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Top 10 Most Valuable Pennies Including Lincoln Coins
Rare, gorgeous, and long-lived, the planet’s most valuable pennies demand high prices. You can pay thousands or millions for a penny. Thus, pennies you neglected in your drawer may be expensive diamonds.
Discover the mysterious world of rare pennies and why they’re so valuable. Some copper pennies value $100,000 or $2 million despite their appearance. Their value depends on rarity. Unused coins retain their sheen and beautiful designs, making them more desirable.
Sometimes pennies are distinctive because they were accidentally manufactured, like the 1943 Lincoln pennies made of bronze instead of steel. Collectors love these oddities, which can sell for a lot.
The value of a penny depends on desire. Most U.S. coin collectors start with the Lincoln cent, which they get from everyday transactions. As coin collectors grow, they pursue mint-condition coins at auctions or suppliers. People are emotionally attached to pennies, which pushes up demand for high-quality specimens and their value to staggering heights.
So, the next time you stumble upon an old penny, remember that it might hold a fortune in its tiny copper core.
10 Coins: Most Valuable Pennies
Read on to find out what makes these 10 coins the most valuable pennies U.S., based on over 250,000 public records and auction sales figures.
- 1914-S Lincoln Penny
- 1944-D Lincoln Penny (Zinc-coated steel)
- 1909-S VDB Lincoln Penny
- 1969-S Lincoln Penny-Doubled Die Obverse
- 1926-S Lincoln Penny
- 1914-D Lincoln Penny
- 1943 Lincoln Penny (Bronze Alloy)
- 1909 Lincoln Penny (VDB Matte Proof )
- 1943-S Lincoln Penny (Bronze)
- 1944-S Lincoln Steel Penny
1. 1914-S Lincoln Penny
There are over 4 million of these 1914-S Lincoln Pennies, so the one graded PCGS MS-66 Red and worth $105,800 is not naturally rare. But its incredible value comes from the fact that it is still in perfect shape after a hundred years.
Important Points:
- Excellent Condition: This coin stands out because it is in perfect condition. Its surface doesn’t have any visible flaws or bag marks.
- Bright Colour: It has always been an eye-catching bright red-orange copper colour, which makes it more appealing.
- Collector’s Prescience: For it to have survived in such strange conditions for more than 100 years, it is clear that a collector in San Francisco in 1914 saw its worth and made it safe from the typical ravages of use.
- Correct Storage: The coin’s collector took great care to store it properly, saving its unique colour and quality.
- Rarity: Coins of this quality that have been kept in perfect condition are very hard to find, which makes them very valuable and desired by numismatic fans.
In conclusion, the 1914-S Lincoln Penny is very valuable because it is in excellent condition, has a bright colour, and was carefully stored by an owner who knew how important it was to keep it safe from time and use. In the world of coin collecting, these kinds of coins are really rare and valuable.
2. The Lincoln Penny on a zinc-coated steel planchet in 1944
Over 430 million of the 1944-D Denver Mint Lincoln Pennies have been made, so they may look like ordinary coins. The unique thing about it gives it its $115,000 NGC MS-63 value:
Important Points:
- Because copper was hard for finding by in 1943, this item was made on a zinc-coated steel planchet, which was very popular.
- Rare Factor: The US Mint shifted to copper planchets in 1944, but a steel planchet from 1943 was still used.
- A 1944-D cent on a steel planchet made a rare coin that coin collectors really like by mistake.
- Collectors are ready to pay a lot of money for this item as it is very rare and has historical value.
- The 1944-D Lincoln Penny on a zinc-coated steel planchet is a rare and expensive coin because it is made of unusual materials and isn’t found very often.
3. 1909-S VDB A Penny from Lincoln
This 1909-S VDB Lincoln Penny, PCGS MS-67 Red, is worth $117,500 and is valuable as a piece of history and as a collectible:
Important Points:
In 1909, the US Mint shifted from the Indian Head penny to the Lincoln cent. A key point in the history of U.S. bonds.
- Designer’s words: Victor David Brenner, who made the coin, placed his full letters, V.D.B., on the back, which is a first in coin design.
- Minimal Production: These pennies were only made in small numbers—just under 500,000—before Brenner’s letters were taken off by the Treasury Department.
