There's also a subtle doubling of the mint mark. The Philadelphia mint produced about 20 bronze/copper coins in 1943, making this one incredibly rare and valuable. Lincoln Memorial pennies are very common, and you can find most dates in circulation today. Coins on this list of most expensive pennies were minted as early as 1793. Note that the price youre likely to get for even the rarest coins will typically be affected by the condition of the coin. On the surface, there is nothing visually spectacular about this coin. Here's a quick recap of the most valuable coins in the United States: U.S. 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. It is estimated that fewer than 20 were released by each of the Philadelphia and San Francisco mints. Keep that in mind! Most Valuable Quarters: A List Of Silver Quarters & Other Rare Quarters You Should Hold Onto! Regardless of how they got out of the mint, these exceedingly rare die variety Lincoln cents would be prized by any collector. 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. The high value of this coin is due to its uncirculated condition and its original copper-red color. If all lines are separate and sharp the coin is showing signs of grading Extremely Fine or better. "The most valuable Lincoln cent sold privately in 2010 for $1.7 million," said Stone. Auction record: $372,000 - Heritage Auctions*. It simply is a regular-issue piece that was struck in relatively low numbers. Almost every collector of United States coins began collecting the Lincoln penny. The odds are long, but they're still well worth searching for. The San Francisco branch mint began coining Indian pennies. But it is scarce to find an uncirculated 1926-S Lincoln penny with its original copper-red color. The 1943 bronze Lincoln cent attracted nearly 30 bids and sold for $204,000 in January, according to Heritage Auctions, the organization that conducted the sale. Auction record: $4,362 Superior Galleries. 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. Within the different series of copper US coinage are certain qualities setting one coin apart from others. But there are several valuable pennies worth money, much more than just a few cents apiece. But, of course, rarity is a significant factor in determining a penny's worth. Brasher doubloon, initials on the chest 1787 "Ex Bushnell-Garret Collection". Flying Eagle pennies, a short running series range in worth and desirability depending on date and condition. 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. There's also some light doubling on the date. You never know, one of your pennies could be worth the price of a nice dinner or a whole lot more. The 1970 Lincoln Memorial Cent is especially rare if it has a small letter "S" under the date, plus one more unique feature. Sold: August 2017; Heritage Auctions, Denver, CO, ANA U.S. If no evidence of wear is seen a coin grades in the mint state category. "The then 16-year-old Lutes received the copper-colored penny in change at his high school cafeteria in 1947," David Stone, a coin cataloger for Heritage, told CNBC Make It. Auction record: $40,250 Heritage Auctions. Some of these Wheat pennies are not as common as once believed. Visit the series page for value charts and details on how to value your old penny. But due to a mix-up, a proof die was used for the reverse of the coin before it was supposed to be used starting in 1993. However, during the transition period between 1942 and 1943, there were a number of leftover copper planchets (the plain metal discs used to make coins) that were accidentally struck with 1943 dates. Older copper pennies are 95% copper and 5% something else. Get DIY project ideas and easy-to-follow crafts to help you spruce up your space. Small cents, by the way, are 19.1 millimeter diameter pennies that have been produced by the United States Mint since 1856. 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. 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. Professional Coin Grading Serviceoffers a coin price guide where you can search for the current value of collectible coins. 1969 Washington Quarter. Required fields are marked *. To be precise:Copper pennies made up until 1962had a 5% balance of tin and zinc, and from 1962 to 1982 the extra 5% of material was entirely zinc. We offer reliable real coin melt conversions and hand written stats on each and every coin in our database. The 1914-S Lincoln cent is by no means a rare coin. 1873 doubled Liberty Open 3 Indian Head penny, $1,650 This is simply another version of the 1873 doubled die Indian Head penny. This coin had a doubled "D" mint mark thats easily visible. 2010 - 2023 USA Coin Book. Primarily its overall appearance sets the initial eye appeal impression. 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. 7 Rare Wheat Pennies Worth Collecting & What Theyre Worth, Lincoln Semi-Key Coins Versus Key Coins And Their Values, Most Valuable Pennies: A List Of The 43 U.S. Pennies Worth Holding Onto, Double Your Money Selling Copper Pennies By The Pound, 5 Money-Saving Tips For Collecting Lincoln Pennies. Most pennies are worth 1 cent, but to coin collectors, some are worth more than their weight in gold. 