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. USA Coin Book has compiled a list of the most valuable US pennies ever known. The difference between this 1873 penny and the closed 3 listed above is the way the serifed ends of the 3 come near the middle of the digit. The Philadelphia mint produced about 20 bronze/copper coins in 1943, making this one incredibly rare and valuable. Legend Rare Coin Auctions. We have discounted proof coins, error coins, as well as any "special strikes", to create a clean list of pennies you have a higher probability of finding from the current pool of circulating United States currency. This one, however, can earn you more than $1,000. Although there is some argument that mint workers actually struck these coins on bronze alloy planchets on purpose, it is more probable that a few bronze planchets left over from the previous year got stuck on a conveyor belt or tote and was incorporated into the regular striking process. In fact, the first "Fugio cent" was designed by Benjamin Franklin. Most recent sales of the 1944 Zinc coated steel penny sales. Slightly less than a half-million of these pennies were minted before the Treasury Department demanded that the initials be removed. The penny dates listed below are worth more than just a few cents(unlike most of the ones referenced above). These planchets were then fed into the machines and struck by the die means for the 1944 copper penny, creating 1944 Steel cent errors. Are you wondering what your penny is worth? 25 Most Valuable Pennies. This is an easy way to build a collection, and all it takes is time. To this day, they are the only two known to exist. This is making them worth significantly more than their original value of one cent. Be sure to check your change for this one! In 1864, the Civil War was dragging on, and the United States economy was extremely fragile. 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. Originally created as presentation pieces to show to members of Congress, other dignitaries, and even collectors, they eventually made their way into circulation over the years. Counterfeits abound but usually have the wrong mint mark. These were steel planchets that were coated in a layer of zinc to improve their luster. 10 Most Valuable Walking Liberty Half Dollars. 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) Check outsix other rare and valuable error coins worth up to $599. This page is a work in progress, share to social media and check back later for updates. The 1909 S Indian Head Cent was the last year the Indian Head penny was minted, and has the lowest mintage of the Indian Head Cent series. This isn't the case. Accidents can produce the rarest coins. However, after many complaints, the United States Mint changed back to the regular copper planchets beginning in 1944. As always, the value of any coin is only worth how much someone else is willing to pay for it. Any one of these coins in circulated or uncirculated condition is extremely rare. A 1931-S could be worth $40 or more. Many citizens hoarded gold, silver, and copper coins as a store of wealth. This is just speculation from CoinTrackers.com. This is a labor of love you might say, so it is resource intensive and slow. And some coins are made more valuable simply by being unintentional, as with the 1943 Lincoln pennies that were mistakenly made with bronze rather than steel. 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. If youre looking to purchase an 1857 Flying Eagle Penny for your coin collection, this is one of the cheaper dates, as long as youre okay with a lower grade of coin. Sold: September 2010; Legend Numismatics, Private Sale. Similar to the 1972 penny mentioned, the 1971 S penny has a doubling error on both sides. In 2004, an MS66 graded coin sold for $172,500. Many numismatics spend their spare time searching boxes of pennies to earn a extra cash. 1916 Buffalo Nickel-Doubled Die Obverse. Because of the increased pressure bronze examples of the 1943 Cent should in general be in better condition than most copper pennies from the 1940's. 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. 