In 2019, a bronze Lincoln cent that a teenager had pulled from his high school cafeteria change in 1947 sold for $204,000 at Heritage Auctions after drawing more than 30 bids.11 Heritage Auctions, January 2019 U.S. Coins Signature Auction press release, January 11, 2019. coins.ha.com/heritage-auctions-press-releases-and-news/rare-1943-lincoln-cent-sells-for-204-000-at-heritage-auctions
The coin was a 1943 bronze cent struck at the Philadelphia Mint — a wartime minting accident so rare that the U.S. Mint spent years flatly denying that such coins existed.
The penny has been part of American currency since the founding of the U.S. Mint in 1792. Originally struck in pure copper, the modern cent is mostly zinc with a thin copper coating, a change made in 1982.
Its face value has been debated for decades; the metal in a modern cent costs more to produce than the coin is worth. Certain pennies, though, defy that logic entirely.
Rarity, minting errors, and historical circumstance can push a one-cent coin into six- or even seven-figure territory.
23 Most Valuable Penny Collections in History:
Below are 23 of the most valuable pennies ever sold, with verified sale prices and sources. All prices are confirmed auction records unless otherwise noted.
1. 1999 Wide AM Reverse Lincoln Cent
The Wide AM is a Memorial Reverse cent struck with a proof die, producing wider spacing between the letters A and M in AMERICA than normal business-strike coins. Uncirculated examples have sold for around $2,300; circulated ones bring closer to $45.22 PCGS CoinFacts, 1999 Wide AM Reverse Lincoln Cent. pcgs.com
2. 1995 Doubled Die Obverse Lincoln Cent
One of the more accessible doubled die varieties, the 1995 DDO shows clear doubling on LIBERTY and IN GOD WE TRUST. A gem-quality example sold for around $5,000 in 2017.33 PCGS CoinFacts, 1995 Doubled Die Obverse Lincoln Cent. pcgs.com
3. 1983 Double Die Reverse Lincoln Cent
One of the more accessible doubled die varieties, the 1995 DDO shows clear doubling on LIBERTY and IN GOD WE TRUST. A gem-quality example sold for around $5,000 in 2017.44 PCGS Auction Prices, 1983 Doubled Die Reverse Lincoln Cent. pcgs.com
4. 1972 Doubled Die Obverse Lincoln Cent
A centerpiece of the Lincoln cent series for variety collectors, showing bold, naked-eye-visible doubling of the date and inscriptions. A certified example sold for $14,000 at a 2019 auction.5 PCGS Auction Prices, 1972 Doubled Die Obverse Lincoln Cent. pcgs.com
5. 1992 Close AM Reverse Lincoln Cent (Philadelphia)
Only three Philadelphia Mint examples of the 1992 Close AM have been confirmed — the result of an accidental proof-style die used on business-strike coins. One sold for $25,850 in 2017.66 PCGS CoinFacts, 1992 Close AM Reverse Lincoln Cent (Philadelphia). pcgs.com
6. 1873 Doubled 3 Indian Head Cent
About 500 of these are believed to survive. The doubling of the numeral 3 in the date is visible on certified examples. One sold for $54,625 at a 2000 auction.77 PCGS Auction Prices, 1873 Doubled 3 Indian Head Cent. pcgs.com
7. 1922 No D Strong Reverse Lincoln Cent
