You're likely to be offered a small fraction of what they're worth.. Additionally, they can help get your coin certified by a grading service and guide you through the entire selling process. 1922 No D plain Lincoln Wheat Penny, $2,050 Repairs to a damaged coin die left the 1922-D cent without any visible trace of its mint mark, leaving a coin that many thought back in the mid 1920s was a typical unmarked penny from the Philadelphia Mint. The United States government banned melting copper pennies in 2006. *All of the coin values listed from 1958 or earlier came from USA Coin Book, unless otherwise noted. The Half Dollar coin had silver in it until 1970. $55. Its believed that less than 30 copper 1943 pennies exist from across all three mints (Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco) operating at that time. 1982 Lincoln Penny. 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. (Most pennies minted that year have very definite spaces between those letters.). One sold at a Heritage sale in 2012 for more than $20,000, according to Coin World. These old pennies are getting harder to find as more and more people are looking for copper pennies and are removing them from circulation. Brasher doubloon, initials on the chest 1787 "Ex Bushnell-Garret Collection". Preparing and selling wheat pennies for the best value is possible. While the designs appear similar, the fonts and some design elements were changed. In honor of George Washingtons 200th birthday, the U.S. government held a competition to redesign the quarter. Grading is judging the surfaces and identifying the amount of wear or lack of wear. They also offer professional coin grading. The 1995 Double Die Obverse Lincoln Memorial Cent became a rare penny (and a valuable collector's item) after a doubling error occurred. Some of these one cent coins are worth hundreds! In the bison series, there were several coins discovered to have a large die gouge a raised feature that appears on a coin when a die is damaged. Admittedly not the most popular coin, however those collecting the series are very serious. Most of these S-Mint Lincoln Memorial cents have been pulled from circulation, so they rarely turn up in pocket change anymore. Coins in this condition are few and far between and are truly treasures to behold. Like the previous two pennies mentioned, the wording on both sides is doubled, plus there's a doubling of the date. They are usually dark brown in color, but occasionally red. From Cents to Gold. Condition is one of the subtle steps affecting penny values. Special qualities are examined and highlighted within each series. When an example as fine as this one crosses the auction block, it is certain to set record prices. Without further ado, my Top 10 Rare Canadian Pennies! Coins are in order from Most to Least expensive. In 1856, the price of copper rose to the point that it took more than a penny's worth of copper to make a penny. 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. Ive written extensively about the values of Lincoln wheat pennies and invite you check out a few of these articles: Heres how to tell what a penny is made of whether its a copper penny or a copper-plated zinc penny. A penny's worth depends on its quality and rarity. This created an overnight sensation among coin collectors, and this penny has become known as the "Holy Grail" for collectors of Lincoln pennies. And, yes, theyre made from copper, too with one exception: steel pennies. The Philadelphia mint produced about 20 bronze/copper coins in 1943, making this one incredibly rare and valuable. Sold: January 2013; Stack's Bowers Galleries, Americana Auction. Note: Mint marks are used to distinguish coins by where they were minted. In the close "AM" variety, the "FG" is closer to the building. Most Valuable Half Dollars: A List Of Silver Half Dollars, Kennedy Half Dollars & Others Worth Holding Onto! Also, in the 1930s and 40s, most coin collectors acquired their coins from circulation, so it is not hard to find a circulated example of a 1926-S Lincoln penny. However, an 1877 Indian penny is rare and highly valuable. The doubling on the 1969-S Doubled Die Obverse is especially prominent in the words "LIBERTY" and "IN GOD WE TRUST," he said. Primarily its overall appearance sets the initial eye appeal impression. Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription. In fact, only 852,500 were originally minted, and only a small fraction of 1877 pennies from the original mintage remain today. The San Francisco branch mint began coining Indian pennies. These are Lincoln penny coins to look for in circulation or in your pocket change. 1856 through 1858 cents stand out as sought-after collector coins because of the bold flying eagle design. It is believed that less than 100 examples of the authentic 1969-S Doubled Die Obverse cents still exist, with only 40 examples ever certified. You do the same comparing to images of the different grades and matching your coin. 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. What makes this coin extremely valuable is the fact that it was struck on a zinc-coated steel planchet. Source: PGCS.com 1944 Steel Cents 1944 Steel Wheat Penny struck in San Francisco Mint. This 1999 S penny looks almost identical to the last one on this list, except, you guessed it, the A and the M are closer together. From rare dates to rare very small details, if they are in your box you will find the rare pennies. How to Video: | Grading Indian Head Pennies, How to Video: | Grading Lincoln Wheat Pennies. James Bucki is a nationally-recognized coin collector and numismatic expert and author, sharing his knowledge and specialized training in coin grading, minting errors, and collection techniques. 