Auction. The odds of finding a 1943 D Penny struck on a bronze planchet is likely around 10 in 217 million. The close "AM" version is the more valuable penny of the two. Since the very beginning, the images on the penny have symbolized the spirit of the country. If you have a rare variety, it will have a small space between the letters A and M in "AMERICA." Value. We strive to put out videos as quickly as we can that c. How to Find Rare Coins Worth Money and Wanted by Collectors. Why It's Worth So Much:Sometimes, if the die used to stampa coin with an image aren't correctly aligned, images or letters appear"doubled" on the coin. CoinTrackers.com is an invaluable resource dedicated to helping the coin collector and silver community. We offer reliable real coin melt conversions and hand written stats on each and every coin in our database. To this day, they are the only two known to exist. This coin was heavily circulated and was commonly subjected to the widespread use of "penny boards" in the 1930s and 40s, which people use to collect coins from circulation. The full backside of the coin is doubled. There's also a subtle doubling of the mint mark. The force needed to create a copper penny is less than that needed to create a steel penny. Sold: August 2007; Heritage Auctions, Milwaukee, WI, ANA Signature Coin Auction. We will notify you each week there's a new article posted! In 2018, an MS66+RD graded coin (pictured left) sold for $158,625. This coin is the second example of a 1943 Lincoln cent that should have been struck on a zinc-plated steel planchet but was instead coined on a bronze planchet. Out of all the leftover zinc-coated steel used in minting these pennies, Philadelphia produced about 30 of them. Get DIY project ideas and easy-to-follow crafts to help you spruce up your space. Heres a list of the top 25 most valuable pennies: 1943-S copper Lincoln Wheat Penny, $185,000 The 1943-S copper cent is the one of the most valuable small cents, with one example having sold for a cool $1 million at an auction in 2012. This coin is considered a key date in the series. I primarily collect and study U.S. coins produced during the 20th century. Pennies offer a plethora of errors and varieties some are fairly common and some are extremely rare. In 2006, an MS67RD graded coin (pictured left) sold for $97,750. Small Pieces of Copper Worth Huge Amounts of Money. This one's going to be tough to find in circulation, but since it was produced after the 1950s, we had to include it. Source 1909 Penny The first Lincoln Penny was struck by the U.S. Mint in 1909 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birth. These planchets were then fed into the machines and struck by the die means for the 1944 copper penny, creating 1944 Steel cent errors. Either way, its a great rarity and a coin every collector should have. In 1877, the economic slump that began in 1873 continued with full force. If you are investing money in rare pennies, buy coins that are in the best condition you can afford, and always focus on purchasing coins that display original color and are in nice shape overall. Some pennies, originally worth a single cent, are now worth thousands of dollars. Minted in Philadelphia, the coin features an Indian head with the United States of America on the sides, with the year 1877 below. Steel cents require greater force when struck by dies. Similar to the other 1944 pennies mentioned here, there were only two San Francisco-minted steel pennies produced in 1944. 1926-S Buffalo Nickel. Nostomania's 100 Most Valuable U.S. It is the most valuable Lincoln penny in the world. Well, heres a cheat sheet of the most valuablepennies to keep. In addition to the doubling of wording, the date and "S" mint mark are also doubled. However, after many complaints, the United States Mint changed back to the regular copper planchets beginning in 1944. Whether you collect Flying Eagle pennies, Indian Head pennies, or Lincoln pennies, you will find that the market for rare pennies is quite active. A 1944 Lincoln penny struck at the Denver, Colorado mint facility is nothing special. Finally, demand is the factor that drives value the most. Read on to find out what makes these 16 coins the most valuable U.S. pennies, based on over 250,000 public records and auction sales figures. Slightly less than a half-million of these pennies were minted before the Treasury Department demanded that the initials be removed. Since this coin exhibits evidence of circulation and must have exited the mint via regular distribution channels. Thisstray planchet created a great rarity treasured by coin collectors, and they are willing to pay handsomely to add this coin to their collection. Maybe you have a collectible in a bowl or piggy bank you've forgotten about. Looking to make a profit coin roll hunting? As youll notice, there are several dates missing in the list above. One example circulated for a while before being picked up by a collector. In 2021, an MS65 RB graded coin (pictured left) sold for $66,000. Jan 2016 - AU55 $211,000. If you want to know what your U.S. penny is worth, then read on! Why so few? The coins - of which there are about 40 or50 in existence- are quite valuable. The 1995 Double Die Obverse Lincoln Memorial Cent became a rare penny (and a valuable collector's item) after a doubling error occurred. If you buy thru these links, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. Real People. Image: USA CoinBook. This is definitely one of the most valuable pennies in circulation, fetching prices as high as $500 in mint state condition. Coins that are in higher grades, come under suspicion that they may have been helped by a mint employee. Contact your preferred coin grading company and find out the safest way to send the coin their way, being sure to insure the specimen. In both the words "Liberty" and "In God We," the letters are doubled. Below we unveil the most valuable circulated pennies worth up to $11,128, based on recently completed eBay listings. Carefully hold a magnet over the coin and see if you get any reaction. The list below details by far the most valuable cents released into the United States monetary supply from 1900 to 2020. 