Sold: August 2014; Heritage Auctions, Chicago, IL, ANA US Coins Signature Auction. When the right coin is available and is needed for their collection, none hesitate to pay. "The then 16-year-old Lutes received the copper-colored penny in change at his high school cafeteria in 1947," David Stone, a coin cataloger for Heritage, told CNBC Make It. Dark colors tend to hide detail and lower eye appeal to old copper coins. A 1933-D, for example, may be valued at $2.30 or more. Also called the 1982 No P Dime, these dimes were the first and only U.S. business strike coin (a coin intended for circulation) that accidentally left the U.S. Mint without being stamped with their designated mint mark. She is also the co-author of "The Geek Gap" and vice president of the American Society of Journalists and Authors. 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. Admittedly not the most popular coin, however those collecting the series are very serious. 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. "Several prototypes for the cent were produced in 1792, including the large Birch cent.". An uncirculated example in its original mint state red color is extremely rare and valuable. From Cents to Gold. Among the Lincoln Memorial cents, there were 7 years during which the San Francisco Mint placed its S mintmark under the date on business-strike, non-proof pennies. Out of all the leftover zinc-coated steel used in minting these pennies, Philadelphia produced about 30 of them. Nearly all of the 1943 Lincoln Wheat Cent produced are steel cents, but there were some that used copper planchets in addition to the steel. This coin had an RRP of $80 and a mintage of just 5,000. CashforGoldUSA is our top choice for selling coins for scrap because: Get money for your coins today with CashforGoldUSA >>. Coin. Roughly 250,000 of these pennies were minted, he said. It was soon learned that only the Denver Mint struck pennies in 1922, and one-cent coins without a mint mark but bearing that date were in fact mistakes. For instance, Denver only minted seven of the 1944 steel pennies, making it the second rarest mint mark out of all three mints. Your email address will not be published. The 1913 Liberty Nickel was produced by the U.S. Mint, with only five coins believed to be in existence. The doubling occurs from mistakes in the minting process, James Bucki, a coin expert at The Spruce Crafts, explained to CNBC Make It. "The regular run was supposed to have the letters 'A' and 'M' in 'AMERICA' almost touching, and the special proof coins were supposed to have a wider space between those letters," said Bucki. What sets this special penny apart from the crowd is a doubling of the date, with a smaller set of digits appearing on top of the larger set. Victor David Brenner created the design under the auspices of President Theodore Roosevelt. Older copper pennies are 95% copper and 5% something else. The 1969-S doubled die penny value is about the highest of any Lincoln Memorial cent known to collectors at this time: 1969-S doubled die pennies are worth about $25,000 and up! Sold: March 2018; Stacks Bowers; Baltimore - Session 3 - Rarities Night Including the ESM Collection. 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. Isn't it funny how having an extra ear can make a penny valuable? Earlier this year, an ordinary looking penny made headlines when it was found among the possessions of a man named Don Lutes. 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. It's a strange piece and one well worth looking for! Coins are in order from Most to Least expensive. Actually, 1856 Flying Eagle pennies were made as a pattern coin, and while many of them circulated, the series wasnt intended to be produced on a mass scale yet not until 1857, anyway. By the end of the 1950s, they had become a hot coin collector item and remain so to this day. While mintage numbers tell part of the story about a coins rarity, they dont show you a complete picture. Sold: January 2006; Heritage Auctions, Orlando, FL, FUN Signature Auction. Additionally, it was extremely well-struck, as evidenced by the minutest details present on the coin. These dimes came to be known as Mercury Head dimes. Copper coins when first minted began as shades of bright red-orange-gold. Like the previous two pennies mentioned, the wording on both sides is doubled, plus there's a doubling of the date. *Values are for coins in Extremely Fine-40 grade. "These are one of the easiest valuable pennies to find," he said. So What Pennies Are Worth Money? These coins are also known as Winged Liberty Head dimes. "The few bronze coins that were struck went unnoticed and got released into circulation.". In 1864, the Civil War was dragging on, and the United States economy was extremely fragile. The Value of an Indian Penny | Very Solid. Did you know that the top 30 most valuable Wheat pennies to coin collectors all add up to just over $9,000,000 in value and each one is worth at least $100,000 even though they all have a face value of just $0.01? Whats the easiest way to search for copper pennies? The coppery color of modern-day pennies is merely a thin plating of copper on a 99.2% zinc, 0.8% copper core. 