There are six known examples of this error being produced at the San Francisco mint in 1943. Brenner added his initials V.D.B. But, of course, rarity is a significant factor in determining a penny's worth. There's those pawn shops or local cash-for-gold buyers that's not a good place to sell your coins, Winter says. Required fields are marked *. The 1999 Wide AM penny is the exact opposite of the 1992 Close AM. Auction record: $4,362 Superior Galleries. Sold: January 2004; Heritage Auctions, Orlando, FL, FUN Signature Auction. Since most people do not look at the date on every coin that they receive in change, some of these 1943 bronze alloy pennies circulated for a while before being snatched up by an alert coin collector intent on cherry-picking the valuable Lincoln penny out of circulation. 7 Rare Wheat Pennies To Collect & What Theyre Worth Today, This 1982 Copper Penny Is Worth $10,000! "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. 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. All Lincoln wheat pennies are worth a minimum of 3 to 5 cents each, though many are worth more. 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. A used coin could sell for $75 or less, while a cleaner one could go for around $200. In the French-speaking parts of Canada, the coin is sometimes called a black cent (cenne noire) or black penny (sou noir). Prior to this date, pennies were large and bulky and were almost the size of a half-dollar. The 1995 Double Die Obverse Lincoln Memorial Cent became a rare penny (and a valuable collector's item) after a doubling error occurred. A half cent with strong rims, readable lettering, and lack of deep marks; despite Liberty's portrait worn to an outline, retains value. In fact, only 852,500 were originally minted, and only a small fraction of 1877 pennies from the original mintage remain today. They also offer professional coin grading. These steel planchets were used primarily in 1943. The first coin was an uncirculated C mintmark coin that had an RRP of $15 and a mintage of 80,000. Are you concerned the precious metals train has left the station without you. Sold: March 2018; Stacks Bowers; Baltimore - Session 3 - Rarities Night Including the ESM Collection. These newer, zinc-based Lincoln cents are often called Zincolnsand are widely available in circulation today. In addition, we are NOT factoring in the prices for Proof versions of these pennies (unless the Proof version is an error coin or an unusual variety). It is estimated that fewer than 20 were released by each of the Philadelphia and San Francisco mints. Sold: March 2014; Heritage Auctions, Atlanta, GA, ANA National Money Show US Coins Signature Auction. 10 Most Valuable Walking Liberty Half Dollars. 2 cent coin value is steadily increasing over the long term. 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. While mintage numbers tell part of the story about a coins rarity, they dont show you a complete picture. Small cents, by the way, are 19.1 millimeter diameter pennies that have been produced by the United States Mint since 1856. Of course, they're worth more if they're in better condition, and all circulating coins tend to have a lot of wear and tear. Two are Indian pennies, from different mints. The suspects made off with a chunk of the cargo - leaving 10-cent coins scattered around a Philadelphia . However, what is known for sure is that the 1922 no-D penny is quite scarce and in high demand among coin collectors. Collections are built with a focus on dates and date runs. This penny is the undisputed "King" of Canadian Pennies! Selling Wheat Pennies and Receiving the Highest Price. In the close "AM" variety, the "FG" is closer to the building. Auction record: $372,000 - Heritage Auctions*. However, an 1877 Indian penny is rare and highly valuable. 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. Get DIY project ideas and easy-to-follow crafts to help you spruce up your space. That said, we realize that some people might still be using these pennies to buy things without realizing their value. If all lines are separate and sharp the coin is showing signs of grading Extremely Fine or better. The DDO on the coin has a very clear doubling on the lines "In God We Trust" and "Liberty." Thieves in Philadelphia broke into a truck filled with $750,000 (598,000) worth of dimes. If it sticks, the coin you have is made of steel and holds a lower value, though steel 1943 pennies that maintain their gray color are still worth a pretty penny and have sold for as much as $218,500 at auction. Although the 1909-S Indian Head Penny has a smaller mintage, more of them were saved in uncirculated condition. There are about 45,000 of these coins in existence. While most pennies are only worth a few bucks, highly coveted ones might be sitting in your pocket or stuck somewhere in your couch. The most exciting thing is you can find some of these rare, valuable pennies easily because they're still in circulation. You Could Find This Rare Penny In Your Pocket Change Heres What To Look For, 1968-S, 261,311,510 business strikes minted, 1960-D/D Small Date Over Large Date, $100. In this case, the wide "AM" version is just as sought after as the close "AM" version. Visit the series page for value charts and details on how to value your old penny. $55. On the surface, there is nothing visually spectacular about this coin. *All of the coin values listed from 1958 or earlier and 1959 to 2000 came from USA Coin Book, unless otherwise noted. Gray asked a collector named Robert Teitelbaum to sell the illegal coins and to place 85 of them into circulation in Washington. So far, this article has been mainly centered around looking for copper Lincoln Memorial cents which were minted from 1959 through 1982. What makes this particular coin extremely valuable is its pristine condition despite being over 100 years old. If you have gold coins or silver coins that arent a collectors item, we recommend selling to top online metals buyer CashforGoldUSA or its sister site CashforSilverUSA. 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. Additional video helps to identify many subtle points to grading coins. We offer reliable real coin melt conversions and hand written stats on each and every coin in our database. We recommend selling to CashforGoldUSA or its sister site CashforSilverUSA, which accept items like gold, silver, and diamonds in any form, including gold scrap, gold jewelry including chains, necklaces, earrings, bracelets, etc, silver jewelry, gold bullion, and dental gold. 