Collectibles come and go. But coins hold their value remarkably well. Some pennies, originally worth a single cent, are now worth thousands of dollars.
The most exciting thing is you can find some of these rare, valuable pennies easily because they're still in circulation. 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. 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.
These are the most valuable pennies in circulation. And they are worth a pretty penny if you find them.
15. 1995 Lincoln Memorial Cent (Doubled Die)
The 1995 Lincoln Memorial Cent is one of the most valuable pennies in circulation. USA Coin Book
Penny Value: $54
*All of the coin values listed from 1958 or earlier and 1959 to 2000 came from USA Coin Book, unless otherwise noted.
Bottom Line: 1995 Lincoln Memorial Cent (Doubled Die)
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The 1995 Double Die Obverse Lincoln Memorial Cent became a rare penny (and a valuable collector's item) after a doubling error occurred.
In both the words "Liberty" and "In God We," the letters are doubled.
14. 1970 S Lincoln Memorial Cent (Small Date - High 7)
Penny Value: $61
Bottom Line: 1970 S Lincoln Memorial Cent (Small Date - High 7)
The 1970 Lincoln Memorial Cent is especially rare if it has a small letter "S" under the date, plus one more unique feature. The number "7" appears higher than usual, nearly level with the "0."
This only takes place in the small date version.
13. 1999 S Lincoln Memorial Cent (Close AM)
Penny Value: $89
Bottom Line: 1999 S Lincoln Memorial Cent (Close AM)
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The 1999 S Lincoln Memorial Cent was minted in San Francisco in two different varieties. One variety had a widely spaced "AM" in the word "America."
The other variety of this rare penny stamped the letters closer together, nearly touching. The close "AM" version is the more valuable penny of the two.
12. 1984 Lincoln Memorial Cent (Doubled Die Ear)
The 1984 Lincoln Memorial Cent is one of the most valuable pennies in circulation. USA Coin Book
Penny Value: $252
Bottom Line: 1984 Lincoln Memorial Cent (Doubled Die Ear)
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Another double-died error can be found on the 1984 Lincoln Memorial Cent. A close examination of Lincoln's ear shows a definitive double stamp.
Isn't it funny how having an extra ear can make a penny valuable?
11. 1983 Lincoln Memorial Cent (Doubled Die Reverse)
Penny Value: $429
Bottom Line: 1983 Lincoln Memorial Cent (Doubled Die Reverse)
While the front of the 1983 Lincoln Memorial Cent looks perfectly ordinary, the back might have a particularly lucrative error. The full backside of the coin is doubled.
If you find a 1983 penny with everything doubled, the Lincoln Memorial Building included, save it for a rainy day.
10. 1998 S Lincoln Memorial Cent (Close AM)
Penny Value: $520
Bottom Line: 1998 S Lincoln Memorial Cent (Close AM)
The 1998 S Proof Lincoln Memorial Cent commonly has a wide spacing between the A and the M. In the close "AM" version, the letters almost touch.
Another element that identifies this rare penny is the spacing between the "FG" initials and the Lincoln Memorial Building. In the close "AM" variety, the "FG" is closer to the building.
7. 1999 Lincoln Memorial Cent (Wide AM) (Tie)
Penny Value: $545
Bottom Line: 1999 Lincoln Memorial Cent (Wide AM)
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In this case, the wide "AM" version is just as sought after as the close "AM" version.
If a 1999 penny has a large space between the A and the M, and it's in amazing condition, odds are good it's one of the most valuable pennies still in circulation.
7. 1999 Lincoln Memorial Cent (Close AM) (Tie)
Penny Value: $545
Bottom Line: 1999 Lincoln Memorial Cent (Close AM)
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.
Because not many of these pennies were minted, proof coins of either variety are valuable.
7. 1960 D Lincoln Memorial Cent (D Over D - Small Date Over Large Date) (Tie)
Penny Value: $545
Bottom Line: 1960 D Lincoln Memorial Cent (D Over D - Small Date Over Large Date)
To identify this ultra-valuable penny, take a close look at the date and mint mark.
What sets this special penny apart from the crowd is a doubling of the date, with a smaller set of digits appearing on top of the larger set.
There's also a subtle doubling of the mint mark.
5. 1972 Lincoln Memorial Cent (Doubled Die Obverse) (Tie)
Penny Value: $703
Bottom Line: 1972 Lincoln Memorial Cent (Doubled Die Obverse)
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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.
On one side, "In God We Trust" is doubled, and "Liberty" is doubled on the other.
5. 1971 S Lincoln Memorial Cent (Doubled Die Obverse) (Tie)
The 1971 S Lincoln Memorial Cent is one of the most valuable pennies in circulation. USA Coin Book
Penny Value: $703
Bottom Line: 1971 S Lincoln Memorial Cent (Doubled Die Obverse)
Similar to the 1972 penny mentioned, the 1971 S penny has a doubling error on both sides. In addition to the doubling of wording, the date and "S" mint mark are also doubled.
Note: It's not always easy to see, so consult an expert if you're not sure.