- Collector’s Rush: Coin collectors went crazy when they saw the sudden change and removal of the letters, which made this penny famous.
- The “Holy Grail” Fans of the Lincoln penny say that the 1909-S VDB Lincoln Penny is their most expensive coin.
Finally, this Lincoln penny is a symbol of numismatic history, new ideas, and fan passion, which makes it famous and sought after by coin collectors.
4. 1969-S Lincoln Penny Doubled Die Obverse
The PCGS MS-64 Red 1969-S Lincoln Penny with a Doubled Die Obverse is worth $126,500 and has many important features:
Important Points:
- Finding and Writing About It: When this coin was found in 1970, Coin World put a big story about it on its top page on July 8, 1970. People looked at it with surprise because of its strange traits.
- The government initially took these coins out because they thought they were fake. Several coins were taken away and burned before they could be authenticated, which is a shame.
- The doubling on the date and writing on the 1955 doubled die obverse is more noticeable than on this penny, but it can still be seen with a magnifying glass.
- While used coins are valuable, uncirculated coins are very hard to find and are sought after by coin fans.
In conclusion, the 1969-S Lincoln Penny with a Doubled Die Obverse has an interesting story about how it was found and how the government thinks it was made. Collectors value it because it doubles in value and is hard to find in uncirculated form.
5. 1926-S Lincoln Penny
The 1926-S Lincoln Penny, which is graded PCGS MS-65 Red and is worth an impressive $149,500, may not seem very special at first look, but there are a few important reasons why it is so valuable:
Important Points:
- Unique Time and Mintmark: The date and mintmark on this coin are what really make it stand out. Coins with such unique pairings can be very popular with coin fans.
- Ultra-Low Mintage: This penny has an extremely low mintage—only nine other Lincoln wheat pennies are even less common.
- Original Copper-Red Colour: Many coins from the 1930s and 1940s were used by many people. This coin is rare because it has never been used and has kept its original copper-red colour.
The 1926-S Lincoln Penny is very valuable because it has a rare date and mintmark combination, was only minted in small amounts, and there aren’t many uncirculated examples that still have their bright copper-red colour. These things make it a valuable item for coin fans.
6. 1914-D Lincoln Penny
The 1926-S Lincoln Penny, which is graded PCGS MS-65 Red and is worth an impressive $149,500, may not seem very special at first look, but there are a few important reasons why it is so valuable:
Important Points:
Unique Characteristics: The distinctive amalgamation of the date and mintmark is precisely what redefines this coin. Coins with such unique pairings can be very popular with coin fans.
Ultra-Low Mintage: This penny has an extremely low mintage—only nine other Lincoln wheat pennies are even less common.
Original Copper-Red Colour: Many coins from the 1930s and 1940s were used by many people. This coin is rare because it has never been used and has kept its original copper-red colour.
Because of its low mintage, rare date and mintmark combination, and lack of uncirculated copies that still have their bright copper-red colour, the 1926-S Lincoln Penny is very valuable. These things make it a valuable item for coin fans.
7. 1943 Lincoln Cent MARKED ON A Bronze Coin
The impressively valuable 1943 Lincoln Cent Struck on a Bronze Alloy planchet, rated PCGS MS-63 Red and worth an impressive $164,500, is very valuable for the reasons stated below:
Important Points:
- Unwanted Alloy: This coin was meant to be created with zinc-plated steel planchets, but as a result of a lack of copper during the war, a bronze alloy planchet was employed instead, that is not how coins are usually made.
- Possible Accidental Minting: There is some disagreement about whether the mint workers struck these coins on bronze planchets on purpose or not. It is more likely that some extra bronze planchets from the previous year got mixed in with the normal striking process by accident.
- People don’t always look closely at the date on the coins they get as change, so some of these 1943 bronze alloy pennies were used by regular people for a while before they were found by coin collectors who were looking for valuable Lincoln pennies that were still being used.
- Rare Uncirculated: The coin’s already high value is increased by the fact that it has never been used, which keeps its original copper-red colour and is highly sought after by fans.
To sum up, the 1943 Lincoln Cent Struck on a Bronze Alloy planchet is an extremely rare coin with an interesting background. The coin’s accidental alloy, use in circulation before it was found by a collector, and perfect state with a unique copper-red colour all make it very valuable to coin collectors.