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. Of all the cents currently in circulation these pennies are worth the most money. The Lincoln cent (technically, only Great Britain officially has a denomination called the "penny") is a favorite among collectors young and old, rich and poor. Another element that identifies this rare penny is the spacing between the "FG" initials and the Lincoln Memorial Building. What makes this coin extremely rare is its exceptional condition that combines a nearly flawless coin with a sharp strike from a fresh set of coin dies. But there are several valuable pennies worth money, much more than just a few cents apiece. From half cents, large cents, Indian pennies, and Lincoln cents all have unique examples of value added by special qualities. Some of these one cent coins are worth hundreds! Some of these Wheat pennies are not as common as once believed. Coins on this list of most expensive pennies were minted as early as 1793. In 2005, a collector discovered that some of these Sacagawea Cheerios Dollars had detailed veins in the eagles' tail feathers. Sometimes more, sometimes fewer. Copper coins when first minted began as shades of bright red-orange-gold. How to Find Rare Coins Worth Money and Wanted by Collectors. Note that the price youre likely to get for even the rarest coins will typically be affected by the condition of the coin. This penny exhibits doubling on the date and lettering on the obverse. 1969-S doubled die obverse Lincoln Memorial penny, $10,000 Doubled die coins have to be one of the most popular error coin varieties out there. Special qualities are examined and highlighted within each series. For official written appraisals for insurance and estate planning, expect to pay $75 to $150+ per hour. Not all wheat cents are worth keeping, and preserving. Minted 1793 to 1857; value charts list date and condition ranges of values. Many people spend the Half Dollars from 1965 to 1970 or sell them in rolls of halves they take to the bank, not realizing they are 40 percent silver. San Francisco is known to have only produced five of the 1943 bronze/copper pennies, making them especially rare, but some experts have been willing to note that there may be more in existence. 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. Many large cents in nice condition with abundant detail remaining, are a valuable find. My love for coins began when I was 11 years old. !To check out o. Most Valuable US Pennies - Highest Value 1 Cent Coins USA Coin Book has compiled a list of the most valuable US pennies ever known. Accidents can produce the rarest coins. The 1958 Doubled-Die Obverse penny is one of the rarest pennies ever made. Valuable coins list 2022/2023. Its reverse contains two ears of wheat, and the words One Cent, United States of America, and E Pluribus Unum. On April 25, 2013, a coin owned by Walton family heirs once believed to be fake was authenticated as the real fifth coin. He estimates that a coin in new condition could be worth around $500, while a used one could fetch up to $45. The most valuable 1980 penny with no mintmark sold for $2,232.50 in a 2017 auction. The full backside of the coin is doubled. That means about 20% of the pennies passing through my hands in those rolls were copper ones. Close-up images and descriptions of grades are used to judge condition. The wheat penny was first minted in 1909, and it was the first coin in wide circulation to feature a U.S. president. 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. As of this writing, theyre worth 2 to 3 cents each due to their copper value. These dimes came to be known as Mercury Head dimes. But coins hold their value remarkably well. 1. To My Young Brothers & Sisters at Reddit & Elsewhere. Since this coin exhibits evidence of circulation and must have exited the mint via regular distribution channels. So, thats why I turn to coin roll searching. Also, look for the letter "S" right below the year 1969, which means it was created at the San Francisco Mint. (Image credit: Heritage Auctions, HA.com), "On the reverse of the 1992 Close AM, the right foot of the 'A' and left foot of the 'M' in 'AMERICA' touch," said Stone. Some of these cents can become extremely valuable for coin collectors, like the first place on our list that reaches $100,000! Four are within the Lincoln cent series, different mints and sub-varieties. Like the previous two pennies mentioned, the wording on both sides is doubled, plus there's a doubling of the date. "The few bronze coins that were struck went unnoticed and got released into circulation.". The four currently operating U.S. Mints are: Auction record: $2,185 Heritage Auctions. Sold: October 2011; Heritage Auctions, Pittsburgh, PA, Signature Auction. 1873 doubled Liberty Open 3 Indian Head penny, $1,650 This is simply another version of the 1873 doubled die Indian Head penny. If you get caught scrapping pennies, you could end up paying $10,000 in fines and spend 5 years in the slammer prison, that is. Scarcity and rarity from one date to the next vary greatly within each series. 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. A penny's worth depends on its quality and rarity. 1944 Steel Lincoln Wheat Penny, $125,000 Its believed that a similar story behind the creation of the 1943 copper cent is also what led to minting of the 1944 steel penny; blank steel cent planchets from 1943 that were hiding away in the coining presses wound up getting stamped with the 1944 dies, and the result is a rarity that financially well-heeled coin collectors will pay hundreds of thousands to buy. Top 30 Most Valuable Wheat Pennies Last Updated 7th January 2023. In the coin-making process, a working hub is a metal punch that looks like the surface of the coin. They also offer professional coin grading. Most of these S-Mint Lincoln Memorial cents have been pulled from circulation, so they rarely turn up in pocket change anymore. 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. 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. Sold: August 2017; Heritage Auctions, Denver, CO, ANA U.S. Valuable because they are so popular. This is a labor of love you might say, so it is resource intensive and slow. In 1864, the Civil War was dragging on, and the United States economy was extremely fragile. Good Grade: Heavy wear and a lack of remaining design is typical of a penny in Good grade. 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. You can also find pennies from the 1920s, 1930s, 1940s and . But it is scarce to find an uncirculated 1926-S Lincoln penny with its original copper-red color. Step 1 image and text links lead to series pages of in-depth coverage. On one side, "In God We Trust" is doubled, and "Liberty" is doubled on the other. Half Cent Values | All Half Cents are Rare. 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. Why are they important to many coin collectors? In addition to the doubling of wording, the date and "S" mint mark are also doubled. Notice that those mintage numbers for the business-strike S-mint Lincoln pennies are in the millions, not billions like most Philadelphia and Denver pennies from that era. 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. 1982 Lincoln Penny. Condition is one of the subtle steps affecting penny values. 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