4. 1971 Lincoln Memorial Cent (Doubled Die Obverse)
Penny Value: $1,107
Bottom Line: 1971 Lincoln Memorial Cent (Doubled Die Obverse)
The year 1971 was a good one for penny collectors. Like the previous two pennies mentioned, the wording on both sides is doubled, plus there's a doubling of the date.
This one, however, can earn you more than $1,000.
3. 1990 S Lincoln Memorial Cent (No S Mint Mark)
Penny Value: $4,400
Bottom Line: 1990 S Lincoln Memorial Cent (No S Mint Mark)
A handful of these 1990s pennies didn’t get the signature "S" mint mark. Because of their uniqueness, they’re remarkably valuable.
2. 1955 Lincoln Wheat Cent (Doubled-Die Obverse)
Penny Value: $16,644
Bottom line: The 1955 Doubled-Die Obverse (DDO) Penny is one of the most famous examples of design doubling on coinage.
The lines "In God We Trust" and "Liberty" are both doubled as well as the 1955 date itself. Such a clean example of doubling has made it one of the most popular and valuable DDOs in existence.
*All of the coin values listed from 1958 or earlier came from USA Coin Book, unless otherwise noted.
Bottom Line: 1955 Lincoln Wheat Cent (Doubled-Die Obverse)
The 1955 Doubled-Die Obverse (DDO) Penny is one of the most famous examples of design doubling on coinage.
The lines "In God We Trust" and "Liberty" are both doubled as well as the 1955 date itself. Such a clean example of doubling has made it one of the most popular and valuable DDOs in existence.
1. 1958 Lincoln Wheat Cent Penny (Doubled-Die Obverse)
Penny Value: $214,211
Bottom line: OK, we'll admit it. This one's going to be tough to find in circulation, but since it was produced after the 1950s, we had to include it. The 1958 Doubled-Die Obverse penny is one of the rarest pennies ever made.
The DDO on the coin has a very clear doubling on the lines "In God We Trust" and "Liberty." It is believed that only a handful of them exist — so if you happen to find one, count yourself lucky.
Bottom Line: 1958 Lincoln Wheat Cent Penny (Doubled-Die Obverse)
OK, we'll admit it. This one's going to be tough to find in circulation, but since it was produced after the 1950s, we had to include it. The 1958 Doubled-Die Obverse penny is one of the rarest pennies ever made.
The DDO on the coin has a very clear doubling on the lines "In God We Trust" and "Liberty." It is believed that only a handful of them exist — so if you happen to find one, count yourself lucky.
12 More Valuable Pennies
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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. That said, we realize that some people might still be using these pennies to buy things without realizing their value.
Here are 12 more valuable Lincoln pennies that you should definitely check for if you happen upon a very old penny.
12. 1943-D Lincoln Wheat Cent Penny: Boldly Doubled Mint Mark
Value: $1,671
This coin had a doubled "D" mint mark that’s easily visible.
11. 1909-S Lincoln Wheat Cent Penny: VDB
Value: $2,222
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.
10. 1936 Lincoln Wheat Cent Penny: Doubled-Die Obverse
Value: $2,463
Don’t miss the 1936 Lincoln Wheat Cent Penny in your search for rare pennies, as one of these bad boys could be worth $2,222 in uncirculated mint condition.
9. 1914-D Lincoln Wheat Cent Penny
Value: $3,673
Minted in Denver, USA Coin Book estimated the value of this rare 1914 penny at $278 in average condition and over $3,000 in uncirculated mint condition.
8. 1917 Lincoln Wheat Cent Penny: Doubled-Die Obverse
Value: $6,347
In the case of this rare 1917 penny, the words "In God We Trust" are doubled.
7. 1922-D Lincoln Wheat Cent Penny: No D Mint Mark
Value: $29,981
The 1922 Lincoln Wheat Cents were minted at the Denver Mint using a "D" lettered coin die. 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.
6. 1944-P Lincoln Wheat Cent Penny: Steel Cent
Value: $55,728
The 1944 steel to copper/bronze transition of pennies involved the inclusion of leftover zinc-coated steel. Out of all the leftover zinc-coated steel used in minting these pennies, Philadelphia produced about 30 of them. While they’re still more common than those from other mints that year, they are still considered rare and valuable.
5. 1944-D Lincoln Wheat Cent Penny: Steel Cent
Value: $59,073
For instance, Denver only minted seven of the 1944 steel pennies, making it the second rarest mint mark out of all three mints.
4. 1943-P Lincoln Wheat Cent Penny: Bronze/Copper
Value: $389,968
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. The Philadelphia mint produced about 20 bronze/copper coins in 1943, making this one incredibly rare and valuable.
3. 1943-S Lincoln Wheat Cent Penny: Bronze/Copper
Value: $565,610
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.
2. 1944-S Lincoln Wheat Cent Penny: Steel Cent
Value: $1,084,051
Similar to the other 1944 pennies mentioned here, there were only two San Francisco-minted steel pennies produced in 1944. To this day, they are the only two known to exist.
1. 1943-D Lincoln Wheat Cent Penny: Copper/Bronze
Value: $2,196,797
Of all the 1943 copper pennies, only one Denver-minted copper cent is believed to exist, making it one of the rarest U.S. coins to date.
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