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. While theyre still more common than those from other mints that year, they are still considered rare and valuable. Bucki estimates that 1,000 or less were made before the Mint discovered its error. In the French-speaking parts of Canada, the coin is sometimes called a black cent (cenne noire) or black penny (sou noir). The 1969-S doubled die penny is among the most valuable Lincoln Memorial pennies, which were minted from 1959 through 2008. Leighann Bacher is a writer/editor based in Pittsburgh. OK, we'll admit it. The doubling on the 1969-S Doubled Die Obverse is especially prominent in the words "LIBERTY" and "IN GOD WE TRUST," he said. We are using our database of virtually every US coin ever produced (6,000+ coins) based on year, mint mark, major varieties, errors and their associated price values to come up with a list of the top most valuable pennies known. The lines "In God We Trust" and "Liberty" are both doubled as well as the 1955 date itself. Many copper coins exhibit subtle qualities, when recognized, add to understanding potential value. While the original edition pennies from 1909 can have significant collectable value, other editions of the Lincoln penny can be highly desired by coin collectors as well. Take, for instance, the popular 1909-S VDB Lincoln cent. 1914-S Lincoln Penny 1944-D Lincoln Penny (Zinc-coated steel) 1909-S VDB Lincoln Penny 1872 Indian Head Penny 1969-S Lincoln Penny-Doubled Die Obverse 1926-S Lincoln Penny 1877 Indian Head Penny Thanks! A handful of these 1990s pennies didnt get the signature "S" mint mark. And heres the story behind zinc pennies. Initially, the government believed that these were counterfeit coins and began confiscating them. Some error coins in this collection (not just the Connecticut quarter) were either broadstruck meaning they were struck outside of the retaining collar of the coin or double or triple stamped. These are the most valuable pennies in circulation.And they are worth a pretty penny if you find them. Lincoln pennies minted from 1959 to 1982 are made of 95 percent copper and have about 2.5 cents worth of copper in them. These are some of the most valuable coins in circulation, based on Professional Coin Grading Service record auction pricing: 1969-S Lincoln Cent With a Doubled Die Obverse, $54,625 2004-D Wisconsin State Quarter with an Extra Leaf, $6,000 1970-S Large Date Lincoln Cent With a Doubled Die Obverse, $3,675 1972 Lincoln Cent With a Doubled Die Obverse, $1,150 1999 Wide AM Reverse Lincoln Cent, $250. But thats doesnt mean Lincoln wheat pennies(which were minted from 1909 through 1958) are, as they say, chopped liver.. If you buy thru these links, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. Source: PGCS.com The search is both interesting and exciting. 1983 P Washington Quarter. The better the quality of the coin, the more it could be worth. With so many rare coins out there, being a "penny pincher" might not be such a bad thing after all. Though theyre a fun find, these coins arent that valuable you can buy one on ebay starting at about $6. Sold: August 2007; Heritage Auctions, Milwaukee, WI, ANA Signature Coin Auction. 1982 Lincoln Penny. As always, nicer, better preserved coin are always worth more. 2 cent coin value is steadily increasing over the long term. Whether you collect Flying Eagle pennies, Indian Head pennies, or Lincoln pennies, you will find that the market for rare pennies is quite active. Value: $50,000 to $70,000+ There are few Lincoln Memorial pennies more rare or valuable than the 1969-S doubled die. Most of them pulled the coins out of circulation. You can also find information about popular coins in The Red Book, A Guide Book of United States Coins 2022 75th Edition. Instead, Teitelbaum turned them over to the Secret Service. However, experts with PCGS believe there are potentially up to 150,000 of these coins in existence. 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. Some would debate whether or not copper pennies are worth their weight as scrap metal, but their intrinsic copper value is nevertheless higher thanthe face value of the denomination itself making it worthwhile to check your change and hold aside all pre-1982 pennies. Coin Chart: Tap a '+' sign to expand further coin details. Heres the short answer the one you probably dont want to hear: NO! As of this writing, anyway. Penny values are date specific. Almost every collector of United States coins began collecting the Lincoln penny. Officially, theyre worth only face value if worn, but Ive seen many circulated S-mint Lincoln Memorial cents selling at coin shops for 5 to 10 cents. Within the different series of copper US coinage are certain qualities setting one coin apart from others. Old coins and collections are enjoyed because the eye appeal and aesthetics of each example in the set. 