What years of pennies are worth money

Lincoln Pennies (1909-1958)

What years of pennies are worth money

The ever popular Lincoln wheat penny was first produced by the U.S. Mint in 1909. While the original edition pennies from 1909 can have significant collectable value, other editions of the Lincoln penny can be highly desired by coin collectors as well. A 1933-D, for example, may be valued at $2.30 or more. A 1931-S could be worth $40 or more. Obviously, some mint years may be worth considerably more than others, while the minting location may also play a role in the value of a penny.

In addition to the penny’s mint year and edition, the coin’s overall condition is important when it comes to determining its value. Coins that have been well-preserved over the years can be valued significantly higher than similar coins that have wear and tear or damage.

Lincoln Penny Value – What Dealers Pay

Both coin dealers and coin collectors are willing to pay a higher premium for Lincoln Wheat Pennies that are in superior condition and of a higher grade. In fact, the values of collectable wheat pennies in good condition can range from several dollars to over $1000. If you have a Lincoln Wheat Penny in great condition from a year that is sought after by dealers and collectors, you may benefit from having your penny graded by an NGC or PCGS grading service.

By having your penny graded, you may be able to get a closer idea as to what your penny may be bought or sold for. The grading process is extremely thorough and may account for even very subtle grading points while also considering collector and dealer demand.

Lincoln Wheat Penny Value is Conditional

To accurately gauge the grade of your Lincoln Wheat Penny, you must perform a close examination of the coin. One simple way to do this is to examine the wheat stalks on the coin’s reverse. If the parallel lines at the top of the wheat stalk are showing, the coin is likely in fine or even better condition. If the penny has experienced significant wear and tear due to handling over the years, there is a good chance these lines at the tops of the stalks will be worn down or even non-existent. In this case, the coin may be considered to be in good or a lesser condition. If the lines at the tops of the wheat stalks remain crisp, clear and robust, the coin may be in extremely fine condition. Of course, the coin’s other details must also be in excellent condition to be assigned a grade of extremely fine, with little to no signs of wear or erosion.

The bottom line is this: The better the overall condition of your Lincoln Wheat Penny, the more desirable it may be for dealers and collectors, and thus the more valuable.

Coin Grading Can Provide Peace of Mind

If you have a Lincoln Wheat Penny that is in excellent condition and you are not sure how it might be graded, submitting your coin to NGC or PCGS to have it professionally graded may be a good idea. Coin grading services are in tune with the market and can give you a great idea as to how your Lincoln Wheat Penny may be valued. The small fee you incur for having your penny graded can be well-worth it to know you are getting fair market value for your coin if you wish to sell it. Coins that have been graded typically sell for higher premiums than non-graded coins, so your investment in grading may pay for itself.

Mintmarks and the 1909 VDB

An “S” mintmark found under the date of a Lincoln Wheat Penny indicates that the penny was minted by the San Francisco Mint. Collectors desire these coins and they may trade for higher premiums than common date wheat cents.

A “D” under the date indicates that the penny was minted in Denver, while lack of a mintmark indicates that the penny was minted in Philadelphia.

Mint year 1909 also produced some wheat pennies with the designer’s initials, “VDB” for Victor D. Brenner. These initials may be found along the bottom rim of the coin just below the wheat stalks. Because fewer pennies were minted with the engraved initials, check your 1909 Lincoln Wheat Penny to see if it has the VDB engraving.

Lincoln Wheat Penny Values Are Rising

The value of your Lincoln Wheat Penny is always changing and may increase over the years. This can happen for numerous reasons such as new collectors buying these coins or established collectors adding to their collections. In addition, new varieties such as double-dies or over-dates may be discovered adding to the allure of Lincoln Wheat Pennies.

All Market Updates are provided as a third party analysis and do not necessarily reflect the explicit views of JM Bullion Inc. and should not be construed as financial advice.

This post may contain affiliate links. If you buy thru these links, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.


What years of pennies are worth money

Wondering which pennies are worth more than face value? And which pennies you should be holding onto, rather than spending?

Well here you go — a list of the most valuable pennies, each worth more than $1 apiece!

Use this cheat sheet to see which pennies are worth saving and which ones are worth spending…

Which Lincoln Pennies To Keep

Of all the coins ever made by the United States Mint since 1793, arguably the most popular and widely collected among them are Lincoln pennies.

The Lincoln cent (technically, only Great Britain officially has a denomination called the “penny”) is a favorite among collectors young and old, rich and poor. It’s also one of my favorite coins!

Lincoln pennies are the first coins I ever collected when I initially charted my path in the hobby back in 1992, and it’s by far the coin series I’m most often asked about from readers here at The Fun Times Guide.

If you want to know what your U.S. penny is worth, then read on!

What years of pennies are worth money

Here are the most important types of Lincoln pennies you should be keeping:

  • All Lincoln wheat pennies made from 1909-1958
  • All Lincoln Memorial pennies made from 1959-1981
  • Copper Lincoln Memorial pennies made in 1982 (These weigh 3.11 grams versus 2.5 grams for the pennies made from copper-plated zinc)

43 Most Valuable Pennies — By Date

So now that you have a good idea of which types of pennies to keep, you’re probably wondering about specific dates.