8. The VDB Matte Proof Lincoln Penny from 1909
The 1909 VDB Matte Proof Lincoln Penny, which has been graded PCGS PR-67 Red & Brown and is worth a huge $258,500, has a number of important features that make it so valuable:
Important Points:
Full Initials of the Designer: Like the 1909-S VDB Lincoln Penny, this proof penny proudly displays all three initials of the coin designer, “VDB,” which adds to its historical importance.
Low Mintage: The Philadelphia Mint only made 1,194 of these proof coins before the Treasury Department ordered that the designer’s names be taken off. This makes the coin very rare.
Bright Colours: This coin’s bright and captivating colours come from being carefully stored for over a hundred years, which makes it even more appealing to collectors.
The 1909 VDB Matte Proof Lincoln Penny is a rare and highly sought-after numismatic item. It has the full initials of the creator on it, was struck in small numbers, and has beautiful colours that have developed over a hundred years of storage, all of which make it so valuable to collectors.
9. 1943-S Lincoln Cent Made of Bronze
The 1943-S Lincoln Cent Struck on a Bronze planchet, which is rated PCGS AU-58 and worth a huge $282,000, has some special features that make it so valuable:
Important Points:
Bronze Planchet Mistake: Originally designed for a zinc-plated steel planchet, this coin was inadvertently struck on a bronze planchet during World War II. This uncommon error was rectified during production.
Limited Production: This mistake was made on only six coins at the San Francisco Mint in 1943, making it one of the rarest 1943 Lincoln pennies made of bronze.
Circulated Condition: This coin shows signs of having been used, which means it was put through normal routes of distribution and wasn’t held back by mint staff.
In conclusion, the 1943-S Lincoln Cent Struck on a Bronze planchet is a very rare coin because it was made accidentally, there were only a few of them made, and there is proof that they were used regularly, all of which make them even more valuable to collectors.
10. 1944-S Lincoln Steel Penny
The 1944-S Lincoln Steel Penny, an incredibly valuable coin valued at $373,750 and graded NGC MS-66, derives its extraordinary worth from several standout features:
Key Highlights:
- There was a rare mistake in 1944 when Lincoln pennies were meant to return to their original bronze metal. Instead, two zinc-plated steel planchets got into the coining press at the San Francisco Mint.
- Rare Uncirculated: This particular example has never been used or passed around, so it stays in its original state.
- Very Good Preservation: It has very good preservation, with only a few bag marks from the minting process showing that it is brand new.
- Amazing Striking: The coin was struck very exactly, so all of its small details were kept. It was made very well because of this.
To sum up, the 1944-S Lincoln Steel Penny is the second most expensive penny in the world because it was made by accident, has never been used, is in great condition, and was struck perfectly.
Conclusion
Lincoln coins, which are very expensive pennies, are a fascinating world where history, scarcity, and beauty all come together to drive prices through the roof. Due to their unique qualities, these copper coins that look normal can fetch huge amounts of money.
Each of these pennies has its own interesting story that fans find interesting, like how well the 1914-S Lincoln Penny has been kept or how the 1943 Lincoln Cent Struck on Bronze Alloy was put together by accident. Because pennies are so rare and many fans have emotional ties to them, there is a constant demand for high-quality specimens, which drives up their values to amazing heights.
So, the next time you find an old penny, think about how its tiny copper core could hold a lot of money. This is just one example of why coin collecting is still so popular.
FAQs
Yes, the values mentioned for these valuable pennies are based on public records and auction sales figures. Keep in mind that the value of collectible coins can fluctuate over time due to market demand and conditions.
You can find these valuable pennies through reputable coin dealers, numismatic auctions, and online marketplaces that specialize in rare coins. Be sure to do your research and consider having any potential purchases authenticated by a professional.
The value of your old pennies will depend on factors such as their condition, rarity, and demand among collectors. While not all old pennies are valuable, some can indeed fetch high prices. It’s advisable to have your coins appraised by an expert to determine their worth.
Yes, many other valuable pennies may not have been included in this list. The world of numismatics is vast, and there are numerous rare and collectible pennies with unique stories and attributes.
If you believe you have a valuable penny, it’s essential to handle it with care to preserve its condition. Consult with a reputable coin dealer or a professional numismatist for an appraisal. They can guide the coin’s authenticity and potential value.
