Image: fleur-de-coin. If you ever thought to discard the loose pennies in your coin purse, hold off. The pennies that aren't on this list are worth only a nominal amount usually between 3 cents and $1. 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. Slightly more than 4 million of them were minted. The uncirculated, proof pennies are more valuable than the circulated pennies. But these are some of the most prominent in history of U.S. Mint. The pieces were shown to members of Congress and subsequently destroyed. Plancet Even if they are in fairly bad condition, these coins are worth over $500 each. He has a background in History and is deeply interested in how gold and silver have historically fit into the financial system. Join us today for FREE! Our most valuable coins list includes coins starting in 1793 up to the present (2023). 1909 S VDB Lincoln Wheat Penny - $1,725. Penny coin collecting is one of--if not the most--popular U.S. coin to collect, many collectors have started out collecting the humble penny, and many still avidly search for pennies to finish their collections. Image: PCGS CoinFacts. While there are very few guarantees in the rare coin industry, you can always count on nice, problem-free coins yielding better returns on your investment than coins that have been cleaned or have nicks, dents, scratches, and holes. 1 oz South African Gold Krugerrand - Random Dates, 2019 Patriot 1 oz Proof Like Silver Round - American Revolution, 1 oz Canadian Platinum Maple Leaf - Random Date. 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. The values are the same whether the . While authentic steel pennies will stick to magnets, fakes that are copper and zinc-coated will not. Prices are in the range of $450,000. Additionally, it has been sufficiently well preserved to retain its original bright red-copper color. 2010-present. Aside from carefully scrutinizing your pocket change, there are a few other places you should be looking. According to The Official Red Book: A Guide Book of United States Coins, in 1922 the Denver mint struck a number of pennies using heavily worn dies. It's important to note that all error coins are made at the mint. Image: CoinWeek. The ISO 20022 crypto-list is a collection of compliant digital coins and tokens that satisfy the standards of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standards 20022. You can earn up to $30 for the uncirculated ones. It's no surprise this coin is so valuable given its current population is just two. Related: What Quarters Are Worth Money? The most exciting thing is you can find some of these rare, valuable pennies easily because they're still in circulation. 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. 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. Get DIY project ideas and easy-to-follow crafts to help you spruce up your space. This simply means carefully looking through a group of coins one-by-one. Size: 30.8mm. The edge (i.e. Wheat pennies were a way to honor President Abraham Lincoln's 100 anniversary. This list and the prices are current as of 2023. A quick way to check the authenticity of a 1944 steel penny is to see if it sticks to a magnet, according to Coin Trackers. 2004-D Extra Leaf Wisconsin quarters. Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription. Noting an unusual-looking coin is a good start, but being familiar with famous error types is an even better approach. A similar mistake occurred with the circulation-strike Roosevelt dimes that came from the Philadelphia Mint in 1982. Earlier this year, an ordinary looking penny made headlines when it was found among. What follows are the 11 through 25th most valuable pennies: 1917 doubled die Lincoln Wheat Penny, $1,350 1909-S VDB Lincoln Wheat Penny, $1,025 1869/9 Indian Head penny, $865 1858/7 Flying Eagle penny, $760 1914-D Lincoln Wheat Penny, $760 1909-S Indian Head penny, $750 1872 Indian Head penny, $625 1869 Indian Head penny, $450 1937 D 3 Legs Buffalo Nickel. The cent, the United States one-cent coin (symbol: ), often called the " penny ", is a unit of currency equaling one one-hundredth of a United States dollar. Image: fleur-de-coin. Identify the different series to begin. 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. In some cases, it might be worth only $2.25. However, after many complaints, the United States Mint changed back to the regular copper planchets beginning in 1944. In 1877, the economic slump that began in 1873 continued with full force. Coins that are in higher grades, come under suspicion that they may have been helped by a mint employee. Astonishingly, the mint took the curious step of seizing one of the aluminum cents, deeming the coin to be government property. If you liked this list, you might want to check out the one we published more recently on the most expensive precious metals . These new coins are known as the Lincoln Shield Reverse penny. While 484,000 were struck, several population estimates suggest only 50,000 to 100,000 may still exist a fairly large number indeed, but much lower than mintage numbers suggest. In 1909, The United States Mint replaced the Indian Head penny with the Lincoln cent. But two zinc-plated steel planchets somehow ended up in the coining press in the San Francisco mint. USA Coin Book has compiled a list of the most valuable US pennies ever known. 1982 No P Roosevelt dime. The U.S. Penny---which actually has an official title of "cent"---is currently the lowest face-value physical currency, equaling one one-hundredth of a dollar. It's not uncommon to find one in circulation even to this day. Coin Chart: Tap a '+' sign to expand further coin details. Even if you find nothing, the coins (as legal tender) are still worth exactly what you paid for them. Check out this list of the most valuable nickels, along with their current values. 