The DDO on the coin has a very clear doubling on the lines "In God We Trust" and "Liberty." To lower costs, the United States Mint sought to reduce the size of the penny (to its current diameter). This 1943 Lincoln penny should have been struck on a zinc-plated steel planchet but was in fact made with a bronze alloy planchet. Another Indian centsold for more than $3,000 online. When the U.S. switched from bronze alloy to zinc-plated steel pennies in 1943, only a relative handful of bronze pennies slipped through. But two zinc-plated steel planchets somehow ended up in the coining press in the San Francisco mint. 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. Although there is some argument that mint workers actually struck these coins on bronze alloy planchets on purpose, it is more probable that a few bronze planchets left over from the previous year got stuck on a conveyor belt or tote and was incorporated into the regular striking process. In 2009, an MS66RD graded coin (pictured left) sold for $149,500! According toCoinTrackers, just 850,000 of these rare pennies were minted. 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. In 2006, an MS66 graded coins sold for $32,200. Fifteen bidders fought it out to get themselves this coin on eBay, with the winner shelling out $1,725. In 2018, an MS66+RD graded coin (pictured left) sold for $158,625. He has over 50 years of numismatic and writing experience, including a monthly magazine column for the American Numismatic Association. These are everyday, run-of-the-mill coins currently in circulation. Most ammunition consists of a copper or brass (copper/zinc) casing, filled with gunpowder, and capped with a lead, copper or steel bullet. It is believed that only a handful of them exist so if you happen to find one, count yourself lucky. 1877 Indian Head penny, $2,650 Unlike the first five pennies listed in this article, the 1877 Indian Head cent isnt any type of error or pattern coin. Its possible these coins may be hiding in the basement, inside an attic box, or even inside your penny jar. In addition to the doubling of wording, the date and "S" mint mark are also doubled. But, a mix-up in the San Francisco mint resulted in about 30 pennies being made from steel left over from the 1943 pennies. The 1944 steel to copper/bronze transition of pennies involved the inclusion of leftover zinc-coated steel. Free shipping . Top 100 valuable pennies. A handful of these 1990s pennies didnt get the signature "S" mint mark. The bins of steel planchets were fed into machines and the handful of left over copper planchets overlooked. To have all three initials ona coin's design was unheard of. Some little pieces of copper can be worth some huge dollar amounts. On closed 3 examples, it appears that the 3 has two nearly complete loops, whereas on the open 3 there is much more space between the ends of the 3 and the digits middle section. This coin was first discovered in 1970 and was reported by Coin World on the front page in its July 8, 1970 edition. In 1943, pennies were made from steel planchets coated with zinc, but some copper planchets from the year before were left behind, and the coins were struck on those. In 1943 copper was being used heavily to create casings for ammunition. The 1943 steel penny is more common than the elusive 1944 Steel Wheat penny. Initially, the government believed that these were counterfeit coins and began confiscating them. That said, we realize that some people might still be using these pennies to buy things without realizing their value. The Philadelphia mint produced about 20 bronze/copper coins in 1943, making this one incredibly rare and valuable. Jan 2016 - AU55 $211,000. The 1877 Indian Head Cent is considered a major key date in the series, with a mintage of only 850,000 these can be hard to find in good condition, and nearly impossible to find in uncirculated condition. Its important to note that there are two varieties of this coin: one has the normal date (Sheldon-189) and the other has an overdate (1799/8). 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. The list below details by far the most valuable cents released into the United States monetary supply from 1900 to 2020. 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. By the end of the 1950s, they had become a hot coin collector item and remain so to this day. Source: PGCS.com. This is a labor of love you might say, so it is resource intensive and slow. 1909 S Indian Head Penny Estimated Price: $2,000 This is a valuable coin that actually has a few different varieties, the large letters, small letters, and the 8 over 7. Five coins were confiscated and destroyed before they were acknowledged as being genuine. What makes this particular coin extremely valuable is its pristine condition despite being over 100 years old. If you want this coin be prepared to shell out $1.2 million as that is the current asking price. Estimated coin prices and values in our database are updated twice per year. Top 100 Most Expensive Coins in the World World Numismatic News 121K subscribers Subscribe 3.2K Share 186K views 1 year ago To celebrate reaching 100 000 Subscribers, here is a video looking at. For a coin like this to survive so long in pristine condition, it is evident that a collector in San Francisco back in 1914 must-have set it aside before it could become tattered and worn in circulation. There are about 30 of these coins in existence today. A doubled die coin of any era is usually pretty scarce to begin with, but an Indian Head cent is scarcer still. Email us at exclusive@the-sun.com or call 212 416 4552. Its believed that less than 30 copper 1943 pennies exist from across all three mints (Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco) operating at that time. Legend Rare Coin Auctions. A 1931-S could be worth $40 or more. 