Got a huge collection of vintage coins? Here are the 16 rarest and most valuable pennies worth money to look for. If you got any of these, you could instantly get rich!
1. 1943-D Lincoln Copper Wheat Penny (Sold for $1.7 Million)
While all 1943-D Lincoln Wheat Cent were steel, about 40 coins were accidentally struck on a bronze/copper planchet. These 1943-D copper cents are one of the most valuable coins, and only about thirteen such coins are reportedly found as of today.
One of these few known rare 1943-D Lincoln Copper Cent was sold for a whopping $1.7 million in 2010, setting a huge record. In 2021, another 1943-D copper penny sold for $840,000 at Heritage Auction.
How to Spot: The coin is made of copper/bronze instead of steel and has a mint date of 1943.
2. 1944-S Steel Lincoln Wheat Penny (Sold for $408,000)
During the minting of the 1944 wheat pennies, the makers at all three mints somehow stuffed the leftover zinc-coated steel planchets from the 1942 war cent series. The result was a rare 1944 Steel Wheat Penny. Due to the silvery color of steel, they became popular as “1944 Silver pennies.”
Only around thirty 1944 steel (Silver) pennies, seven 1944-D steel pennies, and two 1944-S steel wheat pennies have been found as of now. A rare PCGS-graded MS-64 1944-S steel penny was auctioned for $408,000 at Heritage Auctions.
How to Spot: The coin is made of zinc-coated steel instead of copper.
3. 1958 Lincoln Cent Doubled Die Obverse (Sold for $336,000)
Standing as one of the most significant Lincoln cents, the 1958 penny with DDO error was sold for $336,000 at Stack’s Bowers auction. The 1958 penny displays a clear doubling of the motto text “IN GOD WE TRUST” and “LIBERTY.” The mint date 1958 may also be slightly doubled.
How to Spot: Doubling of motto text, “Liberty,” & mint date on the obverse with Abraham Lincoln’s profile.
4. 1888 Indian Head Penny 8/7 (Sold for $74,750)
This is a rare Indian penny in which the last number, “8” of the mint year, 1888, appears to be punched on the number “7.” A rare MS-64 graded 1888 Indian head penny won a high bid of $74,750 in an auction at Heritage Auctions.
How to Spot: Look for a small knob under the last “8” of the mint date.
5. 1943-D/D Lincoln Wheat Steel Penny Double Mintmark (Sold for $21,275)
This valuable 1943 steel penny has a rare error caused by the double striking of a mint mark “D” over a light “D” mark. The bolder mint mark is slightly above the light one, partially overlapfping it. This 1942-D/D wheat cent error coin is worth $300 to $1,700. The highest grade MS-67 1943-D/D penny was sold for $21,275 in a Heritage Auction.
How to Spot: Look for a light “D” mark below the bold “D” mint mark below the mint date on the obverse.
6. 1970-S Lincoln Memorial Cent Doubled Die Obverse (Sold for Up to $18,000)
The 1970-S Lincoln penny variety with Doubled Die Obverse is another highly valuable coin. Depending on the intensity of doubling in the obverse as well as the condition of the coin, this penny can be worth $2,000 to $18,000.
How to Spot: Doubled letters in the “In God We Trust” and “Liberty” on the obverse. In some cases, The mint year “1970” and mint mark “S” can also show slight signs of doubling.
7. 1972 Lincoln Memorial Cent Penny DDO Variety (Sold for $14,000)
Some of the Memorial cents produced in 1972 bore the DDO or Doubled Die Obverse error, resulting in the doubling of the text “In God We Trust” and “Liberty” as well as the mint date 1972, in some coins.
This penny generally sells for $200 to $700, but MS65+ graded 1972 DDO pennies can sell for as high as $6,000 to $10,000 or more. One was sold for $14,400 at Heritage Auctions.
How to Spot: Look for doubled letters in the motto text, “Liberty” and mint year.
8. 1857 Flying Eagle Cent Penny (Sold for $10,000)
After the issue of flying eagle pattern pennies from 1854 to 1856, the first regular flying pennies were issued in 1857, making the 1857 cent quite rare.
The 1857 flying eagle pennies graded 64 to 66+ are quite precious, valued at $1,000 to $10,000, while the MS63 or lower-graded pennies are worth $20 to $900.
