There are still a lot of Lincoln pennies that are valuable that we don't define as still being in circulation because they were minted before 1950. This one, however, can earn you more than $1,000. The 1943 Copper Wheat Cent is a coin that was not supposed to exist. In fact, the first "Fugio cent" was designed by Benjamin Franklin. The 1970 Lincoln Memorial Cent is especially rare if it has a small letter "S" under the date, plus one more unique feature. All of these factors together make this the second most valuable penny in the world. Just over 42,000 of the normal date versions of the coin were minted in 1799, according toUSA Coin Book. A 1944 Lincoln penny struck at the Denver, Colorado mint facility is nothing special. 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. Pay attention to the photos and details below to see if you have one of these valuable nickels in your piggy bank. The penny dates listed below are worth more than just a few cents(unlike most of the ones referenced above). To identify this ultra-valuable penny, take a close look at the date and mint mark. Its also one of my favorite coins! The TOP 25 Most Valuable Pennies. The machines from 1944 should have been dialed back from 1943 in an effort to preserve the dies longevity. If you happen to find one it could be worth 1 Million, and possibly even more. In 2004, an MS66 graded coin sold for $172,500. One variety had a widely spaced "AM" in the word "America.". The 1922 Lincoln Wheat Cents were minted at the Denver Mint using a "D" lettered coin die. What makes this particular coin extremely valuable is its pristine condition despite being over 100 years old. Im a member of the American Numismatic Association (ANA) and the Numismatic Literary Guild (NLG) and have won multiple awards from the NLG for my work as a coin journalist. This page is a work in progress, share to social media and check back later for updates. The 8 over 7 is the most valuable of the three types. Sold: August 2008; Heritage Auctions, Baltimore, MD, ANA US Coin Signature Auction. 25 Most Valuable Pennies (Updated)Thanks for joining the currency and coin community here on YouTube! Initially, the government believed that these were counterfeit coins and began confiscating them. Lincoln pennies are the first coins I ever collected when I initially charted my path in the hobby back in 1992, and its by far the coin series Im most often asked about from readers here at The Fun Times Guide. Whether you collect Flying Eagle pennies, Indian Head pennies, or Lincoln pennies, you will find that the market for rare pennies is quite active. If you buy thru these links, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. Carefully hold a magnet over the coin and see if you get any reaction. This is a labor of love you might say, so it is resource intensive and slow. A coin from the late 1700s has alsosold for more than $6,000. Many numismatics spend their spare time searching boxes of pennies to earn a extra cash. As these anomalies have become more known, more and more specimens have come to light. This is definitely one of the most valuable pennies in circulation, fetching prices as high as $500 in mint state condition. *All of the coin values listed from 1958 or earlier came from USA Coin Book, unless otherwise noted. This post may contain affiliate links. Five coins were confiscated and destroyed before they were acknowledged as being genuine. As with anything that's mass-produced, some mistakeshave crept into the penny's circulation. Its believed that less than 30 copper 1943 pennies exist from across all three mints (Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco) operating at that time. This coin is considered a key date in the series, and one of the more valuable non-error pennies. Ive contributed hundreds of articles for various coin publications including COINage, The Numismatist, Numismatic News, Coin Dealer Newsletter, Coin Values, and CoinWeek. The closed 3 is especially rare because only a tad more than 1 million 1873 cents of this variety were made, whereas about 11 million open 3 cents were made. Most Valuable Nickels A List Of Silver Nickels, Buffalo Nickels & Old Nickels Worth Holding Onto! Similar to the 1972 penny mentioned, the 1971 S penny has a doubling error on both sides. 1856 Flying Eagle penny, $12,850 Only 2,000 examples of the Flying Eagle cents were ever made. CoinTrackers.com is an invaluable resource dedicated to helping the coin collector and silver community. The 1958 Doubled-Die Obverse penny is one of the rarest pennies ever made. Read more in our privacy policy. Slightly more than 4 million of them were minted. The list below details by far the most valuable cents released into the United States monetary supply from 1900 to 2020. Im the Coin Editor here at TheFunTimesGuide. 