Most Valuable Pennies Ever Made: Pennies might seem like the smallest and simplest coins we use, but for people who collect coins, they can be really special. Most pennies are only worth one cent, but some very rare ones have sold for huge amounts of money at auctions where collectors bid to own them. These coins have amazing stories behind them, like mistakes made at the mint or being made in very small numbers. Here’s a list of the top seven most valuable pennies ever made, explained in a simple and detailed way so you can understand why they’re worth so much.
Table of Contents
1943 Bronze Lincoln Penny – $1.7 Million
The 1943 Bronze Lincoln Penny is one of the most famous pennies in the world, and it’s worth a ton of money—$1.7 million! Back during World War II, the U.S. Mint stopped using copper to make pennies because copper was needed for the war. Instead, they made pennies out of steel coated with zinc. But by accident, a few leftover bronze pieces from 1942 got used in 1943 to make pennies. Only a tiny handful of these bronze pennies exist today, which is why collectors go crazy for them. Finding one is like discovering a treasure!
Also Read: 10 Jefferson Nickel Errors Worth Hunting For
1944 Steel Wheat Penny – $408,000
The 1944 Steel Wheat Penny is kind of the opposite of the 1943 bronze penny, but it’s still a big mistake that makes it super valuable—it sold for $408,000! In 1944, the mint went back to using copper for pennies after using steel the year before. But somehow, a few steel pieces from 1943 got left in the machines and were used to make 1944 pennies. This mix-up makes the 1944 Steel Wheat Penny really rare, and collectors are willing to pay a lot to get one.
1909-S VDB Lincoln Penny – $117,500
The 1909-S VDB Lincoln Penny is a very special coin because it was the very first year the Lincoln penny was made, and it’s worth $117,500! It was made in San Francisco, which is why it has an “S” on it. The designer of the coin, Victor David Brenner, put his initials “VDB” on the back, but some people didn’t like that, so the mint stopped adding the initials later that year. Only a small number of these pennies with “VDB” were made, so they’re hard to find. Serious collectors really want this penny because it’s such an important part of coin history.
1856 Flying Eagle Cent – $172,500
The 1856 Flying Eagle Cent is an old and rare penny that’s worth $172,500! Before the U.S. started making small pennies like we know today, they made this coin as a test to see how it would work. It has a picture of an eagle flying on the front, which is different from the Lincoln pennies. Only about 2,000 of these were ever made, so they’re super hard to find now. Because it’s so old and there aren’t many left, it’s one of the most wanted pennies in America.
1877 Indian Head Penny – $149,500
The 1877 Indian Head Penny is a valuable coin worth $149,500, and it’s from a different kind of penny series that came before the Lincoln ones. This penny has a picture of a Native American woman on the front, and it’s the rarest regular penny from that series. Back in 1877, the country was having tough times with money, so not many pennies were made that year. Because so few were produced, the ones that are still around today are worth a lot to collectors.
1943-S Bronze Lincoln Penny – $504,000
The 1943-S Bronze Lincoln Penny is like the 1943 bronze penny from earlier, but this one was made in San Francisco, marked with an “S,” and it’s worth $504,000! Just like the other 1943 bronze penny, it was a mistake made during World War II when the mint was supposed to use steel, not bronze. Only a few of these San Francisco versions exist—fewer than five are known! That makes it one of the rarest pennies you could ever find, and collectors pay big money for it.
Also Read: 13 Rare and Valuable Pennies from the 20th Century
1914-D Lincoln Penny – $159,000
The 1914-D Lincoln Penny is another famous penny, and it’s worth $159,000! It was made in Denver, which is why it has a “D” on it. Only a little over 1.1 million of these pennies were made, which isn’t a lot compared to other years. Finding one that’s still in really good condition is extra hard, so it’s called a “key-date” coin—meaning it’s one of the most important ones in the Lincoln penny series. Collectors love it because it’s so rare and special.
Why These Pennies Are So Valuable
So why are these pennies worth so much more than one cent? It’s all about a few things that make them stand out. Some, like the 1943 Bronze and 1944 Steel pennies, are valuable because of big mistakes that happened when they were made. Others, like the 1877 Indian Head and 1914-D Lincoln pennies, are rare because not many were produced in the first place. And coins like the 1909-S VDB and 1856 Flying Eagle Cent are important because they’re tied to big moments in history, like the start of a new penny design. For collectors, these pennies are like little pieces of treasure that tell a story. If you ever find one of these in your pocket change or a coin collection, you could be holding something worth a fortune!
