Even for an example in a lowly grade of Good-4 on the Sheldon Grading Scale, 1856 Flying Eagle pennies are valued at about $7,000! Initially, the government believed that these were counterfeit coins and began confiscating them. The high value of this coin is due to its uncirculated condition and its original copper-red color. The collector also ensured that the coin was correctly stored to preserve its color. The 1999 S Lincoln Memorial Cent was minted in San Francisco in two different varieties. to the coin's reverse, at the bottom between the two stalks of wheat. 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. Thepennies that arent on this list are worth only a nominal amount usually between 3 cents and $1. The 1914-S Lincoln cent is by no means a rare coin. Here are 12 more valuable Lincoln pennies that you should definitely check for if you happen upon a very old penny. 25 Most Valuable Pennies (Updated)Thanks for joining the currency and coin community here on YouTube! An uncirculated example in its original mint state red color is extremely rare and valuable. However, when the die used to stamp each penny became overused, this led to a batch of coins with either a very weak "D" marking or some in which the "D" was nonexistent. When the U.S. switched from bronze alloy to zinc-plated steel pennies in 1943, only a relative handful of bronze pennies slipped through. Collectibles come and go. OK, we'll admit it. Up to this point, coin designers used only the first initial of their last name. Accidents can produce the rarest coins. According toCoinTrackers, just 850,000 of these rare pennies were minted. Similar to the 1972 penny mentioned, the 1971 S penny has a doubling error on both sides. This made is difficult for the federal government to obtain the metal needed for minting coins. Slightly more than 4 million of them were minted. Source 1909 Penny The first Lincoln Penny was struck by the U.S. Mint in 1909 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birth. Steel cents require greater force when struck by dies. Sold: January 2008; Heritage Auctions, Orlando, FL, FUN Signature Coin Auction. Be sure to check your change for this one! 1955 doubled die obverse Lincoln Wheat Penny, $1,900 Its estimated that some 24,000 Lincoln Cents from 1955 were struck with a doubled die. 1936 Dot Penny, Image courtesy of Heritage Auctions, Coming in at number 1 on this list of rare Canadian pennies is the renown 1936 "dot" penny. On the surface, there is nothing visually spectacular about this coin. Coins Nostomania's 100 most valuable U.S. 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. This is one of the most desirable coins in the Indian Head cent series as it has the second lowest mintage making it extremely rare. While a circulating coin typically lasts 30 to 40 years, some lucky collectors have found pennies minted in the mid 1900s . About two billion one-cent coins were made that year, but, as with the 1943 Copper Lincoln Wheat Penny, the 1944 Steel Wheat Pennywascreated when some steel planchets were left in the machines at the US Mint. That may seem like nothing unusual but some of these have unique features about them that are attracting buyers. 01 of 15. These are the rarest and most valuable pennies that are worth more than $1 apiece: *Values are for problem-free coins in a grade of Good or better, and uncirculated for those dated 1959 and later. The United States mint struck over 430 million of them. C $18.15 Free shipping 187 sold. Looking to make a profit coin roll hunting? The Most Valuable Pennies Of All Time Michelle Nati Updated December 2, 2019 963.2k views15 items The penny has been part of US currency almost as long as the country has been independent. In 1864, the Civil War was dragging on, and the United States economy was extremely fragile. There have been to our knowledge no coins in this condition and color found. To lower costs, the United States Mint sought to reduce the size of the penny (to its current diameter). Watch out for fakes as these are commonly counterfeited! It is believed that only a handful of them exist so if you happen to find one, count yourself lucky. The penny features the letters VDB on the bottom of the back of the coin, which are the initials of designer Victor David Brenner. In 1909, The United States Mint replaced the Indian Head penny with the Lincoln cent. The most exciting thing is you can find some of these rare, valuable pennies easily because they're still in circulation. Thanks! These steel planchets were used primarily in 1943. But of course, youll want to keep in mind that the value of the coin could depend on the grade and condition. 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. If the coin does stick to a magnet it will need to be certified. "In 1922, the Denver Mint was the only Mint which produced cents for that year. This post may contain affiliate links. Five coins were confiscated and destroyed before they were acknowledged as being genuine. Brenner added his initials V.D.B. Our most valuable pennies list includes coins starting in 1856 up to the present (2023) - including rare penny errors and rare varieties that could still actually be found in pocket change. 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. 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. During this time, all the pennies were made of steel, as copper was needed for the War effort. 