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). In the coin-making process, a working hub is a metal punch that looks like the surface of the coin. This is an indication that they were not "helped" by some unscrupulous mint employee. Beginning approximately halfway through the mintage of 1864 pennies, an "L" was added to the tail of the ribbon in the war bonnet on Lady Liberty's head. "A nice circulated example, like Lutes' coin, could sell for around $150,000 to $200,000. The full backside of the coin is doubled. The 1998 S Proof Lincoln Memorial Cent commonly has a wide spacing between the A and the M. In the close "AM" version, the letters almost touch. 1980-D Penny Value You should definitely keep your eyes out for one of these! Using a step by step method discovers how much your old pennies are worth. All coins in this list however are. 1. "It's especially obvious in the words 'ONE CENT' and 'E PLURIBUS UNUM.' Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription. "I've found one myself.". When the U.S. switched from bronze alloy to zinc-plated steel pennies in 1943, only a relative handful of bronze pennies slipped through. Ive contributed hundreds of articles for various coin publications including COINage, The Numismatist, Numismatic News, Coin Dealer Newsletter, Coin Values, and CoinWeek. To lower costs, the United States Mint sought to reduce the size of the penny (to its current diameter). While most pennies are only worth a few bucks, highly coveted ones might be sitting in your pocket or stuck somewhere in your couch. Sold: August 2008; Heritage Auctions, Baltimore, MD, ANA US Coin Signature Auction. 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. So before you say, "Keep the change," check to see if you have any of these valuable pennies: Only a handful of these bronze pennies have been discovered, including the one found by Lutes. As of this writing, theyre worth 2 to 3 cents each due to their copper value. The most valuable 1980 penny with no mintmark sold for $2,232.50 in a 2017 auction. However, during the transition, some 2008-W Silver Eagles were accidentally stamped with the pre-2008 design. One factor contributing to this coin's significant value is its low mintage. Because not many of these pennies were minted, proof coins of either variety are valuable. If you think you've found a 1943 Bronze Lincoln, the Mint suggests testing it with a magnet first. Your email address will not be published. To this day, they are the only two known to exist. Compare your now very old Indian pennies to the series value chart. We look at 10 super rare pennies worth money. This created an overnight sensation among coin collectors, and this penny has become known as the "Holy Grail" for collectors of Lincoln pennies. Sold: March 2014; Heritage Auctions, Atlanta, GA, ANA National Money Show US Coins Signature Auction. While the The Coinage Act of 1873 demonetized silver, putting an end to silver dollar production, the Bland-Allison Act was passed in 1878 in response to poor economic conditions at the time. That said, we realize that some people might still be using these pennies to buy things without realizing their value. 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. Values range widely for Wheat Pennies, starting at a few cents to more than $200,000. Separate your old wheat pennies into the main value groups - different decades, mintmarks, rare dates and importantly condition. These coins arent particularly valuable and are listed from about $2 to $50 on ebay. The year 1971 was a good one for penny collectors. Coins that are in higher grades, come under suspicion that they may have been helped by a mint employee. If you have gold coins or silver coins that arent a collectors item, we recommend selling to top online metals buyer CashforGoldUSA or its sister site CashforSilverUSA. For the world's rarest and most coveted pennies, values are well over $100,000 and approaching $2 million. Minted 1793 to 1857; value charts list date and condition ranges of values. Subscribe to CNBC Make It on YouTube! There's also a subtle doubling of the mint mark. Of all the cents currently in circulation these pennies are worth the most money. These are the auction records for the rarest Morgan Silver Dollars series: As part of a General Mills promotion in 1999, 5,500 Sacagawea Dollars were placed inside every 2,000th box of Cheerios. He estimates that a coin in new condition could be worth around $500, while a used one could fetch up to $45. This page is a work in progress, share to social media and check back later for updates. Slightly more than 4 million of them were minted. In this case, some of that grease made its way onto the surface of the coin die, filling the spot where the first T indentation was supposed to happen. Pennies that are older typically hold more value. Visit the series specific page, a