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. Victor David Brenner created the design under the auspices of President Theodore Roosevelt. If you want to sell your collectible coins for the most money, Winter recommends finding a large national dealer or a reputable local dealer who is a member of the Professional Numismatic Guild. Stay up to date with everything about U.S Coins, We dont spam! For the world's rarest and most coveted pennies, values are well over $100,000 and approaching $2 million. The four currently operating U.S. Mints are: Auction record: $2,185 Heritage Auctions. Most uncirculated 1980 pennies are worth 10 to 30 cents apiece. Additionally, they can help get your coin certified by a grading service and guide you through the entire selling process. It's a strange piece and one well worth looking for! Why are they important to many coin collectors? This act required the U.S. government to purchase large quantities of silver and turn them into silver dollars, which were called Morgan Dollars after their designer, George T. Morgan. One example circulated for a while before being picked up by a collector. Bottom line: OK, we'll admit it. Im the Coin Editor here at TheFunTimesGuide. Dark colors tend to hide detail and lower eye appeal to old copper coins. So, check your change and coin roll hunt too! Some pennies, originally worth a single cent, are now worth thousands of dollars. In this case, some of that grease made its way onto the surface of the coin die, filling the spot where the first T indentation was supposed to happen. 1969-S Doubled Die Penny. Using a step by step method discovers how much your old pennies are worth. However, an 1877 Indian penny is rare and highly valuable. Also called the 1982 No P Dime, these dimes were the first and only U.S. business strike coin (a coin intended for circulation) that accidentally left the U.S. Mint without being stamped with their designated mint mark. Many copper coins exhibit subtle qualities, when recognized, add to understanding potential value. Its just not worth it. Its reverse contains two ears of wheat, and the words One Cent, United States of America, and E Pluribus Unum. So, dont do it. However, some Lincoln cents have more than a penny's worth of copper in them, but it is illegal to melt them. Some pennies, originally worth a single cent, are now worth thousands of dollars. Collections are built with a focus on dates and date runs. Comparing the coins in the image; nicely toned, circulated examples project pleasing eye appeal. The chosen design proposed by New York sculptor John Flanagan was minted on a silver alloy from 1932 to 1964, with the exception of 1933. These coins are also known as Winged Liberty Head dimes. Early date Lincoln pennies and higher condition coins are on the move. 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. This made is difficult for the federal government to obtain the metal needed for minting coins. The collector also ensured that the coin was correctly stored to preserve its color. Penny values span a wide range. Roughly 250,000 of these pennies were minted, he said. Selling Wheat Pennies and Receiving the Highest Price. You can also find information about popular coins in The Red Book, A Guide Book of United States Coins 2022 75th Edition. However, the flat spots do not connect, separation of high areas remain. The Half Dollar coin had silver in it until 1970. Compare and identify your coin to the picture, click on the image, and go immediately to your old coin value. Top 30 Most Valuable Wheat Pennies Last Updated 7th January 2023. If you are investing money in rare pennies, buy coins that are in the best condition you can afford, and always focus on purchasing coins that display original color and are in nice shape overall. Sold: August 2014; Heritage Auctions, Chicago, IL, ANA US Coins Signature Auction. From rare dates to rare very small details, if they are in your box you will find the rare pennies. Dont even think about trying to sneak a few copper pennies over to the scrap yard. Each design has high points judged to detect any smoothing and removal of luster. 2004-D Wisconsin Extra Leaf Quarters have extra husks on the left side of the corn stamped onto the coin. A case for needed reform . Heres the short answer the one you probably dont want to hear: NO! As of this writing, anyway. Want to know what the most valuable pennies are? To My Young Brothers & Sisters at Reddit & Elsewhere. In 1909, The United States Mint replaced the Indian Head penny with the Lincoln cent. When an example as fine as this one crosses the auction block, it is certain to set record prices. Although the doubling is not as dramatic as the 1955 doubled die obverse, it is evident with low-level magnification. 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