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. A 1944 Lincoln penny struck at the Denver, Colorado mint facility is nothing special. Oops, there was an error sending your message. Image courtesy of When an example as fine as this one crosses the auction block, it is certain to set record prices. This wheat cent is the only example known to exist. In addition to the pennies mentioned above, here aresome otherpennies worth money: And heres my video explaining how to tell if youve got a valuable penny or not: Do you know where to look for the most valuable pennies? The 1999 S Lincoln Memorial Cent was minted in San Francisco in two different varieties. In 2017, an MS66+RD graded coin (pictured left) sold for $19,975. Extra notes: 1944 steel cents should technically be a weaker strike than 1943 steel cents. Lots Of Rare Pennies And How Much Theyre Worth Today (Most Are Worth $500+). Coins that are in higher grades, come under suspicion that they may have been helped by a mint employee. This pocket change price guide for the year 2023 details worthwhile coin finds that you likely have just sitting around the house. Nov 2013 - VF35 $207,000. Sold: January 2004; Heritage Auctions, Orlando, FL, FUN Signature Auction. This is definitely one of the most valuable pennies in circulation, fetching prices as high as $500 in mint state condition. A 1933-D, for example, may be valued at $2.30 or more. Another double-died error can be found on the 1984 Lincoln Memorial Cent. Damaged coins or those grading lower based on wear will be worth less than the coin values listed above. The 1943 D Copper / Bronze penny has been deemed the Holy Grail of penny errors. 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. If you want this coin be prepared to shell out $1.2 million as that is the current asking price. Most Valuable US Pennies - Highest Value 1 Cent Coins USA Coin Book has compiled a list of the most valuable US pennies ever known. Get DIY project ideas and easy-to-follow crafts to help you spruce up your space. $6.24 . *All of the coin values listed from 1958 or earlier came from USA Coin Book, unless otherwise noted. Here's a list of the most valuable pennies out there to help you spot that one-of-a-kind gem. As with the 1909-S VDB Lincoln Penny, this highly valued penny proof bears all three of the coin designer's initials: "VDB." This rare penny is pulling in values of up to $500 in mint state condition, and with almost 4.5 billion pennies produced at the Denver Mint in 1992, there's a good chance that these are still in circulation.. To identify this ultra-valuable penny, take a close look at the date and mint mark. Sold: January 2006; Heritage Auctions, Orlando, FL, FUN Signature Auction. These steel planchets were used primarily in 1943. Up to this point, coin designers used only the first initial of their last name. 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. Condition is another; coins that stayed out of circulation may retain their original coloring and fine details, significantly adding to their value. With $25 you can buy a box of penny rolls to search through in between episodes of your favorite tv shows. Pennies offer a plethora of errors and varieties some are fairly common and some are extremely rare. Image: USA CoinBook. 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. 1873 doubled Liberty Open 3 Indian Head penny, $1,650 This is simply another version of the 1873 doubled die Indian Head penny. 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. Get ready its a long list! As a rule, 1873 open 3 Indian cents are more common than the closed 3 variety. Sold: January 2008; Heritage Auctions, Orlando, FL, FUN Signature Coin Auction. You Could Find This Rare Penny In Your Pocket Change Heres What To Look For. In addition to the doubling of wording, the date and "S" mint mark are also doubled. On one side, "In God We Trust" is doubled, and "Liberty" is doubled on the other. The 1943 steel penny is more common than the elusive 1944 Steel Wheat penny. This penny is the rarest date of all the Indian Head pennies ever minted. 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. 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. Most Valuable Coins by Type. Good news however. This is the second-lowest number of 1943 Lincoln pennies on bronze planchets produced at any of the United States Mint locations. 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). Sold: January 2013; Stack's Bowers Galleries, Americana Auction. 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. We earn a small commission for purchases made through the links below, which helps keep our site running. You'll receive a confirmation email shortly. Additionally, it has been sufficiently well preserved to retain its original bright red-copper color. 