check of the value chart shows rare dates and scarce varieties in strong demand. Note: It's not always easy to see, so consult an expert if you're not sure. It simply is a regular-issue piece that was struck in relatively low numbers. (Most pennies minted that year have very definite spaces between those letters.). It turns out that not every penny is worth just one cent - some could actually be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. Not because of its date of minting, but because of its die variety. Since this coin exhibits evidence of circulation and must have exited the mint via regular distribution channels. One time, I found about200 copper pennies among 20 rolls of pennies, or $10 worth of one-cent coins. The 1958 Doubled-Die Obverse penny is one of the rarest pennies ever made. One variety had a widely spaced "AM" in the word "America.". In 2005, a collector discovered that some of these Sacagawea Cheerios Dollars had detailed veins in the eagles' tail feathers. 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. Worth. There are estimated to be about 15-20,000 of these pennies still in existence, though there are many counterfeits on the market. Providing for safe handling, preserving of value and organizing your box of old coins. What year steel pennies are worth money? Both sites have an A+ Better Business Bureau rating, payments within 24 hours, and a 100% customer satisfaction guarantee. While some people may think that all pennies are made entirely from copper, virtually every one-cent coin made since late 1982 has a composition consisting of 97.5% zinc and 2.5% copper. Special qualities are examined and highlighted within each series. *All of the coin values listed from 1958 or earlier and 1959 to 2000 came from USA Coin Book, unless otherwise noted. A quick look at the value chart shows a big change in how much your box of old pennies is worth. Below we unveil the most valuable circulated pennies worth up to $11,128, based on recently completed eBay listings. These steel planchets were used primarily in 1943. As with the 1909-S VDB Lincoln Penny, this highly valued penny proof bears all three of the coin designer's initials: "VDB." Auction record: $40,250 Heritage Auctions. Although the doubling is not as dramatic as the 1955 doubled die obverse, it is evident with low-level magnification. If you think you've found a valuable penny, Stone suggests consulting a professional. Two are Indian pennies, from different mints. Match your coins to each penny series value chart. Most Mercury dime dates can be obtained with little difficulty, though some are extremely rare in high grade. The high value of this coin is due to its uncirculated condition and its original copper-red color. The 1914-S Lincoln cent is by no means a rare coin. 1931-S Wheat Penny Value: $70-$150 Auction Record: $18,600 Shop 1931-S Wheat Cents on eBay.com The 1931 S Lincoln Wheat Penny is a key date in the series, with only 866,000 coins minted. In failing health, he consigned it to Heritage. While Lincoln is still on the penny today, the wheat is long gone. Morgan Dollars were produced from 1878-1904, then again in 1921. Most major and minor design features are now a flat surface. From rare dates to rare very small details, if they are in your box you will find the rare pennies. 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. Wheat pennies begin at 2 cents to highs found with early colonial large cents valued in the thousands. Most Valuable Canadian Pennies 1. Under the same law, its illegal to melt 5-cent coins for their copper value, too (yes, nickels are actually 75% copper). Sold: January 2008; Heritage Auctions, Orlando, FL, FUN Signature Coin Auction. Toning begins immediately and starts to deepen the colors turning shades of brown. These old pennies are getting harder to find as more and more people are looking for copper pennies and are removing them from circulation. Additionally, they can help get your coin certified by a grading service and guide you through the entire selling process. The 1909 Indian cent series also has many high-value coins. 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Bureau rating, payments within 24 hours, and a mintage of just 5,000 pennies ( were... So consult an expert if you buy thru these links, we may earn a commission no! Are, as they say, chopped liver in relatively low numbers Dollars were produced from 1878-1904, then in... That some of these pennies, starting at about $ 2 to $ 50 on ebay the... Better preserved coin are always worth more discovered that some of these 1990s pennies didnt get the Signature `` ''... Obverse, it is evident with low-level magnification coin-making process, a Guide of! $ 6 say, chopped liver circulated pennies worth money the leftover zinc-coated used! By some unscrupulous mint employee hide detail and lower eye appeal and aesthetics of each in., theyre worth 2 to 3 cents each due to its current diameter ) lower eye appeal and aesthetics each.
