Top 10 Most Valuable Rare Wheat Pennies Worth Money (2024)

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Top 10 Most Valuable Rare Wheat Pennies Worth Money? ›

The single most valuable Wheat Penny to sell at auction is a 1943-D Bronze Cent that sold for $840,000. Other very valuable Wheat Pennies include the 1944 Steel Penny, the 1909-S VBD Lincoln Wheat Penny, and the 1943-D Bronze Cent.

The single most valuable Wheat Penny to sell at auction is a 1943-D Bronze Cent that sold for $840,000. Other very valuable Wheat Pennies include the 1944 Steel Penny, the 1909-S VBD Lincoln Wheat Penny, and the 1943-D Bronze Cent.

The sheer age of the coin makes it desirable to collectors, but the fact that there are only a limited number remaining really catches people's attention. The coin's obverse is quite similar to today's version in that it features Abraham Lincoln's profile in the center, raised from the face of the coin.

There's A 1936 Wheat Penny Worth $5,000!

The U.S. made about 7.7 billion pennies in 1983, but only about 5,000 of them are known to have been made with this doubling error, James McCartney, director of numismatics at Stack's Bowers Galleries, tells CNBC Make It. The rarity of these misprinted pennies are what make them more valuable than ordinary pennies.

While the 1945 penny was minted in vast numbers, what makes certain versions rare is their condition, mint marks, and potential errors. Pennies in mint or near-mint condition are rarer due to the natural wear and tear coins experience.

Most of the 1944 penny value comes from the depiction of President Abraham Lincoln on its obverse side. Along with the President facing right, the obverse side also carries the American motto of “IN GOD WE TRUST”, right above Mr. Linoln's head. To the left of the President's profile is the term “LIBERTY.”

For one, the 1914 penny is about one thousand times more desirable than modern day pennies. As a result, the value of these coins often greatly exceeds the 1-cent face value. Even in the worst condition, these coins are sought after in large numbers by collectors.

Being that they were minted so long ago, there are only a limited quantity left, so now is the best time to get your hands on one. The obverse of the Lincoln penny is dominated in the center by the image of President Abraham Lincoln.

However, one exception is the 1999 “Wide AM” penny. In this case, the “AM” in “AMERICA” on the reverse side of the penny is spaced wider than usual. These pennies are relatively rare, and while they won't fetch thousands, they can still be worth up to $5 in uncirculated condition.

Why is a 1982 penny worth so much? ›

One reason these coins are so valuable has to do with what they are made of. As GOBankingRates previously reported, any penny minted before 1982 contains 95% copper. Copper pennies are a relatively common find in a penny roll, which lowers their value.

But the 1982 D 3.11 gm SMALL DATE is extremely rare. So far only two specimens have been found, and have sold at auction for close to $35,000. I have a 1982 D small 2 penny which weighs 3.1 grams.

It's mintage is over 4.1 billion, so more than half the people on earth can own one. Examples up to MS66 can easily be found or purchased. In MS67 condition they are scarce. Anything grading higher is very scarce to rare.

There's a rare 1983 copper penny (a 1983-D penny) worth $15,000 -- you could find one in your pocket change! Here's what to look for + Other rare copper pennies.

The 1957 D Wheat Penny value ranges from a few hundred dollars to upwards of six thousand dollars for the highest grade coins. This makes the 1957-D Wheat Penny relatively affordable, even for the serious collector.

The 1944 Lincoln penny is particularly desirable in the eyes of collectors not only because of its design, but also due to its scarcity. Being that there are no more 1944 Lincolns being produced, the scarcity of these coins is constantly on the rise, thus making the coins more valuable.

These pennies are collectible not only because of their age and historical significance, but because they are rare and growing rarer by the day. The coin's obverse features in the center the profile of former President Abraham Lincoln.

Most 1943 Lincoln pennies in worn grades (average condition) trade for around 10 cents to 25 cents apiece. Typical examples in uncirculated condition usually realize $1 to $5. Top-level specimens in grades of Mint State-67 or better can go for much more, sometimes hundreds or even thousands of dollars.