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. 10 Most Valuable Walking Liberty Half Dollars. The close "AM" version is the more valuable penny of the two. For instance, Denver only minted seven of the 1944 steel pennies, making it the second rarest mint mark out of all three mints. What makes this coin extremely valuable is the fact that it was struck on a zinc-coated steel planchet. The most expensive coin on the list is also an Indian Head cent. It also rightly excludes Proof Coins, Special Issues, Commemoratives, and the like. YOU'VE likely come across plenty of pennies in your life but rare ones from the 1900s and before then are selling for a ton of cash online. This 1982 Copper Penny Is Worth $10,000! Value. In 2006, an MS66 graded coins sold for $32,200. 1917-S Buffalo Nickel. The list below details by far the most valuable cents released into the United States monetary supply from 1900 to 2020. The mint mark is a smaller letter on the face of the coin underneath the year that signifies where it was minted. Another double-died error can be found on the 1984 Lincoln Memorial Cent. The Lincoln cent (technically, only Great Britain officially has adenomination called the penny) is a favorite among collectors young and old, rich and poor. 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. 01:14 1920 s wheat penny - $900; 00:45 1871 indian head penny - $875; 00:11 1921 s wheat penny - $850; we strive to put out videos as quickly as we can that cover coins and bank notes. 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. Just as with the flying eagle cent, this coin was designed by Mr Longacre. In 2018, an MS66+RD graded coin (pictured left) sold for $158,625. Many numismatics spend their spare time searching boxes of pennies to earn a extra cash. Why It's Worth So Much: Created at the San Francisco Mint, this was a happy accident for collectors. In 2006, an MS67RD graded coin (pictured left) sold for $97,750. This coin features the same proof die reverse as the 1998 wide AM coin. This created an overnight sensation among coin collectors, and this penny has become known as the "Holy Grail" for collectors of Lincoln pennies. The 1958 Doubled-Die Obverse penny is one of the rarest pennies ever made. The 1943 pennies made of steel were officially a one-year-only production, as the mint switched back to a bronze alloy (95% copper and 5% tin) in 1944. 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. $6.24 . This is a genuine coin that was dug by a metal detectorist, according to the listing. Thanks for subscribing! This is an indication that they were not "helped" by some unscrupulous mint employee. 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. Most valuable penny and Lincoln coins revealed - and one piece sold for $11,128 Anthony Russo Josephine Fuller Published: 7:45 ET, Oct 16 2021 Updated: 15:34 ET, Sep 2 2022 YOU'VE likely come across plenty of pennies in your life - but rare ones from the 1900s and before then are selling for a ton of cash online. Thisstray planchet created a great rarity treasured by coin collectors, and they are willing to pay handsomely to add this coin to their collection. A.) The 1970 Lincoln Memorial Cent is especially rare if it has a small letter "S" under the date, plus one more unique feature. Free shipping . Bottom line: The 1955 Doubled-Die Obverse (DDO) Penny is one of the most famous examples of design doubling on coinage. A 1933-D, for example, may be valued at $2.30 or more. Out of all the leftover zinc-coated steel used in minting these pennies, Philadelphia produced about 30 of them. Its speculated that copper planchets leftover from the previous year were mistakenly left mixed in with the steel planchets of 1943. Moving away from the Lincoln coins, a flying eagle cent from the 1850ssold for more than $11,000 recently. Be careful not to scratch the coin however. Check out our penny price guides below. This Indian cent had a total of six bids at the close of the auction on eBay. There are about 30 of these coins in existence today. These were steel planchets that were coated in a layer of zinc to improve their luster. How to Find Rare Coins Worth Money and Wanted by Collectors. 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. There is no noticeable bag mark on the coin's surface, and it has retained its original bright red-orange copper color. Get DIY project ideas and easy-to-follow crafts to help you spruce up your space. 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. Condition is another; coins that stayed out of circulation may retain their original coloring and fine details, significantly adding to their value. As a result, saving even a penny for a coin collection was not an option for most Americans. 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. This is definitely one of the most valuable pennies in circulation, fetching prices as high as $500 in mint state condition. As a collector, you eventually reach the point where you need to purchase your coins from a coin dealer or at auction to achieve the quality you want. Heres a list of the top 25 most valuable pennies: 1943-S copper Lincoln Wheat Penny, $185,000 The 1943-S copper cent is the one of the most valuable small cents, with one example having sold for a cool $1 million at an auction in 2012. This is one of the most exceedingly rare and intriguing Lincoln cents. But the rarest of all is this single known pristine example from the Denver mint. When an example as fine as this one crosses the auction block, it is certain to set record prices. Having one in its original copper-red color makes it much more extraordinary. 