A few little pieces of copper can hold enormous financial value! The rarest and most valuable pennies in the world can be worth well over $100,000 to almost $2 million. But it's not just about rarity; the condition of the coin also plays a big part in determining its value.
Even coins that have remained out of circulation often have exquisite details and original coloring, increasing in value. Additionally, some misprinted coins, like the 1944 Lincoln pennies, which were struck in bronze instead of steel, gained value. In this article, let's explore the top 11 most valuable pennies.
The 1914-S Lincoln cent is not rare, with more than 4 million minted. However, the great and advanced age at which it is makes it a valuable find. The surface doesn't have any mark at all; the original reddish-orange color still exists on the coin. It must have been saved in a collector's hands since 1914, put in good storage. Such coins represent a real treasure.
Value | Grade | Sold Date | Auction House | Collection |
---|---|---|---|---|
$105,800 | PCGS MS-66 Red | August 2006 | Bowers & Merena | Anne Kate Collection Part II |
What makes the 1944 steel penny struck in Denver so rare is its makeup of steel, something totally different from the other pennies produced that year, hence one of the most valuable coins to any coin collector.
Value | Grade | Sold Date | Auction House | Location | Auction Name |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
$115,000 | NGC MS-63 | August 2007 | Heritage Auctions | Milwaukee, WI | ANA Signature Coin Auction |
The Lincoln cent replaced the Indian Head penny in 1909. The initial design by Victor David Brenner featured his initials V.D.B., but these were later removed. The initial release of these pennies has made them highly sought after by coin collectors, who refer to them as the "Holy Grail" of Lincoln pennies.
Value | Grade | Sold Date | Auction House | Location | Auction Name |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
$117,500 | NGC MS-67 RED | March 2014 | Heritage Auctions | Atlanta, GA | ANA National Money Show US Coins Signature |
1872 Indian Head pennies are rare but can be found in circulated grades at coin shows or dealers. Only a little over 4 million were produced, and most were used due to financial hardships at the time. This particular coin is in outstanding condition with a sharp strike and has maintained its original reddish-copper hue.
Value | Grade | Sold Date | Auction House | Location | Auction Name |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
$126,500 | PCGS MS-67 RED | August 2007 | Heritage Auctions | Milwaukee, WI | ANA Signature Coin Auction |
In 1970, it was found and featured on the front page of Coin World. Initially, certain coins were seized and eliminated due to suspicions of being counterfeit. This penny's obverse has lettering, and the date is doubled, so even circulated specimens are valuable.
Value | Grade | Sold Date | Auction House | Location | Auction Name |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
$126,500 | PCGS MS-64 RED | January 2008 | Heritage Auctions | Orlando, FL | FUN Signature Coin Auction |
This coin is exceptional due to its low mintage and original copper-red color. Uncirculated 1926-S Lincoln pennies with this color are hard to find.
Value | Grade | Sold Date | Auction House | Location | Auction Name |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
$149,500 | PCGS MS-65 RED | January 2006 | Heritage Auctions | Orlando, FL | FUN Signature Coin Auction |
The 1877 Indian Head Penny is considered the rarest date due to the economic hardship of the time, making it extremely rare to find one in uncirculated condition and even more remarkable to find in its original copper-red color.
Value | Grade | Sold Date | Auction House | Location | Auction Name |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
$149,500 | PCGS MS-66 RED | August 2007 | Heritage Auctions | Milwaukee, WI | ANA Signature Coin Auction |
This coin saw a lot of circulation and was frequently exposed to the "penny boards" that were widely used in the 1930s and 1940s to gather coins out of circulation. Consequently, the 1941-D Lincoln pennies are mostly in circulated condition.
Value | Grade | Sold Date | Auction House | Location | Auction Name |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
$152,750 | PCGS MS-66+ RED | August 2017 | Heritage Auctions | Denver, CO | ANA US Coin Signature Auction |
In 1864, during the Civil War, the American economy suffered, and people hoarded coins. To address the shortage of metal for coins, James B. Longacre created the Indian Head penny in 1859. In 1864, an "L" was added to the tail of the ribbon on Lady Liberty's head. Around 5 million of these pennies were produced, and very few have survived in uncirculated condition.
Value | Grade | Sold Date | Auction House | Location | Auction Name |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
$161,000 | PCGS MS-65 BROWN | October 2011 | Heritage Auctions | Pittsburgh, PA | Signature Auction |
The 1943 Lincoln penny was mistakenly made with a bronze alloy planchet instead of a zinc-plated steel one. There's debate about whether this was intentional or accidental. Some of these rare pennies circulated before being collected by alert coin enthusiasts due to their high value.
Value | Grade | Sold Date | Auction House | Location | Auction Name |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
$164,500 | PCGS MS-63 RED | January 2013 | Stack’s Bowers Galleries | - | Americana Auction |
The 1958 Doubled Die Lincoln cent is considered to be one of the scarcest coins in the Lincoln series, and only three specimens are known to exist. They are highly coveted by collectors despite the speculation surrounding their origins.
Value | Grade | Sold Date | Auction House | Location | Auction Name |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
$336,000 | PCGS MS-64 RED | March 2018 | Stack’s Bowers Galleries | Baltimore | Rarities Night, Including the ESM Collection |
The most valuable pennies are treasures buried in plain sight. Common-looking coins, every single one, command extraordinary worth, sometimes running into millions of dollars. That is what gives them such value—not just the simple fact of their rarity but their condition and unique histories.
Others were mistakes from the mint itself at the time they were minted. Understanding these makes the difference between merely collecting and true fascination.
Now, keep looking—you never know when you'll run across that million-dollar penny!