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. These were steel planchets that were coated in a layer of zinc to improve their luster. Steel cents require greater force when struck by dies. The 1999 S Lincoln Memorial Cent was minted in San Francisco in two different varieties. Planchets are stored in bins, and just a few copper ones were hidden in the bottom and covered up with loads of steel planchets. This coin should've had a "D" for its Denver mintage, but the space on this coin is blank. In addition to the pennies mentioned above, here aresome otherpennies worth money: And heres my video explaining how to tell if youve got a valuable penny or not: Do you know where to look for the most valuable pennies? 01 of 15. The 1955 Doubled-Die Obverse (DDO) Penny is one of the most famous examples of design doubling on coinage. List of the Top 100 Modern Coins The Details The modern coin era began in America in 1965, the first year the U.S. Mint produced copper-nickel "clad" coins as replacement for silver coins, ending an unbroken, 173 year tradition. We offer reliable real coin melt conversions and hand written stats on each and every coin in our database. Which coins currently in circulation are worth the most? 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. CoinTrackers.com is an invaluable resource dedicated to helping the coin collector and silver community. It may be worth taking a look, because many of the most valuable pennies on this list were made in the 20th century. Coins Signature Auction. 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. The standard for the 1940 era would be something akin to a MS-65 RD. In fact, only 852,500 were originally minted, and only a small fraction of 1877 pennies from the original mintage remain today. They range in value from a few dollars to as much as $200,000+ and include a smorgasbord of cool rarities and unusual pieces. Thanks for subscribing! Coins are in order from Most to Least expensive. Most recent sales of the 1943 Copper Penny. The coins - of which there are about 40 or50 in existence- are quite valuable. Most of them pulled the coins out of circulation. The full backside of the coin is doubled. Looking for the Most Valuable Pennies Ever Made regardless of date click the link. 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. The 1856 Flying Eagle cents were initially struck as presentation pieces and given to members of congress and other dignitaries,according to the eBay listing. The close "AM" version is the more valuable penny of the two. Because of the increased pressure bronze examples of the 1943 Cent should in general be in better condition than most copper pennies from the 1940's. Sold: August 2007; Heritage Auctions, Milwaukee, WI, ANA Signature Coin Auction. While others are drawing attention on basis of how old and rare they are. The TOP 25 Most Valuable Pennies. These factors make this a very rare and valuable penny indeed. Image: USA CoinBook. Coins Nostomania's 100 most valuable U.S. 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. An 1872 Indian Head penny is a scarce coin but can readily be found at any coin show or coin dealer in circulated grades. However, a steel planchetleft over from 1943 must have found its way into the coining press. Also, the listing claims that it was the first American coin to use nickel to inspire a coin-collecting hobby in the late 1800s. This coin features the same proof die reverse as the 1998 wide AM coin. Counterfeits abound but usually have the wrong mint mark. If you ever come across one of these rare pennies, don't use it on a parking meter. 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. The number "7" appears higher than usual, nearly level with the "0.". The Secret Service confiscated the early specimens until the U.S. Mint admitted they were genuine. Only 1,194 of these proof coins were struck at the Philadelphia mint before the Treasury Department dictated that the designer's initials be removed from the coin. Another coin for avid coin collectors to look out for is the 1858 Flying Eagle Cent. 1856 Flying Eagle penny, $12,850 Only 2,000 examples of the Flying Eagle cents were ever made. Coins in this condition are few and far between and are truly treasures to behold. 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. Finally, demand is the factor that drives value the most. 1944 Steel Lincoln Cent: $75,000 to $125,000+##. 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! Since this coin exhibits evidence of circulation and must have exited the mint via regular distribution channels. Sold: October 2011; Heritage Auctions, Pittsburgh, PA, Signature Auction. The 1877 version has been said to be the rarest Indian head penny there is. Having one in its original copper-red color makes it much more extraordinary. These coins look like an ordinary penny despite the fact the color is not copper and is much closer to the coloring of a dime. USA Coin Book has compiled a list of the most valuable US pennies ever known. 1. Brenner added his initials V.D.B. What It's Worth: One Michigan collector, Michael Tremonti, found one in a roll of uncirculated pennies. Most recent sales of the 1944 Zinc coated steel penny sales. 