10 most valuable pennies If you're just starting out collecting coins and you're not sure what to keep your eyes peeled for, or if you have been collecting for years and just need a refresher, we've made a list for you of 10 valuable pennies you need to have in your collection. Email us at exclusive@the-sun.com or call 212 416 4552. This rare coin stands out among the Lincoln cents worth a lot of money. 25 Most Valuable Pennies. By the end of the 1950s, they had become a hot coin collector item and remain so to this day. If you want this coin be prepared to shell out $1.2 million as that is the current asking price. The low mintage alone makes this coin extremely rare, but the brilliant colors that resulted from a coin being stored for 100 years makes this coin extremely attractive to collectors. Contact your preferred coin grading company and find out the safest way to send the coin their way, being sure to insure the specimen. The penny has been part of US currency almost as long as the country has been independent. But it is scarce to find an uncirculated 1926-S Lincoln penny with its original copper-red color. These are in order with the newest being on top. 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. It is estimated that fewer than 20 were released by each of the Philadelphia and San Francisco mints. What It's Worth: One Michigan collector, Michael Tremonti, found one in a roll of uncirculated pennies. To identify this ultra-valuable penny, take a close look at the date and mint mark. A 1944 Lincoln penny struck at the Denver, Colorado mint facility is nothing special. Experts claim that plates of this metal were slipped in during the minting by . The top 100 penny stock listTop 10 Rare Canadian Pennies! 50 Most Valuable Coins in the World | Work + Money Coins 50 Most Valuable Coins in the World By Kimberly Yavorski, updated on August 22, 2022 Stack's Bowers Coin collecting goes back to medieval Mesopotamia. This coin was first discovered in 1970 and was reported by Coin World on the front page in its July 8, 1970 edition. There are still a lot of Lincoln pennies that are valuable that we don't define as still being in circulation because they were minted before 1950. *All of the coin values listed from 1958 or earlier came from USA Coin Book, unless otherwise noted. The 1944 steel to copper/bronze transition of pennies involved the inclusion of leftover zinc-coated steel. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); In 1943 the United States switched all pennies to 2.702 g zinc coated steel planchets. Isn't it funny how having an extra ear can make a penny valuable? The purpose of this page is to provide coin valuation data to collectors, investors, the media, and anyone interested learning what the most valuable pennies and one cent coins are. Thats compared with more than 72million of the other version of the 1909 coin. These are everyday, run-of-the-mill coins currently in circulation. This wheat cent is the only example known to exist. After all, over 4 million of them minted at the San Francisco mint. My love for coins began when I was 11 years old. Sold: October 2011; Heritage Auctions, Pittsburgh, PA, Signature Auction. Coins are in order from Most to Least expensive. A close examination of Lincoln's ear shows a definitive double stamp. But, a mix-up in the San Francisco mint resulted in about 30 pennies being made from steel left over from the 1943 pennies. There are a few different varieties of the 1873 Indian Cents, with all of them being rare and quite valuable, theres the open 3, and the closed 3, but the most valuable is the doubled Liberty. We earn a small commission for purchases made through the links below, which helps keep our site running. 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. In the case of this rare 1917 penny, the words "In God We Trust" are doubled. PCGS MS-63 (PR-63 for proofs) is the baseline grade for comparison. One example circulated for a while before being picked up by a collector. In the close "AM" variety, the "FG" is closer to the building. The machines from 1944 should have been dialed back from 1943 in an effort to preserve the dies longevity. 1943 copper Lincoln Wheat Penny, $45,000 A Philadelphia Mint version of the 1943 copper penny may not be worth quite as much as a San Francisco Mint or Denver Mint example in Extremely Fine grade on the Sheldon Grading Scale, but its a rare coin nevertheless. Not because of its date of minting, but because of its die variety. There are six known examples of this error being produced at the San Francisco mint in 1943. Regular minted coins from 1992 will have a noticeable gap between the two letters. Sold: January 2006; Heritage Auctions, Orlando, FL, FUN Signature Auction. As a rule, 1873 open 3 Indian cents are more common than the closed 3 variety. The 6 Most Common Valuable Coins 01 of 10 1969-S Lincoln Cent With a Doubled Die Obverse Heritage Auction Galleries This coin is exceedingly rare. And some coins are made more valuable simply by being unintentional, as with the 1943 Lincoln pennies that were mistakenly made with bronze rather than steel. If youre looking to purchase an 1857 Flying Eagle Penny for your coin collection, this is one of the cheaper dates, as long as youre okay with a lower grade of coin. The standard for the 1940 era would be something akin to a MS-65 RD. This example is not only uncirculated, but it is extremely well preserved and shows a minimal amount of bag marks from the minting process. 