1943 Struck on Bronze Planchets are cleanly struck and likely in great condition. In 2014, an MS65+ 8 over 7 (pictured left) sold for $74,025. The other variety of this rare penny stamped the letters closer together, nearly touching. The 1958 Doubled-Die Obverse penny is one of the rarest pennies ever made. Because of their uniqueness, theyre remarkably valuable. A handful of these 1990s pennies didnt get the signature "S" mint mark. Up until the late 1950s, Mr Brenner designed all the years ofthe coinsfeaturing Lincoln. These are coins you can find in your pocket change. Victor David Brenner created the design under the auspices of President Theodore Roosevelt. James Bucki is a nationally-recognized coin collector and numismatic expert and author, sharing his knowledge and specialized training in coin grading, minting errors, and collection techniques. Here arethe most important types of Lincoln penniesyou should be keeping: So now that you have a good idea of which types of pennies to keep, youre probably wonderingabout specific dates. *This list of most valuable pennies refers to problem-free coins grading Extremely Fine-40 on the Sheldon Grading Scale. In the case of this rare 1917 penny, the words "In God We Trust" are doubled. Since pennies hold a special place in almost every coin collector's heart, demand for high-quality coins can drive the value through the roof. This created an overnight sensation among coin collectors, and this penny has become known as the "Holy Grail" for collectors of Lincoln pennies. However, when the die used to stamp each penny became overused, this led to a batch of coins with either a very weak "D" marking or some in which the "D" was nonexistent. Condition is another; coins that stayed out of circulation may retain their original coloring and fine details, significantly adding to their value. 1936 Dot Penny, Image courtesy of Heritage Auctions, Coming in at number 1 on this list of rare Canadian pennies is the renown 1936 "dot" penny. Also, in the 1930s and 40s, most coin collectors acquired their coins from circulation, so it is not hard to find a circulated example of a 1926-S Lincoln penny. Many of these coins exhibit wear from circulation. An 1872 Indian Head penny is a scarce coin but can readily be found at any coin show or coin dealer in circulated grades. A close examination of Lincoln's ear shows a definitive double stamp. The story behind copper 1943 Lincoln Pennies is presumed to be a pure accident at the U.S. Mint perhaps a few leftover copper planchets from 1942 were stuck in the coining press system and struck with 1943 penny dies. This page is a work in progress, share to social media and check back later for updates. The Lincoln cent (technically, only Great Britain officially has adenomination called the penny) is a favorite among collectors young and old, rich and poor. Most Valuable Nickels A List Of Silver Nickels, Buffalo Nickels & Old Nickels Worth Holding Onto! In 1943, pennies were made from steel planchets coated with zinc, but some copper planchets from the year before were left behind, and the coins were struck on those. But regardless, if you have one of these coins its fair to expect them to be quite valuable given the year it was minted. Such is the story of the 1969-S Doubled Die Penny. The year 1971 was a good one for penny collectors. 2010 - 2023 USA Coin Book. The Indian Head penny was designed by mint engraver James B. Longacre and was first issued in 1859. Some of these rare pennies feature 16th PresidentAbraham Lincoln. 1856 Flying Eagle penny, $12,850 Only 2,000 examples of the Flying Eagle cents were ever made. Like the previous two pennies mentioned, the wording on both sides is doubled, plus there's a doubling of the date. Top 100 Most Expensive Coins in the World World Numismatic News 121K subscribers Subscribe 3.2K Share 186K views 1 year ago To celebrate reaching 100 000 Subscribers, here is a video looking at. The 1922 D Wheat Cent is actually one of the most common dates of the 1920s, but its value comes from the fact that now pennies were minted at the Philadelphia or the San Francisco Mints. Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TheSunUS and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSunUS, Just days until a whole new slew of beloved stores close - see where, Major department store chain to close multiple shops this year, 20 'secret' clearance items to buy at Walmart at up to 75% off, Brand new $914 direct payment drops in two weeks - when to check your account, 2020 THE SUN, US, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | TERMS OF USE | PRIVACY | YOUR AD CHOICES | SITEMAP, We round up some pennies that have recently sold for quite the value, This popular coin has a controversial past, Credit: Not known, clear with picture desk, This coin is extremely popular among collectors, A mistake at the mint lead to this being a very valuable coin, Just 850,000 of these pennies were minted in 1877, This is the Sheldon-189 version of the late the 1700s coin, The flying eagle coin is made out of copper-nickel, Check your pocket change as a rare Lincoln penny error coin could earn you money, six other rare and valuable error coins worth up to $599, the most valuable US coins worth up to $10,633. Wondering which pennies are worth more than face value? Sold: August 2014; Heritage Auctions, Chicago, IL, ANA US Coins Signature Auction. In 2006, an MS66 graded coins sold for $32,200. Here are 12 more valuable Lincoln pennies that you should definitely check for if you happen upon a very old penny. Use this cheat sheet tosee which pennies are worth saving and which ones are worth spending. 1944 Steel Lincoln Wheat Penny, $125,000 Its believed that a similar story behind the creation of the 1943 copper cent is also what led to minting of the 1944 steel penny; blank steel cent planchets from 1943 that were hiding away in the coining presses wound up getting stamped with the 1944 dies, and the result is a rarity that financially well-heeled coin collectors will pay hundreds of thousands to buy. This is a labor of love you might say, so it is resource intensive and slow. To hold an 1877 Indian Head Penny in uncirculated condition is an extreme rarity given the poor economic conditions of that year. C $18.15 Free shipping 187 sold. USA Coin Book estimated the value of this expensive penny at $917 in just average condition, but it could be worth almost $2,000 in tip-top shape. The U.S. Mint knew this before the coins were released to the public, but officials didnt want to destroy an entire batch of perfectly normal Lincoln Pennies to catch the ones with the doubled image, so off these beauties went, and soon they were discovered in New England vending machines. 10 most valuable pennies If you're just starting out collecting coins and you're not sure what to keep your eyes peeled for, or if you have been collecting for years and just need a refresher, we've made a list for you of 10 valuable pennies you need to have in your collection. In fact, the first "Fugio cent" was designed by Benjamin Franklin. Coins are in order from Most to Least expensive. Because these are more plentiful than the D version of this error, coin grade or condition is much more important. The TOP 25 Most Valuable Pennies. Our most valuable pennies list includes coins starting in 1856 up to the present (2023) - including rare penny errors and rare varieties that could still actually be found in pocket change. These are the most valuable pennies in circulation.And they are worth a pretty penny if you find them. Many citizens hoarded gold, silver, and copper coins as a store of wealth. Jaime Hernandez wrote on PCGS that one of the things making this coin so rare is the low amount of coins that were collected this year versus in 1909. CoinTrackers.com is an invaluable resource dedicated to helping the coin collector and silver community. According toCoinTrackers, just 850,000 of these rare pennies were minted. The initial cost to get started is just $25.00 and your time. Visitors can click on the links in the list below to view larger images of both sides of the coins (mint mark locations, error/variety diagnosis, etc), detailed pricing data for various conditions/grades of the coins, mintage figures, metal composition, history and other encyclopedic information regarding each individual coin. List of the Top 100 Modern Coins The Details The modern coin era began in America in 1965, the first year the U.S. Mint produced copper-nickel "clad" coins as replacement for silver coins, ending an unbroken, 173 year tradition. 6. The standard for the 1940 era would be something akin to a MS-65 RD. tv. That said, we realize that some people might still be using these pennies to buy things without realizing their value. 1909 S Indian Head Penny Estimated Price: $2,000 Thepennies that arent on this list are worth only a nominal amount usually between 3 cents and $1. On closed 3 examples, it appears that the 3 has two nearly complete loops, whereas on the open 3 there is much more space between the ends of the 3 and the digits middle section. Regular minted coins from 1992 will have a noticeable gap between the two letters. Similar to the 1972 penny mentioned, the 1971 S penny has a doubling error on both sides. It also rightly excludes Proof Coins, Special Issues, Commemoratives, and the like. Brenner added his initials V.D.B. The number "7" appears higher than usual, nearly level with the "0.". There is no noticeable bag mark on the coin's surface, and it has retained its original bright red-orange copper color. This 1999 S penny looks almost identical to the last one on this list, except, you guessed it, the A and the M are closer together. But it is scarce to find an uncirculated 1926-S Lincoln penny with its original copper-red color. This penny is the undisputed "King" of Canadian Pennies Sold: March 2018; Stacks Bowers; Baltimore - Session 3 - Rarities Night Including the ESM Collection. In addition, we are NOT factoring in the prices for Proof versions of these pennies (unless the Proof version is an error coin or an unusual variety). Feb 2016 - AU58 $280,000. This coin was first discovered in 1970 and was reported by Coin World on the front page in its July 8, 1970 edition. We've compiled a list (with ref pictures) of the most valuable Lincoln penny errors that are in regular everyday circulation.
top 100 valuable pennies