Are you hoping to become the next millionaire from a penny plucked from pocket change? If so, good luck! It’s not that I don’t believe you can’t find one, but the fact of the matter is that the odds aren’t even remotely in your favor.
However, with that said, there are still quite a few valuable pennies in circulation today. Sure, you won’t strike it rich if you do find one, but with some reaching $500 in value, you’ll be glad you took a minute to glance at your pocket change!
There are billions of pennies currently in circulation, so there’s always a chance that you could find something. This article will explore seven of the most valuable pennies in circulation today.
Let’s face it; some things are just too good to be true. When I read articles saying that there’s a chance of finding 1955 doubled die and 1943 copper cents in circulation, I can’t help but chuckle. Sure, there’s not an overwhelming populous of coin collectors, but I can almost guarantee that they’ve removed virtually all these coins from circulation. Not to mention the fact that there’s only a handful of 1943 copper cents in existence! So, without taking a fantastical approach, I’ve focused on seven modern mintage Lincoln cents that have a reasonable chance of being found today.
Seven Valuable Lincoln Cents in Circulation Today:
- 1983 Doubled Die Reverse
- 1984 Double Ear
- 1992-D Close-AM
- 1995 Doubled Die Obverse
- 1998 Wide AM
- 1999 Wide AM
- 1961-D Over Horizontal D
Continue scrolling to learn more about each of these pennies’ characteristics and values.
The 1955 DDO wheat penny is a great example of what a double die error looks like.
1. 1983 Doubled Die Reverse
The term ‘doubled die’ refers to an error in the minting process in which a coin is struck twice. This causes the coin’s design to overlap slightly. With the 1983 doubled die penny, the error is noticeable on its backside where the phrase “ONE CENT” is printed.
Note: It may be difficult to spot with the naked eye, but upon placing the coin under 10x magnification, it should be clear that there are two layers of words.
Value
Since this penny is most likely going to be the hardest of the seven to find, it does pull in higher values. Coins in mint state condition are currently selling for $275.
1984 double ear Lincoln penny.
2. 1984 Double Ear
The 1984 double ear penny is often also referred to as a doubled die obverse error. The error on this coin is a noticeable second earlobe below Lincoln’s full ear. You won’t need a magnifying glass; this one is easy to spot.
Value
Recently I’ve noticed a slight increase in the price of this error penny. This could indicate that these are getting a little harder to find in circulation. Right now those in mint state condition are selling for around $230.
Mint State Condition Numerical Grades
| Grade | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Uncirculated (MS-60, 61, 62) | Uncirculated with noticeable defects (e.g. excessive bagmarks or poor luster) |
| Select Uncirculated (MS-63) | Uncirculated with fewer noticeable defects |
| Choice Uncirculated (MS-64) | Uncirculated with moderate defects but above-average eye appeal |
| Gem Uncirculated (MS-65, 66) | Uncirculated with minor defects and mint luster |
| Superb Gem Uncirculated (MS-67, 68, 69) | Uncirculated with extremely slight defects |
| Perfect Uncirculated (MS-70) | Utterly flawless |
3. 1992-D Close AM
Surprisingly, unlike the others, this coin isn’t an error. It simply possesses a variation that is different from the standard penny of that year. You’ll need to look at the reverse of the coin and closely scrutinize the “AM” in America.
If the coin in question is the rare variety, the A and M will be so close to each other it will look as if they are touching. Regular minted coins from 1992 will have a noticeable gap between the two letters.
Value
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.
4. 1995 Doubled Die Obverse
This is the latest Lincoln penny error that the U.S. Mint produced. Although there are varying degrees of doubling on it, the word “Liberty” is the strongest indication of this error.
Note: Though it might be hard to see with the naked eye, magnification should reveal the ‘layered’ lettering.
Value
I hear stories of people finding these coins in rolls of common pennies. If you do happen to come across one, they are worth $50 in mint state condition.