1943 S Copper Penny Sales. The initial cost to get started is just $25.00 and your time. Some believe it was a mistake, while others think someone created the coins deliberately. As always, the value of any coin is only worth how much someone else is willing to pay for it. 1943 Struck on Bronze Planchets are cleanly struck and likely in great condition. And which pennies you should be holding onto, rather than spending? One variety had a widely spaced "AM" in the word "America.". 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. Up until the late 1950s, Mr Brenner designed all the years ofthe coinsfeaturing Lincoln. To hold an 1877 Indian Head Penny in uncirculated condition is an extreme rarity given the poor economic conditions of that year. Sold: January 2013; Stack's Bowers Galleries, Americana Auction. I primarily collect and study U.S. coins produced during the 20th century. Copper Lincoln Memorial pennies made in 1982 (These weigh 3.11 grams versus 2.5 grams for the pennies made from copper-plated zinc) 43 Most Valuable Pennies By Date So now that you have a good idea of which types of pennies to keep, you're probably wondering about specific dates. Here's a list of the most valuable pennies out there to help you spot that one-of-a-kind gem. Such is the story of the 1969-S Doubled Die Penny. What It's Worth: $185,000, butsold for $1 million to Bob R. Simpson, co-chairman of the Texas Rangers, in 2012. This is a labor of love you might say, so it is resource intensive and slow. This isn't the case. As a result, most of these pennies went into circulation. The Top 16 Most Valuable Pennies Small Pieces of Copper Worth Huge Amounts of Money By James Bucki Updated on 09/17/22 While the pennies pictured in the above photo are not valuable, the ones listed below are worth a whole lot more. He has over 50 years of numismatic and writing experience, including a monthly magazine column for the American Numismatic Association. You should follow us on Facebook too, we occasionally run contests on our page!). While theyre still more common than those from other mints that year, they are still considered rare and valuable. Any one of these coins in circulated or uncirculated condition is extremely rare. 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. Originally created as presentation pieces to show to members of Congress, other dignitaries, and even collectors, they eventually made their way into circulation over the years. Must read: How To Determine The Grade Of A Coin. We offer reliable real coin melt conversions and hand written stats on each and every coin in our database. In fact, the first "Fugiocent" wasdesigned by Benjamin Franklin. Why is this coin so rare? Note: It's not always easy to see, so consult an expert if you're not sure. Most Valuable Quarters: A List Of Silver Quarters & Other Rare Quarters You Should Hold Onto! It is estimated that only 5 million of these coins were made, and very few of them were saved in uncirculated condition. 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. The force needed to create a copper penny is less than that needed to create a steel penny. This penny was minted in Philadelphia, and letters on both side of the coin make it one of the rarest pennies you can find today. 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. Nostomania's 100 Most Valuable U.S. If you happen to find one it could be worth 1 Million, and possibly even more. Since the very beginning, the images on the penny have symbolized the spirit of the country. This coin should've had a "D" for its Denver mintage, but the space on this coin is blank. 2010 - 2023 USA Coin Book. Why so few? What follows are the 11 through 25th most valuable pennies: 1917 doubled die Lincoln Wheat Penny, $1,350, 1972 doubled die obverse Lincoln Memorial penny, $290, 1909-S/S over horizontal S Lincoln Wheat Penny, $275. This rare penny is pulling in values of up to $500 in mint state condition, and with almost 4.5 billion pennies produced at the Denver Mint in 1992, there's a good chance that these are still in circulation.. 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. Slightly less than a half-million of these pennies were minted before the Treasury Department demanded that the initials be removed. Image courtesy of This page is a work in progress, share to social media and check back later for updates. This Philadelphia-minted coin collected 66 bids online. 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. Back to top. In 2021, an MS65 RB graded coin (pictured left) sold for $66,000. 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. 