All 1922 cents were struck at Denver, so every 1922 cent should carry a D mintmark. A worn die on one die pair produced coins with no visible mintmark. Estimates of survivors range from 15,000 to 20,000. A strong-reverse example sold for $82,250 in 2013.88 PCGS CoinFacts, 1922 No D Strong Reverse Lincoln Cent. pcgs.com
8. 1914-S Lincoln Cent
The San Francisco Mint struck just over 4 million 1914-S cents, almost all of which entered circulation. Finding an uncirculated example is extremely rare. A mint-quality coin sold for $105,800 in 2006.99 PCGS Auction Prices, 1914-S Lincoln Cent. pcgs.com
9. 1944-d Lincoln Steel Cent
When the U.S. Mint returned to copper in 1944, leftover 1943 steel planchets were accidentally struck at the Denver Mint. Roughly seven Denver examples are confirmed. One sold for $115,000 in 2007.1010 PCGS Auction Prices, 1944-D Lincoln Steel Cent. pcgs.com
10. 1872 Indian Head Cent
The Philadelphia Mint struck just over 4 million 1872 Indian Head cents, but few survived in high grades. A mint-state example sold for $126,500 in 2007.11 11 PCGS Auction Prices, 1872 Indian Head Cent. pcgs.com
11. 1969-S Doubled Die Obverse Lincoln Cent
The doubling on the 1969-S DDO is so pronounced that Secret Service agents initially seized examples as suspected counterfeits. The error is visible without magnification on LIBERTY and IN GOD WE TRUST. A certified example sold for $126,500 in 2008.1212 PCGS Auction Prices, 1969-S Doubled Die Obverse Lincoln Cent. pcgs.com
12. 1926-S Lincoln Penny
Low mintage and heavy circulation make high-grade examples scarce. A gem example sold for $149,500 in 2006. 1313 PCGS Auction Prices, 1926-S Lincoln Cent. pcgs.com
13. 1877 Indian Head Cent
With a mintage of just 852,500, the 1877 is the key date of the Indian Head cent series. Few survive in high grades. The highest confirmed sale price is $149,500, realized in 2007.1414 PCGS Auction Prices, 1877 Indian Head Cent. pcgs.com
14. 1914-D Lincoln Cent
The Denver Mint struck just over 1.1 million 1914-D cents, one of the lowest annual figures in the Lincoln cent series. A certified high-grade example sold for $158,625 in 2018.15 PCGS Auction Prices, 1914-D Lincoln Cent. pcgs.com
15. 1856 Flying Eagle Penny
The 1856 Flying Eagle is a pattern coin produced in small numbers before the small-cent series officially launched in 1857. Most examples were given to members of Congress and other officials. Around 2,000 were struck. One sold for $172,500 in 2004.16 PCGS CoinFacts, 1856 Flying Eagle Cent. pcgs.com
16. 1909 V.D.B. Matte Proof Lincoln Penny
The Philadelphia Mint struck 1,194 matte proof Lincoln cents in 1909, bearing designer Victor David Brenner’s initials (V.D.B.) on the reverse. Public criticism of the initials — newspapers called them illegal advertising — led the Mint to remove them from the dies within days of the coin’s August 2, 1909, release. Fewer than 200 of the proofs are believed to survive today. The highest confirmed auction record stands at approximately $258,500, realized in 2014.17 PCGS CoinFacts, 1909 V.D.B. Matte Proof Lincoln Cent. Mintage 1,194; fewer than 200 believed to survive. Greysheet, greysheet.com. Auction record of approximately $258,500 realized in 2014.