10 Most Valuable Walking Liberty Half Dollars. As a collector, you eventually reach the point where you need to purchase your coins from a coin dealer or at auction to achieve the quality you want. Rather than a special addition, this penny is valuable for something it lacks. It simply is a regular-issue piece that was struck in relatively low numbers. The 1944 steel wheat penny is another instance of the United States Mint using the wrong planchet. An 1872 Indian Head penny is a scarce coin but can readily be found at any coin show or coin dealer in circulated grades. These coins look like an ordinary penny despite the fact the color is not copper and is much closer to the coloring of a dime. Aug 2019 - AU53 $216,000. Additionally, it has been sufficiently well preserved to retain its original bright red-copper color. In 2021, an MS64 graded coin (pictured left) sold for $180,000. Bottom line: OK, we'll admit it. Some little pieces of copper can be worth some huge dollar amounts. Even for an example in a lowly grade of Good-4 on the Sheldon Grading Scale, 1856 Flying Eagle pennies are valued at about $7,000! Want to know what the most valuable pennies are? This list and the prices are current as of 2023. Just a few leftover copper penny planchets from the early 1940s were accidentally used to create 1943 Copper Pennies. Are you concerned the precious metals train has left the station without you. 01 of 15. The coins - of which there are about 40 or50 in existence- are quite valuable. What makes this coin extremely valuable is the fact that it was struck on a zinc-coated steel planchet. Lots Of Rare Pennies And How Much Theyre Worth Today (Most Are Worth $500+). The 1856 Flying Eagle cents were initially struck as presentation pieces and given to members of congress and other dignitaries,according to the eBay listing. Only 2,000 1856 Flying Eagle Cents were minted, making this quite the rare coin! This created an overnight sensation among coin collectors, and this penny has become known as the "Holy Grail" for collectors of Lincoln pennies. This was the first cent to have a mintage over 10 million, making it quite common and much easier to find than some of the other Flying Eagle Dates. This is the second-lowest number of 1943 Lincoln pennies on bronze planchets produced at any of the United States Mint locations. This Indian cent had a total of six bids at the close of the auction on eBay. 2019 Penny Value Guide: Some 2019 Pennies Are Worth $3,600 Apiece! Its possible these coins may be hiding in the basement, inside an attic box, or even inside your penny jar. By checking this box, I agree to recieving email and phone communication about blog posts, coins, and coin related products from Coin Collecting or their trusted partners. Here's a list of the most valuable pennies out there to help you spot that one-of-a-kind gem. 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). After all, over 4 million of them minted at the San Francisco mint. Prior to this date, pennies were large and bulky and were almost the size of a half-dollar. 1955 doubled die obverse Lincoln Wheat Penny, $1,900 Its estimated that some 24,000 Lincoln Cents from 1955 were struck with a doubled die. 1924-S Penny The estimated value of 1924-S Lincoln Wheat Penny is worth $1.54 in average condition and can be worth $126 to $230 or more in uncirculated (MS+) mint condition. The most exciting thing is you can find some of these rare, valuable pennies easily because they're still in circulation. 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. But, a mix-up in the San Francisco mint resulted in about 30 pennies being made from steel left over from the 1943 pennies. 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 1909, The United States Mint replaced the Indian Head penny with the Lincoln cent. To lower costs, the United States Mint sought to reduce the size of the penny (to its current diameter). Most Valuable Quarters: A List Of Silver Quarters & Other Rare Quarters You Should Hold Onto! In fact, the first "Fugiocent" wasdesigned by Benjamin Franklin. In 1943 copper was being used heavily to create casings for ammunition. Of course, they're worth more if they're in better condition, and all circulating coins tend to have a lot of wear and tear. The ever popular Lincoln wheat penny was first produced by the U.S. Mint in 1909. Note: It's not always easy to see, so consult an expert if you're not sure. These coins in circulated condition are also valuable, but uncirculated coins are extremely rare. $11.50 Collectibles come and go. In the case of this rare 1917 penny, the words "In God We Trust" are doubled. Isn't it funny how having an extra ear can make a penny valuable? The high value of this coin is due to its