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 are 4 ofthe best places to find rare pennies: Read next: Most Valuable Nickels A List Of Silver Nickels, Buffalo Nickels & Old Nickels Worth Holding Onto! I primarily collect and study U.S. coins produced during the 20th century. Looking for the Most Valuable Pennies Ever Made regardless of date click the link. Thanks for joining the currency and coin community here on YouTube! This penny exhibits doubling on the date and lettering on the obverse. The purpose of this page is to provide coin valuation data to collectors, investors, the media, and anyone interested learning what the most valuable pennies and one cent coins are. What makes this coin extremely valuable is the fact that it was struck on a zinc-coated steel planchet. Coins Signature Auction. The mint mark is a smaller letter on the face of the coin underneath the year that signifies where it was minted. The 1909 S Indian head cent is popular amongst collectors as it is one of only two in the series to have been minted at the San Francisco Mint. Pay attention to the photos and details below to see if you have one of these valuable nickels in your piggy bank. Its believed that less than 30 copper 1943 pennies exist from across all three mints (Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco) operating at that time. We've compiled a list (with ref pictures) of the most valuable Lincoln penny errors that are in regular everyday circulation. To My Young Brothers & Sisters at Reddit & Elsewhere. Dont miss the 1936 Lincoln Wheat Cent Penny in your search for rare pennies, as one of these bad boys could be worth $2,222 in uncirculated mint condition. *All of the coin values listed from 1958 or earlier and 1959 to 2000 came from USA Coin Book, unless otherwise noted. It will stick to a magnet. If so, the modern United States cent is one of the best places to start looking. Only 1,194 of these proof coins were struck at the Philadelphia mint before the Treasury Department dictated that the designer's initials be removed from the coin. 1873 doubled Liberty closed 3 Indian Head penny, $2,400 Another doubled die cent, this piece features doubling in the word LIBERTY. Why so few? 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. 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. One variety had a widely spaced "AM" in the word "America.". Five coins were confiscated and destroyed before they were acknowledged as being genuine. Wondering which pennies are worth more than face value? Consequently, all 1922 cents should bare the D mint mark," wrote Mr Hernandez. While others are drawing attention on basis of how old and rare they are. Read more in our privacy policy. What follows are the 11 through 25th most valuable pennies: 1917 doubled die Lincoln Wheat Penny, $1,350, 1972 doubled die obverse Lincoln Memorial penny, $290, 1909-S/S over horizontal S Lincoln Wheat Penny, $275. In 2021, an MS65 RB graded coin (pictured left) sold for $66,000. In 1877, the economic slump that began in 1873 continued with full force. Why is this coin so rare? 01 of 15. But the rarest of all is this single known pristine example from the Denver mint. B.) Estimated coin prices and values in our database are updated twice per year. In 1856, the price of copper rose to the point that it took more than a penny's worth of copper to make a penny. This rare coin stands out among the Lincoln cents worth a lot of money. Coins in this condition are few and far between and are truly treasures to behold. Coins are in order from Most to Least expensive. Slightly more than 4 million of them were minted. As these anomalies have become more known, more and more specimens have come to light. These are the rarest and most valuable pennies that are worth more than $1 apiece: *Values are for problem-free coins in a grade of Good or better, and uncirculated for those dated 1959 and later. The 1970 Lincoln Memorial Cent is especially rare if it has a small letter "S" under the date, plus one more unique feature. Be careful not to scratch the coin however. Since this coin exhibits evidence of circulation and must have exited the mint via regular distribution channels. Another coin for avid coin collectors to look out for is the 1858 Flying Eagle Cent. It is estimated that fewer than 20 were released by each of the Philadelphia and San Francisco mints. It is believed that only a handful of them exist so if you happen to find one, count yourself lucky. USA Coin Book has compiled a list of the most valuable US Quarters (Washington Quarters, America the Beautiful Park Quarters, 50 States Quarters, Standing Liberty Quarters, Barber Quarters, Seated Liberty, Draped Bust and Capped Bust Quarters) using a database of over 6,000+ coins and valuations. Carefully hold a magnet over the coin and see if you get any reaction. This is an indication that they were not "helped" by some unscrupulous mint employee. Perhaps 15,000 to 20,000 plain 1922 Lincoln Cents were made, but nobody knows the exact number of examples that were made, let alone how many remain to this day. List only contains coins from 1965 to 2023. Of wording, the first & quot ; was designed by Benjamin Franklin with full force in our are. Is estimated that fewer than 20 were released by each of the and! 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