17. 1958 Doubled Die Obverse Lincoln Penny
Only three examples of the 1958 DDO are confirmed, making it one of the rarest postwar U.S. coins. The doubling of LIBERTY and IN GOD WE TRUST is visible to the naked eye and rivals the famous 1955 DDO in strength. One example (PCGS MS64RD) sold for $336,000 at a Stack’s Bowers Rarities Night auction in March 2018. The finest known — graded PCGS MS65RD — sold for $1.136 million at GreatCollections in January 2023, making it the first Lincoln cent ever to surpass $1 million at public auction. 18 Greysheet, 1958 Doubled Die Obverse One Cent. The March 2018 Stack’s Bowers sale brought $336,000. The finest known (PCGS MS65RD) sold for $1.136 million at GreatCollections in January 2023, the first Lincoln cent to surpass $1 million at auction. greysheet.com
18. 1944-S Lincoln Steel Penny
Only two 1944-S steel cents have been confirmed. When the Mint switched back to copper in 1944, a small number of leftover steel planchets were fed through the San Francisco press. The finer example — graded PCGS MS66 and formerly part of collector Bob Simpson’s collection — sold for $408,000 at Heritage Auctions on August 22, 2021.19 CoinWeek / PCGS, 1944-S Lincoln Steel Cent. Only two examples confirmed. PCGS MS66 (Bob Simpson Collection) sold for $408,000 at Heritage Auctions, August 22, 2021. coinweek.com
20. 1943-S Lincoln Cent
Only one 1943-D bronze cent is known. It was struck at the Denver Mint — almost certainly by an employee who hand-fed a bronze planchet into the press — and kept secret for decades. Graded MS64BN by PCGS, it sold for $1.7 million on September 22, 2010, through Legend Numismatics of Lincroft, New Jersey, setting a record for any Lincoln cent.20 PCGS CoinFacts, 1943-D Bronze Lincoln Cent. Only one known. Sold for $1.7 million on September 22, 2010, through Legend Numismatics of Lincroft, New Jersey. pcgs.com/news/pcgs-certified-1943-d-bronze-cent-sold-for-17-million
21. 1793 Chain 1C (Period Variety)
The 1793 Chain cent was the first coin struck for circulation by the U.S. Mint, produced from late February through early March of that year. The chain of 15 interlocking links on the reverse represented the 15 states in the Union, but drew immediate backlash — critics called it a bad omen for liberty — and the design was replaced within weeks. The Periods variety, which has punctuation after LIBERTY and the date, is the scarcest of the Chain cent types; PCGS had certified 70 examples in all grades as of 2012. A gem example (PCGS MS65BN) sold for $1,380,000 at Heritage Auctions’ Platinum Night sale on January 4, 2012, a record for any U.S. copper coin at public auction at the time.21 PCGS / CoinNews, 1793 S-4 Chain Cent. PCGS MS65 Brown sold at Heritage Auctions Platinum Night, January 4, 2012, for $1,380,000. coinnews.net
22. 1943-D Lincoln Bronze Penny (Philadelphia Mint)
The Philadelphia Mint produced the most 1943 bronze cents of any facility — an estimated 10 to 15 examples are known from Philadelphia out of perhaps 20 to 30 total across all three mints. The Don Lutes example, the first 1943 bronze cent ever found (discovered in a high school cafeteria in Pittsfield, Massachusetts in 1947), sold for $204,000 at Heritage Auctions on January 10, 2019, with proceeds donated to the Berkshire Athenaeum. Other Philadelphia examples have sold for significantly more depending on condition; a PCGS MS62BN example brought $372,000 at Heritage Auctions in February 2021.22 PCGS / CoinNews, 1793 S-4 Chain Cent. PCGS MS65 Brown sold at Heritage Auctions Platinum Night, January 4, 2012, for $1,380,000. coinnews.net
23. 1943-D Lincoln Bronze Penny (Record Holder, One Known)
Separate from the entry above for clarity: the 1943-D is the only example of its variety and holds the all-time public sale record for any Lincoln cent at $1.7 million. No other Lincoln cent has exceeded that figure in a confirmed public sale.23 Heritage Auctions / PCGS, 1943 Bronze Lincoln Cent (Philadelphia). The Don Lutes example sold for $204,000 at Heritage Auctions, January 10, 2019. A PCGS MS62BN example brought $372,000 at Heritage Auctions in February 2021.
A few of these coins have turned up in unexpected places — old rolls, estate sales, coin jars. Before dismissing a pre-1960 penny, it’s worth checking the date, mintmark, and composition. A magnet is the quickest first test for 1943-era errors: bronze cents won’t stick, steel ones will.
Before you go…
So check your pocket or your coin holder; you may have a coin worth hundreds if not thousands of dollars. Then, the next time you are at an auction or browsing through eBay, take a look and see if any of these rare penny coins are in your possession. Who knows, maybe you could be the owner of the most valuable penny collection in history!
Check out my next article: “The Best Coin to Collect in 2023: U.S Coin Version.“
Related Articles:
What does it take to get started in blogging with financial compensation?
Wonderful views on that!