1918/7-D Buffalo Nickel-Doubled Die Obverse. You should follow us on Facebook too, we occasionally run contests on our page!). The year 1971 was a good one for penny collectors. We have discounted proof coins, error coins, as well as any "special strikes", to create a clean list of pennies you have a higher probability of finding from the current pool of circulating United States currency. I primarily collect and study U.S. coins produced during the 20th century. Similar to the 1972 penny mentioned, the 1971 S penny has a doubling error on both sides. Ive contributed hundreds of articles for various coin publications including COINage, The Numismatist, Numismatic News, Coin Dealer Newsletter, Coin Values, and CoinWeek. This coin is considered a key date in the series, and one of the more valuable non-error pennies. The mint mark is a smaller letter on the face of the coin underneath the year that signifies where it was minted. 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. USA Coin Book has compiled a list of the most valuable US Quarters (Washington Quarters, America the Beautiful Park Quarters, 50 States Quarters, Standing Liberty Quarters, Barber Quarters, Seated Liberty, Draped Bust and Capped Bust Quarters) using a database of over 6,000+ coins and valuations. 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. Sold: March 2014; Heritage Auctions, Atlanta, GA, ANA National Money Show US Coins Signature Auction. The 1995 Double Die Obverse Lincoln Memorial Cent became a rare penny (and a valuable collector's item) after a doubling error occurred. 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. As a result, a majority of the 1941-D Lincoln pennies are in circulated condition. Well here you go a list of the most valuable pennies, each worth more than $1 apiece! Actually, 1856 Flying Eagle pennies were made as a pattern coin, and while many of them circulated, the series wasnt intended to be produced on a mass scale yet not until 1857, anyway. Small Pieces of Copper Worth Huge Amounts of Money. Some believe it was a mistake, while others think someone created the coins deliberately. We offer reliable real coin melt conversions and hand written stats on each and every coin in our database. But coins hold their value remarkably well. The list above also doesnt include proof Lincoln cents which you wouldnt ordinarily findin circulation. The best known specimen as of late is an MS63 Brown (BN) and it has sold for more than $500,000. Feb 2016 - AU58 $280,000. 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.. Some pennies, originally worth a single cent, are now worth thousands of dollars. While the front of the 1983 Lincoln Memorial Cent looks perfectly ordinary, the back might have a particularly lucrative error. Well, heres a cheat sheet of the most valuablepennies to keep. 1926-S Buffalo Nickel. 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. As a result, demand for United States coinage was at an all-time low, and families struggled to make ends meet. Aug 2019 - AU53 $216,000. Below we unveil the most valuable circulated pennies worth up to $11,128, based on recently completed eBay listings. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); In 1943 the United States switched all pennies to 2.702 g zinc coated steel planchets. In 2006, an MS67RD graded coin (pictured left) sold for $97,750. 2010 - 2023 USA Coin Book. This made is difficult for the federal government to obtain the metal needed for minting coins. These are coins you can find in your pocket change. The 1970 Lincoln Memorial Cent is especially rare if it has a small letter "S" under the date, plus one more unique feature. As a rule, 1873 open 3 Indian cents are more common than the closed 3 variety. This isn't the case. If so, the modern United States cent is one of the best places to start looking. The 1914-D Wheat Cent is a great addition to anyones collection. This penny exhibits doubling on the date and lettering on the obverse. Similar to the copper penny of 1943, Its speculated that while in production, a few steel planchets were accidentally mixed in with the copper, or the dies were tested on the steel and mixed in that way. If you enjoy this article please be sure to share on your favorite social media platform. The odds of finding a 1943 D Penny struck on a bronze planchet is likely around 10 in 217 million. 1916 Buffalo Nickel-Doubled Die Obverse. Mr Hernandez wrote of this coin that it's the only Lincoln cent in the entire series which lacks its intended mint mark. This is an indication that they were not "helped" by some unscrupulous mint employee. Sold: February 2016; Heritage Auctions, Long Beach, CA, US Coins Signature Auction. Although the doubling is not as dramatic as the 1955 doubled die obverse, it is evident with low-level magnification. These are in order with the newest being on top. Any one of these coins in circulated or uncirculated condition is extremely rare. 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. Ive authored nearly 1,000 articles here at The Fun Times Guide to Coins (many of them with over 50K shares), and I welcome your coin questions in the comments below! This error is similar to the 1943 D Struck on Bronze Planchet, there are however more specimens with the S mint mark. This is a labor of love you might say, so it is resource intensive and slow. On the surface, there is nothing visually spectacular about this coin. What makes this coin extremely valuable is the fact that it was struck on a zinc-coated steel planchet. This is definitely one of the most valuable pennies in circulation, fetching prices as high as $500 in mint state condition. Consequently, all 1922 cents should bare the D mint mark," wrote Mr Hernandez. 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. As a result, most of these pennies went into circulation. 7 Rare Wheat Pennies To Collect & What Theyre Worth Today, All Lincoln wheat pennies made from 1909-1958. There's also a subtle doubling of the mint mark. tv. Be sure to check your change for this one! 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.