Well, here’s a cheat sheet of the most valuable pennies to keep. Get ready… it’s a long list!

The penny dates listed below are worth more than just a few cents (unlike most of the ones referenced above).

These are the rarest and most valuable pennies that are worth more than $1 apiece:

  • 1909 — $3 and up
  • 1909 VDB — $10 and up
  • 1909-S — $80 and up
  • 1909-S VDB — $700 and up
  • 1910-S – $15
  • 1911-D – $5
  • 1911-S – $40
  • 1912 – $1
  • 1912-D – $6
  • 1912-S – $20
  • 1913-D – $3
  • 1913-S – $12
  • 1914-D – $175
  • 1914-S – $20
  • 1915 – $1.50
  • 1915-D – $2
  • 1915-S – $20
  • 1916-D – $1
  • 1916-S – $1.50
  • 1921-S – $1
  • 1922-D – $15
  • 1922 plain – $500

  • 1923-S – $2
  • 1924-D – $30
  • 1924-S – $1
  • 1926-S – $5
  • 1931-D – $4
  • 1931-S – $100
  • 1932 – $1.50
  • 1932-D – $1
  • 1933 – $1
  • 1933-D – $2
  • 1943-D boldly doubled mintmark – $10
  • 1944 D/S – $125
  • 1946-S/D – $35
  • 1955 doubled die, obverse — $1,100
  • 1970-S small date – $30
  • 1972 doubled die – $250
  • 1983 doubled die – $200
  • 1984 doubled die – $150
  • 1992-D close “AM” – $2,000
  • 1995 doubled die – $25
  • 1999 wide “AM” – $500

*Values are for problem-free coins in a grade of Good or better, and uncirculated for those dated 1959 and later.

As you’ll notice, there are several dates missing in the list above.

The pennies that aren’t on this list are worth only a nominal amount — usually between 3 cents and $1.

The list above also doesn’t include proof Lincoln cents — which you wouldn’t ordinarily find in circulation.

Must read: How To Determine The Grade Of A Coin

Other Valuable Pennies Worth Money

In addition to the pennies mentioned above, here are some other pennies worth money:

  • 1943 Lincoln Cents
  • Silver Pennies Not From 1943
  • 1944 Steel Pennies
  • Wheat Pennies
  • Indian Head Pennies

And here’s my video explaining how to tell if you’ve got a valuable penny or not:


4 Places To Find Rare & Valuable Pennies

Do you know where to look for the most valuable pennies?

Here are 4 of the best places to find rare pennies:

  1. In rolls of coins – Roll hunting is one of the best ways to find old coins, and sometimes the pieces you’ll find are quite valuable. I’ve found many old and obsolete coins by searching for them in rolls of coins.
  2. At yard sales and flea markets – Many people have no idea which coins are rare and they often end up selling them unwittingly in a rummage sale or flea market. You’ll be surprised how many bargains will be found at both yard sales and flea markets. Just be sure what you’re buying is authentic!
  3. In a family heirloom chest – Sometimes rare coins are already in the family, and may be tucked away in an old chest or another safe location. Attics and basements hold troves of valuable estate coins, often unbeknownst to the current occupants of the home.
  4. In your pocket change – Rare pennies do still turn up in circulation, though you’ll need a keen eye and a good deal of patience to find them this way. Good luck!

Read next: Most Valuable Nickels – A List Of Silver Nickels, Buffalo Nickels & Old Nickels Worth Holding Onto!

What years of pennies are worth money

I’m the Coin Editor here at TheFunTimesGuide. My love for coins began when I was 11 years old. I primarily collect and study U.S. coins produced during the 20th century. I’m a member of the American Numismatic Association (ANA) and the Numismatic Literary Guild (NLG) and have won multiple awards from the NLG for my work as a coin journalist. I’m also the editor at the Florida United Numismatists Club (FUN Topics magazine), and author of Images of America: The United States Mint in Philadelphia (a book that explores the colorful history of the Philadelphia Mint). I’ve contributed hundreds of articles for various coin publications including COINage, The Numismatist, Numismatic News, Coin Dealer Newsletter, Coin Values, and CoinWeek. I’ve 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!

What year pennies become valuable?

Watch for low mintage years like 1955-S, 1939-D, 1933-D, and 1931-S. Depending on condition, rarer pennies are worth more. Look for all-copper pennies. Old pennies made before 1982 are 95% copper, which gives them an inherent metal value.

What are the key dates for pennies?

The 10 Most Valuable Lincoln Pennies.
1998-P Wide AM: $25..
1995-D Doubled Die: $50..
1970-S Small Date High 7: $60..
1984-P Doubled Die Ear: $250..
1960-D Small D Over Large D: $200-$500..
1983-P Doubled Die Reverse: $400..
1992-D Close AM: $500..
1999-P Wide AM: $540..