4. The second version has an extra leaf that points downward. All rights reserved, Girls HS Basketball Team Forfeits Game Because It Refused to Play Against a Team With a Transgender Player, Feds Expand Probe Into Migrant Child Labor in Slaughterhouses, This 26-Year-Old Pays $0 to Live in a Luxury Tiny Home' She Built for $35,000 in Her Backyard Take a Look Inside, Winter Storm May Bring More NYC Snow Friday and a Complex Mess to Millions: What to Expect, Kylie Jenner's Ex, Rapper Travis Scott, Wanted in $12,000 Manhattan Nightclub Mayhem, 4 Ferraris Stolen on Long Island in Service Center Heist. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. If you're looking to sell (or buy) pennies and coins online then be sure to check out the different types of pennies and value guides below to get an idea of how much your penny is worth. Victor David Brenner created the design under the auspices of President Theodore Roosevelt. Sold: January 2008; Heritage Auctions, Orlando, FL, FUN Signature Coin Auction. Working out how much old pennies are worth can be difficult, but the following page will help inform you as to whether your old penny is valuable. Planchet Errors: A "planchet" is another word for the blanks that are used to make coins. A proof penny, only 57,500 minted, is worth $45 or more. Redeem for a Luck Potion. The following is a list of some of the most popular gold quarters that have been produced over the years: 2005 California Quarter - This quarter was produced in 2005 to commemorate California's entry into the Union in 1850. A copper shortage prompted the mint to switch the one-cent coin to a steel composition, coated in zinc. 1955 DDO Lincoln Cent The 1955 doubled die obverse Lincoln cent remains one of the most iconic coinsof any kindin United States history. Additionally, some scam artists copper-plate steel coins. Here's a list of the top 10 most valuable pennies for 2023: 1) 1944 Steel Wheat Penny - $408,000. While the two most valuable coins on this list are coincidentally the rarest (between 20 and 40 specimens each of the 1943 bronze cent and 1944 steel cent are thought to exist), the order of which coins are most valuable doesnt necessarily correspond with the order of rarity. In 1864, the Civil War was dragging on, and the United States economy was extremely fragile. (I know that doesn't sound like a lot, but it's much more than a nickel's face value of 5 cents! Only 19 examples are known, and virtually all of them are in mint state. 1982 Lincoln Cent small date/zinc 2.5g A 1944 Lincoln penny struck at the Denver, Colorado mint facility is nothing special. Image: Presidential Dollar Guide. Today, either the High Leaf or Low Leaf varieties sell for between $50 and $100. 1992-D Close AM: $500. Well here you go a list of the most valuable pennies, each worth more than $1 apiece! Today, it still ranks as perhaps the most well-known error among all American coins. The 1975 D penny can be around $1 if it is MS 65 grade and hasn't been part of the circulation. Its also one of my favorite coins! They were made of 95% copper until 1982. These odd-looking coins are often some of the most valuable pieces that you can potentially find in pocket change. Must read: How To Determine The Grade Of A Coin. But, of course, rarity is a significant factor in determining a penny's worth. Coins from Philadelphia usually don't have a mint mark. The list above also doesnt include proof Lincoln cents which you wouldnt ordinarily findin circulation. A doubled die coin of any era is usually pretty scarce to begin with, but an Indian Head cent is scarcer still. Here, we will look at the most valuable wheat penny errors list. This time the culprit was the leftover zinc-coated steel planchets. 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. Its possible these coins may be hiding in the basement, inside an attic box, or even inside your penny jar. I have a 2000 Lincoln penny that is really messed up on both sides. More coin collecting articles from the authors at Gainesville Coins: Most Valuable Dimes: Comprehensive List for Collectors, Coin Collecting for Kids: A Beginner's Guide. Struck on the planchet of "golden dollar" coins that debuted in 2000, the normal reverse is paired with the familiar obverse of a Washington quarter. If a coin dealer is overstocked with the coin you are trying to sell, she is more likely to offer you less money for it. 2010 - 2023 USA Coin Book. The 1969-S (San Francisco Mint) is no exception, and its not only one of the most expensive small cents, but also the priciest among the Lincoln Memorial series. These 30 Pennies Are Worth Over $20 Million By Dawn Schuster - 12/1/20 Coin collections have always drawn people's attention, whether it's for a hobby or to make money. This created an overnight sensation among coin collectors, and this penny has become known as the "Holy Grail" for collectors of Lincoln pennies. The 1943 bronze cents are exceptionally valuable, easily crossing the $100,000 threshold. The U.S. cent was actually about the same size as the current dollar coins until 1857 when it was changed to the size it is now. An 1872 Indian Head penny is a scarce coin but can readily be found at any coin show or coin dealer in circulated grades. contains affiliate links. 3. 1975 No S Proof Roosevelt dime. A third-party grading service such as PCGS or NGC can authenticate the coin and tell you if it's a valuable error or not. The collector also ensured that the coin was correctly stored to preserve its color. When the U.S. switched from bronze alloy to zinc-plated steel pennies in 1943, only a relative handful of bronze pennies slipped through. You could be throwing away thousands of dollars. Mules are one of the strangest and most amusing kinds of errors. Remember, a substantial fraction of the coins that were once minted no longer survive today, as many have been lost, melted, or damaged beyond recognition. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. 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! This very first penny was only minted for the one year, in 1787. Small Pieces of Copper Worth Huge Amounts of Money. If you use these links to buy something we may earn a commission. 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