5. 1998 Wide AM
All pennies minted for circulation after 1993 depicted the word “AMERICA” with the letters A and M nearly touching. Due to the use of a proof die on regular coins, the 1998 wide AM was born. If you have one of these coins, there should be a small space between the A and the M. If the two letters look like they are nearly touching, it’s an ordinary penny.
Value
This type of penny is worth about $15 in mint state condition. Even though its mintage is unknown, its value tells me that they are probably fairly common. They might just be one of the easier-to-find error coins out there, so keep your eyes peeled!
6. 1999 Wide AM
This coin features the same proof die reverse as the 1998 wide AM coin. If you have a rare variety, it will have a small space between the letters A and M in “AMERICA.”
Value
This is definitely one of the most valuable pennies in circulation, fetching prices as high as $500 in mint state condition.
7. 1961-D Over Horizontal D Penny
Though it was long-overlooked for being a “modern” penny and is still far less popular than the 1909-S over horizontal S penny, this penny has finally earned a bit of recognition. The secondary mint mark is far more visible on the D-over-horizontal-D variation; in fact, it is the strongest horizontal re-punched mint mark in the Lincoln Series.
Note: Though this mint mark is usually easier to see, you may still benefit from the use of a magnifying glass.
Value
Circulated pennies of this type can pull $10–15, but uncirculated versions can be worth upward of $60.
What Is a Mint Mark?
A mint mark is a small letter that denotes the mint that made the coin. For example, a 1914-D penny was minted in 1914 in Denver. “D” and “S” are the most common, but there are other mint marks to be on the lookout for (though not all of the following mints manufacture(d) pennies).
| Mint Mark | Mint | Years in Use |
|---|---|---|
| CC | Carson City, NV | 1870–1893 |
| C | Charlotte, NC | 1838–1861 |
| D | Dahlonega, GA | 1838–1861 |
| D | Denver, CO | 1906–Present |
| O | New Orleans, LA | 1838–1861, 1879–1909 |
| P | Philadelphia, PA | 1942–1945, 1979–Present |
| S | San Francisco, CA | 1854–1955, 1968–Present |
| W | West Point, NY | 1984–Present |
Note: The “P” mintmark had never appeared on a penny until 2017, when the Philadelphia mint quietly released a 2017-P penny to commemorate the mint’s 225th anniversary.
Note: While San Francisco is still an operational mint, it no longer manufactures circulating coins. It now mints clad and silver proof coin sets and commemorative coins.
Note: The mints in Charlotte and Dahlonega only produce gold coins.
Coin-Roll Hunting
Looking into collecting pennies? Coin-roll hunting might be a good place to start. All you have to do is get a few rolls of pennies from the bank and sort through them for coins worth more than their face value ($0.01). A whole box of penny rolls costs $25.
Here are a few tips for those of you considering coin-roll hunting:
- Purchase and return your coin rolls from different banks (preferably big and well-frequented ones). This will reduce the chance of you getting the same rolls again.
- Opt for paper coin rolls rather than plastic ones to reroll your unwanted pennies into. These are more likely to hold the correct number of coins and less likely to slice your fingers.
- Keep protective casings on hand just in case you find a valuable coin in mint state condition.
- Set up in a low-traffic area of your home so that your coins can be left undisturbed.
Which Pennies Are Worth the Most Money?
Though you’re less likely to come across these highly prized pennies in your pocket change, the following are the most valuable Lincoln, Indian-Head, and Wheat Penny cents, as well as the most expensive pennies of all time.
Note: There is some overlap in the tables, for example, the 1943-S Copper Lincoln Wheat Penny is in both the “Most Valuable Lincoln Cents” and the “Most Valuable Wheat Pennies” tables.