1909 S VDB Lincoln Wheat Penny - $1,725 . This coin was first discovered in 1970 and was reported by Coin World on the front page in its July 8, 1970 edition. Easily sort and value your coins, an important step in preparing for selling and finding coin buyers. Since pennies hold a special place in almost every coin collector's heart, demand for high-quality coins can drive the value through the roof. Lincoln pennies minted from 1959 to 1982 are made of 95 percent copper and have about 2.5 cents worth of copper in them. Approximately 8,000 to 10,000 coins were reportedly found in Sandusky, Ohio, where they were handed out at Cedar Point Amusement Park as change. Pennies Worth Money In the United States over 70 billion pennies have been minted in the last decade alone. Their demand is supporting strong values, high condition examples are avidly sought. Of all the cents currently in circulation these pennies are worth the most money. In fact, in 2019, a 1943 bronze Lincoln cent sold at auction for $204,000, and in 2015, a Birch cent, one of America's first pennies, was bought for $2.6 million dollars. However, some Lincoln cents have more than a penny's worth of copper in them, but it is illegal to melt them. Auction record: $372,000 Heritage Auctions*. These are some of the most valuable coins in circulation, based on PCGS record auction pricing: Online appraisals for valuation and selling purposes are available for free, including by auction houses that will list your item. Similar to the 1972 penny mentioned, the 1971 S penny has a doubling error on both sides. How often have you found an S mint Lincoln Memorial copper penny in pocket change? Sculptor Victor D. Brenner was asked by the U.S. Mint to design a coin depicting Abraham Lincoln in celebration of his centennial birthday. Collectibles come and go. At a glance, these coins read In God We Rust, but you may be able to see a faint T on some coins if you look for it. Small Pieces of Copper Worth Huge Amounts of Money. Old coins and collections are enjoyed because the eye appeal and aesthetics of each example in the set. While most pennies are only worth a few bucks, highly coveted ones might be sitting in your pocket or stuck somewhere in your couch cushions. Because not many of these pennies were minted, proof coins of either variety are valuable. So far, this article has been mainly centered around looking for copper Lincoln Memorial cents which were minted from 1959 through 1982. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); CoinTrackers.com is an invaluable resource dedicated to helping the coin collector and silver community. In this case, the doubling is on the reverse of the coin. Its just not worth it. Jaime Hernandez wrote on PCGS that one of the things making this coin so rare is the low amount of coins that were collected this year versus in 1909. Match your coin to the image links in Step 1 and visit; how to determine in-depth penny values of your coin. This coin is the second example of a 1943 Lincoln cent that should have been struck on a zinc-plated steel planchet but was instead coined on a bronze planchet. Although it may sound like a lot, the average mintage numbers are usually in the millions! 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. *This list of most valuable pennies refers to problem-free coins grading Extremely Fine-40 on the Sheldon Grading Scale. Match your coins to each penny series value chart. Any one of these coins in circulated or uncirculated condition is extremely rare. Wheat pennies begin at 2 cents to highs found with early colonial large cents valued in the thousands. 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. As a result, demand for United States coinage was at an all-time low, and families struggled to make ends meet. Often it is these subtle points elevating a coin to solid collector quality and appeal. I primarily collect and study U.S. coins produced during the 20th century. Im also the editor at the Florida United Numismatists Club (FUN Topics magazine), and author of Images of America: The United States Mint in Philadelphia (a book that explores the colorful history of the Philadelphia Mint). All Rights Reserved. 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. She is also the co-author of "The Geek Gap" and vice president of the American Society of Journalists and Authors. Note: Images within blue borders are Links to the Penny Values series. He has over 50 years of numismatic and writing experience, including a monthly magazine column for the American Numismatic Association. (Collectors refer to the obverse of a coin as the front or "heads" side usually bearing a portrait.) Lutes owned the coin until his death in 2018. Step 1 above are image links to match your coin. If you find a 1983 penny with everything doubled, the Lincoln Memorial Building included, save it for a rainy day. Under the same law, its illegal to melt 5-cent coins for their copper value, too (yes, nickels are actually 75% copper). 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. Coins that are in higher grades, come under suspicion that they may have been helped by a mint employee. Brenner added his initials V.D.B. That makes them much easier to find than the 1969 Doubled Die coins. To identify this ultra-valuable penny, take a close look at the date and mint mark. Most major and minor design features are now a flat surface. Minda Zetlin is a freelance writer covering business, money, tech and collectibles. Stone estimates that 15 to 20 are known to collectors today, although it's possible that there are a few that have not yet been accounted for. 1873 doubled Liberty Open 3 Indian Head penny, $1,650 This is simply another version of the 1873 doubled die Indian Head penny. Older copper pennies are 95% copper and 5% something else. Values range widely for Wheat Pennies, starting at a few cents to more than $200,000. Proceeds of the sale went to the Berkshire Athenaeum in his hometown