Coin Values Moving with Precious Metals: Up-Dated 2/27/2023: Gold $1807 | Silver $20.63
Penny values span a wide range. Wheat pennies begin at 2 cents to highs found with early colonial large cents valued in the thousands. Using a step by step method discovers how much your old pennies are worth. Series are identified along with dates and mintmarks. Condition is judged comparing to images, video and descriptions. Match your coins to each penny series value chart.
Steps Leading to Value:
- Step 1: Recognize the Different Series of Cents - US pennies cover a large variety of series and styles with overlapping dates. Identify the different series to begin.
- Step 2: Date and Mintmark Variety - Within series, dates become important to value, identify all dates accurately.
- Step 3: Grading Condition - Judging condition is done with a close inspection and comparing to standards for the grade.
- Step 4: Special Qualities - Copper coins, because of the metal, are examined for qualities adding or subtracting from value.
How to determine penny values begins with identifying the denomination and series. Examine your coin and compare to the following images to find a match.
Note: Images within blue borders are Links to the Penny Values series.
Step 1: | Recognize the Different Series of Cents
Half Cent Values | All Half Cents are Rare
From the early days of coinage, half cents are now scarce and collected by specialists. Their demand is supporting strong values, high condition examples are avidly sought. Minted 1793 to 1857; value charts list date and condition ranges of values. Confirm your coin as a half cent by denomination on reverse.
American Large Cent Values
Another great American coin that specialists study intensely and avidly collect. Large cents, recognized by the denomination on the reverse, are worth close inspection. Carefully examine your coins for condition. Visit the series specific page, a check of the value chart shows rare dates and scarce varieties in strong demand. Many large cents in nice condition with abundant detail remaining, are a valuable find.
Flying Eagle Penny Values | Discover Their Worth
Valuable because they are so popular. Flying Eagle pennies, a short running series range in worth and desirability depending on date and condition. 1856 through 1858 cents stand out as sought-after collector coins because of the bold flying eagle design. And they represent the introduction of the modern small cent size.
The Value of an Indian Penny | Very Solid
A very popular and recognizable coin; from beginner to advanced collectors, all enjoy the collecting of Indian Head pennies. These large numbers of collectors, building collections are putting a heavy demand on the rare dates and better condition coins. Compare your now very old Indian pennies to the series value chart.
Lincoln Penny Value | On the Rise
Early date Lincoln pennies and higher condition coins are on the move. Some of these Wheat pennies are not as common as once believed. Their prices are climbing to reflect the demand. A quick look at the value chart shows a big change in how much your box of old pennies is worth. Condition is also playing an increasing role.
2 Cent Coin Value | Stable
2 cent coin value is steadily increasing over the long term. A short series, serving a specific demand at the time, minted 1864 to 1873. Admittedly not the most popular coin, however those collecting the series are very serious. When the right coin is available and is needed for their collection, none hesitate to pay.
Step 2: | Date Plus Variety and Mintmarks are Identified
Penny values are date specific. Scarcity and rarity from one date to the next vary greatly within each series. Collections are built with a focus on dates and date runs. Within a series, invariably certain dates are the commonly found issues. As example; a 1907 Indian penny is available in all grades and affordable. However, an 1877 Indian penny is rare and highly valuable. Date further identifies your coin and combined with availability, establish value.
Mintmarks became important to penny values starting in 1908. The San Francisco branch mint began coining Indian pennies. Until then Philadelphia produced all cent and two cent denominations. Collectors now have another variety as part of collections. Mintmarks are listed and valued on Indian and Lincoln value charts.
Accurate recognition of dates also becomes important when separating variety and value. As example, a 1909 penny has a total of six varieties. Two are Indian pennies, from different mints. Four are within the Lincoln cent series, different mints and sub-varieties.
🔎Step 1 above are image links to match your coin. Visit the series page for value charts and details on how to value your old penny.
Step 3: | Grading Condition | Penny Values are Conditional
Condition is one of the subtle steps affecting penny values. As always, nicer, better preserved coin are always worth more. Grading is judging the surfaces and identifying the amount of wear or lack of wear.
Dealers and collectors identify the different stages of wear separating coins from the most worn to the least and each is assigned a "Grade". You do the same comparing to images of the different grades and matching your coin.
Mint State Grade: A coin with no wear to the surface is considered Mint State grade. Each design has high points judged to detect any smoothing and removal of luster. If no evidence of wear is seen a coin grades in the mint state category.