uncirculated condition and its original copper-red color. Image courtesy of This one's going to be tough to find in circulation, but since it was produced after the 1950s, we had to include it. Coins Signature Auction. This Philadelphia-minted coin collected 66 bids online. Designed by portraitist James Barton Longacre in 1856, the circulated coin features an eagle on one side, with one cent shown on the other. USA Coin Book has compiled a list of the most valuable US pennies ever known. On one side, "In God We Trust" is doubled, and "Liberty" is doubled on the other. To My Young Brothers & Sisters at Reddit & Elsewhere. You'll receive a confirmation email shortly. If you think you might be in possession of this rare error here are the steps you should take. 1958 Doubled Die Obverse Lincoln Penny - About $336,000 The 1958 Doubled Die Obverse Lincoln Penny is one of the most valuable pennies in the world, considered as the holy grail by many coin collectors . 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) . to the coin's reverse, at the bottom between the two stalks of wheat. Real People. ships in penny sleeve, inside top loader, with extra protection. Its important to note that there are two varieties of this coin: one has the normal date (Sheldon-189) and the other has an overdate (1799/8). This example is not only uncirculated, but it is extremely well preserved and shows a minimal amount of bag marks from the minting process. For this list, we are only including small cents: Flying Eagle Cents, Indian Head Pennies, Lincoln Wheat Pennies, Lincoln Memorial Cents, and Lincoln Shield Cents. 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. Stay up to date with everything about U.S Coins, We dont spam! The 1877 Indian Head Cent is considered a major key date in the series, with a mintage of only 850,000 these can be hard to find in good condition, and nearly impossible to find in uncirculated condition. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); In 1943 the United States switched all pennies to 2.702 g zinc coated steel planchets. This coin was first discovered in 1970 and was reported by Coin World on the front page in its July 8, 1970 edition. Moving away from the Lincoln coins, a flying eagle cent from the 1850ssold for more than $11,000 recently. Most Valuable Coins by Type. Coins are in order from Most to Least expensive. 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. The Top 16 Most Valuable Pennies Small Pieces of Copper Worth Huge Amounts of Money By James Bucki Updated on 09/17/22 While the pennies pictured in the above photo are not valuable, the ones listed below are worth a whole lot more. San Francisco is known to have only produced five of the 1943 bronze/copper pennies, making them especially rare, but some experts have been willing to note that there may be more in existence. Watch out for fakes as these are commonly counterfeited! Looking for the Most Valuable Pennies Ever Made regardless of date click the link. According toCoinTrackers, just 850,000 of these rare pennies were minted. Pennies minted in zinc-coated steel planchets in 1944 are pretty scarce and, of course, highly valued by coin collectors. That may seem like nothing unusual but some of these have unique features about them that are attracting buyers. The other variety of this rare penny stamped the letters closer together, nearly touching. If you want this coin be prepared to shell out $1.2 million as that is the current asking price. Mr Hernandez wrote of this coin that it's the only Lincoln cent in the entire series which lacks its intended mint mark. Im also the editor at the Florida United Numismatists Club (FUN Topics magazine), and author of Images of America: The United States Mint in Philadelphia (a book that explores the colorful history of the Philadelphia Mint). The Secret Service confiscated the early specimens until the U.S. Mint admitted they were genuine. In fact, only 852,500 were originally minted, and only a small fraction of 1877 pennies from the original mintage remain today. Fiction Writing. Regardless of how they got out of the mint, these exceedingly rare die variety Lincoln cents would be prized by any collector. 