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)a
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.