9. 1922-D Lincoln Wheat Cent Weak D Variety (Sold for Up to $7,000)
During the minting of 1922 Lincoln pennies at the Denver Mint, a rare error was seen due to weak dies. This resulted in some 1922-D pennies getting a weak D mint mark below the 1922 mint date. Some 1922-D pennies may not even have a visible mint mark at all.
The value of a high-grade (MS65+) 1922-D wheat penny with Weak D can go as high as $5,000 to $7,000. Low-grade pennies are worth $20 to $550.
How to Spot: The mint mark “D” seems lighter/weaker than the mint date, the motto, or the “Liberty” text.
10. 1909-S VDB Proof Lincoln Wheat Penny (Sold for Up to $6,000)
This is the first Lincoln penny to be circulated in the US. What makes it rarer and more valuable is the initials V.D.B. of the designer, Victor David Brenner, on the reverse. Since these initials were soon removed, this penny became rare. And although the VDM mark was brought back, it was modified.
With only a low mintage of 484,000, the 1909-S wheat penny VDB variety is worth around $500 to $1,500 in low-grade condition and around $1,500 to $6,000 or higher for high-grade state.
How to Spot: Look for the “V.D.B.” mark at the bottom of the coin’s reverse
11. 1992 Lincoln Memorial Cent Close AM Variety (Sold for $3,000 to $5,000)
This is a rare variety of the 1992 Lincoln Memorial Penny, which displays the letters “A” and “M” of “America” struck closer than the regular strike coins. Depending on the condition of the penny, the 1992 memorial cent AM variety can be worth $3,000 to $5,000!
How to Spot: The letters A & M of “America” in “United States of America” on the reverse are closer than the wide AM variety or the regular penny.
12. 1992-D Lincoln Memorial Cent Close AM (Sold for $900 – $3,500)
Just like the 1992 Philadelphia-struck pennies, the Denver mint pennies also had the Close AM variety, which is rare to find. The value of a 1992-D close AM cent is around $900 – $3,500.
How to Spot:
- The letters A & M of “America” in “United States of America” on the reverse are closer than the wide AM variety or the regular penny.
- D mint mark on the obverse below the date.
13. 1936 Lincoln Wheat Cent Doubled Die Obverse (Sold for $2,800)
This 1936 Lincoln penny with the Doubled Die Obverse is another valuable error made by the United States Mint. Due to its rarity, this error coin can generally sell for $100 to $800. The 1936 DDO pennies with higher mint condition grades are worth around $1,000 – $2,800!
How to Spot: Double letters in the motto “In God We Trust,” the word “Liberty,” and the mint date, “1936.”
14. 1926-S Lincoln Wheat Cent Penny (Sold for Up to $2,500)
This Lincoln penny struck in 1926 at the San Francisco Mint is significantly valued by coin collections. Generally, the 1926-S Lincoln penny is worth $200 to $2,500 for high grades (MS60+). Surprisingly, an MS65-graded 1926-S penny was auctioned at $21,275. The lower-grade pennies sell for below $100.
15. 1999 Lincoln Memorial Cent Penny: Wide AM (Sold for $100 – $600)
One of the two main varieties of the 1999 Lincoln cent produced by the US Mint, the Wide AM variety has the letters “A” and “M” of America on the reverse slightly wider than the regular strike coins. This variety of coins generally sells for $100 – $600 depending on the coin’s condition or certified grade.
How to Spot: The distance between the letters A and M in “America” on the reverse is more than the regular coin.
16. 1944-D/S Lincoln Wheat Penny D Over S (Sold for $80 to $600)
This Lincoln penny struck at the Denver Mint is rare due to its Repunched Mintmark (OMM) error. It displays the D mint mark struck over the subtle and light S mint mark, making it unusual. Based on the condition or grade of the coin, the 1944-D/S Lincoln penny sells for $80 to $600.
How to Spot: The bold mint mark D is punched slightly below the subtle S mint mark, partially overlapping it.
As you can see, all these American pennies hold great monetary value and historical significance for coin collectors. So, whether you’re building your rare penny collection or willing to sell your old cents, this list will help you assign the right value to them! You can check out many other valuable coins worth money here!