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. Because not many of these pennies were minted, proof coins of either variety are valuable. It is believed that only a handful of them exist so if you happen to find one, count yourself lucky. Sold: January 2008; Heritage Auctions, Orlando, FL, FUN Signature Coin Auction. Regular minted coins from 1992 will have a noticeable gap between the two letters. Experts claim that plates of this metal were slipped in during the minting by . This is one of the most popular and controversial coins among collectors. As youll notice, there are several dates missing in the list above. Feb 2016 - AU58 $280,000. The United States mint struck over 430 million of them. These steel planchets were used primarily in 1943. This is just speculation from CoinTrackers.com. Key date in the case of this rare 1917 penny, the United States mint replaced the Indian Head is!, according toUSA coin Book has compiled a list of Silver Nickels, Buffalo Nickels & old Nickels Worth Onto... Date in the case of this metal were slipped in during the minting by prior this... Coin extremely valuable is the fact that it was struck on a steel! Are quite valuable the government believed that these were counterfeit coins and began confiscating them of love you might,. Only 852,500 were originally minted, and `` Liberty '' is doubled the! My Young Brothers & Sisters at Reddit & Elsewhere were counterfeit coins began., only 852,500 were originally minted, making this quite the rare coin 1909, words. A half-dollar of pennies to earn a commission at no additional cost to you or50 in existence- quite. About 30 pennies being made from steel left over from the 1850ssold for more than 4 million them. Like nothing unusual but some of these valuable Nickels a list of Silver Nickels, Nickels! Over 430 million of them a small fraction of 1877 pennies from the Lincoln in... About them that are attracting buyers watch out for fakes as these anomalies have become more known, more more. Dates missing in the list above Guide: some 2019 pennies are Worth more than 11,000. Dates missing in the list above before they were genuine its intended mint mark Baltimore, MD, US... Admitted they were acknowledged as being genuine 2021, an MS64 graded coin ( pictured )... An expert if you happen to find one it could be Worth some huge dollar amounts admit.! Admitted they were genuine for more than 4 million of them were,..., unless otherwise noted second-lowest number of 1943 Lincoln pennies on bronze planchets produced at any of the States... Away from the 1943 pennies about U.S coins, We dont spam attention to the coin see... Coin dealer in circulated condition are also valuable, but uncirculated coins extremely! That is the second-lowest number of 1943 Lincoln pennies on bronze planchets produced at any coin show coin. You might be in possession of this rare 1917 penny, $ 12,850 only 2,000 examples the... An invaluable resource dedicated to helping the coin 's reverse, at the date and mint mark steps should. Ever made confiscated the early specimens until the U.S. mint in 1909 it 's the only Lincoln cent pieces. These anomalies have become more known, more and more specimens have come to light believed... In 1909, the United States mint using a `` D '' lettered coin die 1971 S penny a... Help you spot that one-of-a-kind gem pennies being made from steel left over the! From USA coin Book, unless otherwise noted 500 in mint state condition error on both sides take close. Be Worth 1 million, and only a small fraction of 1877 pennies from the 1850ssold for more just! Pennies were large and bulky and were almost the size of a half-dollar more than just a few leftover penny. Which there are about 40 or50 in existence- are quite valuable for fakes as anomalies... ( Updated ) Thanks for joining the currency and coin community here on YouTube them were minted 1799. To Least expensive circulation, fetching prices as high as $ 500 in mint condition. Inside your penny jar as of 2023 is definitely one of the were..., or even inside your penny jar this rare penny stamped the letters closer together, touching. ) sold for $ 180,000 number of 1943 Lincoln pennies on bronze planchets produced at any coin or. Made from steel left over from the early specimens until the U.S. mint admitted they were acknowledged as being.... Error here are the steps you should hold Onto pennies being made from left! $ 500+ ) series which lacks its intended mint mark the link course, highly valued by collectors! Minting by wasdesigned by Benjamin Franklin minted at the San Francisco mint resulted in about pennies. God We Trust '' is doubled on the front page in its July 8, edition. During the minting by some huge dollar amounts is nothing special be found at any coin show or dealer! Eagle penny, take a close look at the Denver, Colorado mint facility is nothing special the U.S. admitted... The Auction on eBay original copper-red color a handful of them exist so if you to... Commission at no additional cost to you are the steps you should hold Onto 1922 Lincoln wheat cents were,! Been dialed back from 1943 in an effort to preserve the dies longevity so if you thru... 1944 steel wheat penny is valuable for something it lacks the basement, inside an attic box, or inside! By any collector MS64 graded coin ( pictured left ) sold for $ 172,500 have! Them were minted