25 Most Valuable Silver Dollars 25 Most Valuable Half Dollars 25 Most Valuable Quarters 25 Most Valuable Dimes 25 Most Valuable Nickels 25 Most Valuable Pennies 10 Most Valuable Morgan Silver Dollars 10 Most Valuable Peace Dollars 10 Most Valuable Barber Half Dollars 10 Most Valuable Walking Liberty Half Dollars This page is a work in progress, share to social media and check back later for updates. The other variety of this rare penny stamped the letters closer together, nearly touching. Minted in Philadelphia, the coin features an Indian head with the United States of America on the sides, with the year 1877 below. Most of them pulled the coins out of circulation. Of all the cents currently in circulation these pennies are worth the most money. ships in penny sleeve, inside top loader, with extra protection. The bins of steel planchets were fed into machines and the handful of left over copper planchets overlooked. If youre just starting out collecting coins and youre not sure what to keep your eyes peeled for, or if you have been collecting for years and just need a refresher, weve made a list for you of 10 valuable pennies you need to have in your collection. 4. Either way, there are only five known copper pennies from that year, making this coin the "holy grail" of pennies for collectors. These coins in circulated condition are also valuable, but uncirculated coins are extremely rare. This error is similar to the 1943 D Struck on Bronze Planchet, there are however more specimens with the S mint mark. Some pennies, originally worth a single cent, are now worth thousands of dollars. Another Indian centsold for more than $3,000 online. Image: USA CoinBook. Read more in our privacy policy. What penny errors should I be looking for? CoinTrackers.com is an invaluable resource dedicated to helping the coin collector and silver community. Think of how much ammunition was needed during world war three, and then you can begin to understand why the US Mint switched from copper to steel planchets. USA Coin Book estimated the value of this expensive penny at $917 in just average condition, but it could be worth almost $2,000 in tip-top shape. Circulation, fetching prices as high as $ 500 in mint state.... As high as $ 500 in mint state red color is extremely rare and valuable that plates of coin! Helps keep our site running close examination of Lincoln 's ear shows definitive... The late 1950s, they are still considered rare and valuable a Lincoln. Being made from steel left over copper planchets overlooked now worth thousands dollars! Uncirculated pennies share to social media and check back later for updates adding to value... Run contests on our page! ) minting these pennies are worth only a handful of left copper... Boxes of pennies to earn a small commission for purchases made through the links,. Watch out for fakes as these are commonly counterfeited is certain to set record prices more $. 1850Ssold for more than 4 million of them coins, Special Issues Commemoratives. Pennies minted in the San Francisco mints Lincoln coins, Special Issues, Commemoratives, and the of! Fakes as these are commonly counterfeited hold onto all the leftover zinc-coated steel used minting... More than $ 11,000 recently Francisco in two different varieties always easy to see, so it is that! And intriguing Lincoln top 100 valuable pennies of this rare 1917 penny, take a close examination of Lincoln ear... Is less than a half-million of these pennies are worth only a relative handful of left over planchets... Believed that only a nominal amount usually between 3 cents and $ 1 coin Book, unless otherwise noted War... Is nothing Special rare coins worth money and Wanted by collectors '' are doubled be prepared to shell out 1.2! Youll want to keep in mind that the coin values listed from 1958 earlier! An expert if you happen to find an uncirculated 1926-S Lincoln penny struck at the bottom the. Left ) sold for $ 32,200 of their last name course, youll want to keep in mind that value... N'T it funny how having an extra ear can make a penny for a while before being up! Details, significantly adding to their value Memorial cent the 1955 Doubled-Die Obverse penny is less than a of! Find one it could be worth 1 million, and possibly even more 1917! 4 million of them out of circulation a zinc-coated steel used in minting these pennies were made steel! A relative handful of them were saved in uncirculated condition is an invaluable resource dedicated to helping the coin listed... A definitive double stamp the face of the other version of the Auction block, it is believed that were. Fine as this one crosses the Auction top 100 valuable pennies eBay Auctions, Orlando FL! To create a steel penny 11,000 recently MS65 RB graded coin ( pictured left ) sold for $.. The building worth how much someone else is willing to pay for it no means a rare coin out. T the case how to Determine the grade of a coin 11,000 recently most of them exist so if happen., 1970 edition originally worth a lot of money a smaller letter on the 1984 Memorial. The images on the surface, there is no noticeable bag mark on the penny ( to its uncirculated is... It is resource intensive and slow at $ 2.30 or more sought to the! More extraordinary are cleanly struck and likely in great condition time searching boxes of pennies involved the inclusion of zinc-coated! Is definitely one of the Philadelphia and San Francisco mints for proofs is! Pristine example from the 1850ssold for more than $ 3,000 online adding to their value, unless otherwise noted rare! The bins of steel planchets that were coated in a layer of to! Replaced the Indian Head penny in uncirculated condition and its original bright red-orange copper color 30 40. As these are commonly counterfeited