of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, according to the Dallas-based auction house. Read more in our privacy policy. The 1958 Doubled-Die Obverse penny is one of the rarest pennies ever made. Old US Penny Values | Discover Their Worth Coin Values Moving with Precious Metals: Up-Dated 4/3/2023: Gold $1956 | Silver $23.68 Old US Penny Values are Rising Collectors and their pursuit of nice coins is pushing old US penny values higher. It is unknown how only three examples got to leave the United States Mint facility in Philadelphia, but because all of them are in Mint State Red condition, it is speculation that they may have been smuggled out of the mint by an unscrupulous mint employee. The 1969-S doubled die penny is among the most valuable Lincoln Memorial pennies, which were minted from 1959 through 2008. These newer, zinc-based Lincoln cents are often called Zincolns and are widely available in circulation today. At least, that's what was supposed to happen. Professional Coin Grading Serviceoffers a coin price guide where you can search for the current value of collectible coins. Accidents can produce the rarest coins. Large cents, recognized by the denomination on the reverse, are worth close inspection. Estimated coin prices and values in our database are updated twice per year. This coin was heavily circulated and was commonly subjected to the widespread use of "penny boards" in the 1930s and 40s, which people use to collect coins from circulation. One example circulated for a while before being picked up by a collector. The finest known 1792 Birch cent sold at a Heritage auction in 2015 for nearly $2.6 million, making it the most ever paid for a one-cent piece at auction, he said. Coin Values Moving with Precious Metals: Up-Dated 4/17/2023: Gold $2009 | Silver $25.38. This is a labor of love you might say, so it is resource intensive and slow. On April 25, 2013, a coin owned by Walton family heirs once believed to be fake was authenticated as the real fifth coin. The four currently operating U.S. Mints are: Auction record: $2,185 Heritage Auctions. Visitors can click on the links in the list below to view larger images of both sides of the coins (mint mark locations, error/variety diagnosis, etc), detailed pricing data for various conditions/grades of the coins, mintage figures, metal composition, history and other encyclopedic information regarding each individual coin. From half cents, large cents, Indian pennies, and Lincoln cents all have unique examples of value added by special qualities. Keep reading to learn which pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters, and other coins are worth a lot of money if youre lucky enough to have them in your possession. All Lincoln wheat pennies are worth a minimum of 3 to 5 cents each, though many are worth more. Want to know what the most valuable pennies are? 1969 Washington Quarter. As with the 1909-S VDB Lincoln Penny, this highly valued penny proof bears all three of the coin designer's initials: "VDB." Pennies that are older typically hold more value. 2010 - 2023 USA Coin Book. For example, many of the doubled die entries on the list above (such as the 1971, 1972, 1983, and 1984 doubled die Lincoln cents) are much scarcer in number than the 1877 Indian Head cent or 1914-D Lincoln cent, but are not as widely collected, thus the values of those somewhat more obscure coins are lower. Early date Lincoln pennies and higher condition coins are on the move. I, on the other hand, am simply holding onto my copper pennies with no particular plans except to perhaps search them someday for varieties, errors, and other interesting numismatic aberrations. 2004-D Wisconsin Extra Leaf Quarters have extra husks on the left side of the corn stamped onto the coin. Of all the cents currently in circulation these pennies are worth the most money. Are you concerned the precious metals train has left the station without you. You'll also spot a faintly visible ghost-like "D" mintmark floating halfway above the primary "D" mintmark. 1971 Kennedy Half Dollar. The better the quality of the coin, the more it could be worth. Keep coin roll hunting and a. A penny or cent is one-hundredth of a dollar, which means a hundred cents or pennies make a dollar. At Coin Values, we are always staying on top of the latest changes in coin prices, and we have a list of the top 25 most valuable pennies. 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. 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. While it is uncirculated and retains its original copper-red color from the day it was minted, the date and mintmark combination sets this coin apart from all others. Some series are more valuable than others. The doubling occurs from mistakes in the minting process, James Bucki, a coin expert at The Spruce Crafts, explained to CNBC Make It. In the French-speaking parts of Canada, the coin is sometimes called a black cent (cenne noire) or black penny (sou noir). Gray asked a collector named Robert Teitelbaum to sell the illegal coins and to place 85 of them into circulation in Washington. While a circulating coin typically lasts 30 to 40 years, some lucky collectors have found pennies minted in the mid-1900s in their pocket change. Some pennies, originally worth a single cent, are now worth thousands of dollars. This double die is easy to see with the naked eye, with: Auction record: $14,400 Heritage Auctions. "It's especially obvious in the words 'ONE CENT' and 'E PLURIBUS UNUM.' Heritage auctioned a similar one in slightly lower grade for $186,000 earlier this month," he said. 1969-S doubled die penny is among the most money what pennies are worth money today and identifying the amount of wear of! Grades and matching your coin old coins and to place 85 of them circulation... 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