Most Valuable Lincoln Cents
| Year | Error | Value |
|---|---|---|
| 1943-S Copper Lincoln Wheat Penny | — | $185,000 |
| 1944 Steel Lincoln Wheat Penny | — | $125,000 |
| 1943 Copper Lincoln Wheat Penny | — | $45,000 |
| 1969-S Lincoln Memorial Penny | Doubled Die Obverse | $10,000 |
| 1922 No D Plain Lincoln Wheat Penny | No Visible Mint Mark | $2,050 |
| 1955 Lincoln Wheat Penny | Doubled Die Obverse | $1,900 |
| 1917 Lincoln Wheat Penny | Doubled Die | $1,350 |
| 1909-S VDB Lincoln Wheat Penny | — | $1,025 |
| 1914-D Lincoln Wheat Penny | — | $760 |
| 1972 Lincoln Memorial Penny | Doubled Die Obverse | $290 |
| 1909-S Lincoln Wheat Penny | “S” Over Horizontal “S” | $275 |
| 1909-S Lincoln Wheat Penny | — | $225 |
Most Valuable Indian-Head Cents
| Year | Error | Value |
|---|---|---|
| 1861 | — | $23 |
| 1864 With “L” | — | $62 |
| 1873 | Doubled “LIBERTY” | $625 |
| 1877 | — | $725 |
| 1878 | — | $26 |
| 1888 | Last “8” Over “7” | $2,650 |
| 1908-S | — | $70 |
| 1909-S | — | $450 |
Most Valuable Wheat Pennies
| Year | Error | Value |
|---|---|---|
| 1943-S Copper Lincoln Wheat Penny | — | $185,000 |
| 1944 Steel Lincoln Wheat Penny | — | $125,000 |
| 1943 Copper Lincoln Wheat Penny | — | $45,000 |
| 1922 No D Plain Lincoln Wheat Penny | No Visible Mint Mark | $2,050 |
| 1955 Lincoln Wheat Penny | Doubled Die Obverse | $1,900 |
| 1917 Lincoln Wheat Penny | Doubled Die | $1,350 |
| 1909-S VDB Lincoln Wheat Penny | — | $1,025 |
| 1914-D Lincoln Wheat Penny | — | $760 |
| 1909-S Lincoln Wheat Penny | “S” Over Horizontal “S” | $275 |
| 1909-S Lincoln Wheat Penny | — | $225 |
10 Most Expensive Pennies of All Time
| Year | Value |
|---|---|
| 1943-D Lincoln Bronze Cent | $1,700,000 |
| 1944-S Lincoln Steel Penny | $373,750 |
| 1943-S Lincoln Cent Struck on Bronze | $282,000 |
| 1909 VDB Matte Proof Lincoln Penny | $258,500 |
| 1856 Flying Eagle Cent | $172,500 |
| 1943 Lincoln Cent Struck on Bronze Alloy | $164,500 |
| 1864 Indian-Head Penny With “L” on Ribbon | $161,000 |
| 1914-D Lincoln Penny | $152,750 |
| 1877 Indian-Head Penny | $149,500 |
| 1926-S Lincoln Penny | $149,500 |
Good Luck Out There!
Now that you’ve read through this list, you’ll hopefully be able to go out there and find a few valuable coins for yourself. I’m curious to hear about your discoveries, so please tell me what you found and how you went about finding it! As always, good luck!
Resources
- Coin Production | U.S. Mint
- Cents are bearing P Mint mark for the first time ever.
Adding the P Mint mark is among the U.S. Mint’s initiatives in recognition and celebration of its 225th anniversary. - No Mint Mark Means A Coin Was Made At The Philadelphia Mint, Right? Not Necessarily
Why do some coins have mint marks, and some do not? Here’s what you need to know about Philadelphia mint marks and coins with no mintmarks at all. - The Top 15 Most Valuable Pennies
These are the 15 most valuable pennies in the world. Over a quarter of a million auction records and private sales were researched to compile this list. - The Top 25 Most Valuable Pennies | Which Old Pennies are the most Valuable?
Want to know what the most valuable pennies are? 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. Small cents, by the way, are 19.1 millimeter diameter pennies - San Francisco Mint | U.S. Mint
- Which Old Pennies Are The Most Valuable? | The U.S. Coin Guide
Have old pennies and want to know how valuable they are? Check out values for some of the rarest pennies here. - Coin Grading Tutorial – Heritage Auctions
The world’s number one numismatic dealer and auctioneer | gold coins, world coins and ancient coins. Coin Auctions. Heritage Auctions