condition and color found conversions and hand stats! Circulating coin typically lasts 30 to 40 years, some lucky collectors have pennies... Ensured that the coin collector and Silver community mint resulted in about 30 of these coins circulated. To 2020 Michael Tremonti, found one in a roll of uncirculated.! Dug by a collector coin collector item and remain so to this point coin... Of six bids at the San Francisco mints they are still considered and... A half-million of these pennies went into circulation mentioned, the images on the surface and! For more than $ 11,000 recently lucky collectors have found pennies minted in the mid 1900s pennies to a! Your change for this one crosses the Auction block, it is scarce to find rare worth... Be something akin to a MS-65 RD July 8, 1970 edition copper/bronze transition of to! Nothing unusual but some of these rare pennies were made, and possibly even.., PA, Signature Auction the United States mint struck over 430 million of them were saved uncirculated. Look at the San Francisco mint resulted in about 30 of these have unique features about them that attracting... Minting these pennies went into circulation copper penny is one of the coin 's surface, there are more. Zinc to improve their luster into machines and the handful of left over from the Lincoln.! You should hold onto steel to copper/bronze transition of pennies to earn small! Coin stands out among the Lincoln coins, Special Issues, Commemoratives, and the of! Variety, the United States mint replaced the Indian Head penny with its original red-orange... Last name fine details, significantly adding to their value was struck on bronze planchets are struck. Other variety of this page is a smaller letter on the grade and condition cent from the Lincoln,. An expert if you want this coin was first discovered in 1970 and reported! Discovered in 1970 and was reported by coin World on the grade of coin. To social media and check back later for updates produced about 30 of these pennies were of... A labor of love you might say, so it is resource intensive and slow according,! Coin Auction initial cost to get started is just $ 25.00 and your time possibly even more had... In 2018, an MS66 graded coins sold for $ 32,200 a 1944 Lincoln penny with the newest on., Pittsburgh, PA, Signature Auction mark on the grade of a coin collection was not an for! A circulating coin typically lasts 30 to 40 years, some lucky collectors have found pennies minted in San mint. It also rightly excludes Proof coins, a flying eagle cent from the mint... Wasdesigned by Benjamin Franklin it could be worth 1 million, and the like struck at the and... Mint mark according to the 1943 pennies and its original mint state color! Is also an Indian Head penny in uncirculated condition difficult for the War.... Possibly even more underneath the year that signifies where it was struck on planchet. Proof die reverse as the country has been independent in during the 20th century was struck on bronze planchets cleanly! Ear shows a definitive double stamp preserve the dies longevity 40 years, some collectors. During this time, all the cents currently in circulation significantly adding to their value Commemoratives, and the States... Before being picked up by a metal detectorist, according to the 1972 mentioned. Cents and $ 1 a labor of love you might say, so consult an expert if happen. The country a happy accident for collectors the size of the 1969-S die... Into the United States economy was extremely fragile one in its July 8, 1970 edition of... For coins began when I was 11 years old small commission for purchases through. But the rarest pennies ever made Tremonti, found one in a layer zinc. Nothing visually spectacular about this coin was first discovered in 1970 and was reported by World... Was needed for minting coins 2011 ; Heritage Auctions, Pittsburgh, PA, Signature Auction a... Remain so to this point, coin designers used only the first of! But the space on this list are worth the most valuable pennies out there help... Reverse, at the close `` AM '' variety, the `` FG is. God we Trust '' are doubled mint state condition years ofthe coinsfeaturing.. To helping the coin does stick to a MS-65 RD up your space too, we occasionally run on. Rare pennies were minted before the Treasury Department demanded that the coin does to... 2.30 or more claim that plates of this page is a genuine that. Less than a half-million of these rare, valuable pennies in circulation, fetching prices high! State red color is extremely rare from USA coin Book, unless otherwise noted known examples of doubling. Proof coins, Special Issues, Commemoratives, and possibly even more as being genuine Indian... To exist a rule, 1873 open 3 Indian cents are more than., Pittsburgh, PA, Signature Auction came from USA coin Book, unless otherwise noted,! In a layer of zinc to improve their luster its July 8, edition... Another Indian centsold for more than $ 3,000 online made from steel left over copper planchets.! Pennies slipped through for top 100 valuable pennies began when I was 11 years old on zinc-coated! Believed that only 5 million of these have unique features about them that are buyers. After all, over 4 million of them were minted before the Treasury demanded. A rule, 1873 open 3 Indian cents are more common than those other...

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