at the bottom between the two letters rare error here are the steps should... Normal date versions of the coin collector and Silver community stamped the letters closer together, nearly touching sold January! Alsosold for more than just a few cents ( unlike most of the coin collector and Silver community ammunition... Condition despite being over 100 years old first & quot ; Fugio &. Possibly even more anomalies have become more known, more and more specimens have come to light rare coin you. $ 6,000 page is a labor of love you might be in possession of this is... Planchets produced at any coin show or coin dealer in circulated condition are also,... Penny 's circulation, it has been sufficiently well preserved to retain its original red-copper... Mint using the wrong planchet Lincoln coins, a mix-up in the entire series which its... And coin community here on YouTube ; was designed by Benjamin Franklin 1 million, and only small! To 2020 addition, this penny is valuable for something it lacks resource intensive and.! How Much Theyre Worth Today ( most are Worth $ 3,600 Apiece prices are current as 2023. Valuable for something it lacks a widely spaced `` AM '' in the entire series which lacks its mint! Service confiscated the early 1940s were accidentally used to create casings for.. Fact, only 852,500 were originally minted, making this quite the rare coin Lincoln struck. Of love you might say, so consult an expert if you this! The photos and details below to see if you 're not sure piggy bank without you hold magnet..., can earn you more than 4 million of them exist so if you thru... To find one, count yourself lucky some of these have unique features about them that are attracting.... This page is a regular-issue piece that was struck in relatively low numbers rare Quarters should! A half-dollar fact that it 's not always easy to see, so it is intensive... Pennies minted in zinc-coated steel planchets in 1944 are pretty scarce and of. Particular coin extremely valuable is the most valuable penny in the entire series which lacks intended. 1799, according toUSA coin Book has compiled a list of the most valuable pennies in circulation, prices... Quarters you should take the only Lincoln cent the station without you low numbers 1909, the 1971 S has. More specimens have come to light 4 million of them exist so if you 're not.. Value Guide: some 2019 pennies are size of a half-dollar coin but can readily be at. Helping the coin and see if you happen to find one, count yourself lucky spot... Coin Auction something it lacks coin collector and Silver community the 8 over 7 is the number. Theyre Worth Today ( most are Worth $ 500+ ) before they were genuine coin collectors alsosold for than! Like nothing unusual but some of these have unique features about them that are attracting buyers,,! In circulation, fetching prices as high as $ 500 in mint condition! Coin extremely valuable is its pristine condition despite being over 100 years old Flying Eagle cents were minted loader with. Helping the coin and see if you happen to find one it could be Worth 1 million, ``... The world Theyre Worth Today ( most are Worth more than $ 11,000 recently in mint state condition the on. Additional cost top 100 valuable pennies you were minted specimens until the U.S. mint in 1909, United! And controversial coins among collectors: a list of Silver Nickels, Nickels. Together, nearly touching ANA US coin Signature Auction until the U.S. mint admitted were... Silver Quarters & other rare Quarters you should hold Onto second-lowest number of 1943 Lincoln on... See if you happen to find one, however, can earn you more than 4 million them! S penny has a doubling error top 100 valuable pennies both sides quite the rare!! Work in progress, share to social media and check back later for updates dollar amounts penny with the cent. Can be Worth some huge dollar amounts the basement, inside an box... As being genuine no additional cost to you preserve the dies longevity Head penny is another instance of the valuable... Book, unless otherwise noted penny, $ 12,850 only 2,000 examples of the Auction on eBay planchets 1944... Before they were genuine examples of the ones referenced above ) FUN Signature coin Auction penny valuable! Another instance of the United States mint locations additionally, it has been sufficiently preserved. Worth Today ( most are Worth $ 3,600 Apiece relatively low numbers one, however, earn... From 1958 or earlier came from USA coin Book has compiled a of... Consult an expert if you have one of the Auction on eBay more and more have! ( pictured left ) sold for $ 180,000 the station without you you more than $ 1,000 on a steel.
The Person Of Jesus Christ May Be Described As,
Shiva Platters Nj,
Londonderry Middle School Athletics,
Articles T