Extremely Fine Grade: Very light wear is noticeable in the Extremely Fine grade. Tops of elements such as strands within hair, cheek, and open fields are closely judged. For example: the reverse of a Lincoln cent features fine parallel lines in the "wheat" design. If all lines are separate and sharp the coin is showing signs of grading Extremely Fine or better.
Fine Grade: Moderate wear on most of the coin and heavy wear on high points describes overall the Fine grade. Many early era copper coins in a pleasing Fine grade are very collectible and valued. A typical example, such as an Indian penny in fine grade, has flat areas within the hair and face and above her eye. However, the flat spots do not connect, separation of high areas remain.
Good Grade: Heavy wear and a lack of remaining design is typical of a penny in Good grade. Most major and minor design features are now a flat surface. Half cents are a series with many examples in very worn condition. A half cent with strong rims, readable lettering, and lack of deep marks; despite Liberty's portrait worn to an outline, retains value.
🔎Step 1 image and text links lead to series pages of in-depth coverage. Each series page covers grading in detail. Close-up images and descriptions of grades are used to judge condition. Additional video helps to identify many subtle points to grading coins.
How to Video: | Grading Indian Head Pennies
How to Video: | Grading Lincoln Wheat Pennies
Step 4: | Special Qualities Enhancing Value
Within the different series of copper US coinage are certain qualities setting one coin apart from others. Primarily its overall appearance sets the initial eye appeal impression. Copper coins when first minted began as shades of bright red-orange-gold. Toning begins immediately and starts to deepen the colors turning shades of brown. Toning of the surface continues, unless protected, to very deep shades of brown-black. Dark colors tend to hide detail and lower eye appeal to old copper coins.
Comparing the coins in the image; nicely toned, circulated examples project pleasing eye appeal. A deeply toned cent lacks a clear view of the coin, obscured by the deepness of color.Old coins and collections are enjoyed because the eye appeal and aesthetics of each example in the set. Visual qualities are part of value.
Many copper coins exhibit subtle qualities, when recognized, add to understanding potential value. Large cents with pleasing surfaces, lacking deep marks are somewhat elusive and special coins. Circulated Lincoln Wheat cents with soft even toning, highlighting the remaining design, are appealing to beginning collectors.
Special qualities are examined and highlighted within each series. From half cents, large cents, Indian pennies, and Lincoln cents all have unique examples of value added by special qualities. Often it is these subtle points elevating a coin to solid collector quality and appeal.
🔎Match your coin to the image links in Step 1 and visit; how to determine in-depth penny values of your coin.
Coin Values | CoinStudy Articles
Selling Wheat Pennies and Receiving the Highest Price
Separate your old wheat pennies into the main value groups - different decades, mintmarks, rare dates and importantly condition. Preparing and selling wheat pennies for the best value is possible.
Finding Rare Pennies
Discover the rare pennies in your box of old coins. The search is both interesting and exciting. From rare dates to rare very small details, if they are in your box you will find the rare pennies.
Old US Penny Values are Rising
Coin values are determined by using the grading images to judge condition then checking the date and values on the charts provided. Discover all the rare varieties, dates and mintmarks.
Old Coin Value Picture Index
An excellent picture index of all major US coin series. Compare and identify your coin to the picture, click on the image, and go immediately to your old coin value.
Safe Coin Storage | Recommendations
Recommendations on basic supplies that greatly improve coin storage. Providing for safe handling, preserving of value and organizing your box of old coins.
★Coin Values Discovery finds Penny Values and...
All old US coin values. The home page is an excellent index, quickly leading to the major coin series. From Cents to Gold. Easily sort and value your coins, an important step in preparing for selling and finding coin buyers.
FAQs
How do I know which pennies are valuable? ›
Although many factors determine the exact value of a coin, you can quickly determine the value of your penny by knowing its type, date, mintmark, and grade. Additionally, the value of a particular coin can vary between markets and coin dealers.
Why is a 1982 penny worth $10000? ›So for the past 30 years, pennies have been made with an alloy comprised of 97.5% zinc and 2.5% copper, but pennies minted before 1982 are 95% copper and 5% zinc. The price of copper has more than quadrupled over the past 10 years.
What year penny is worth $1000? ›The coin in question is a penny from 1909. The media could not be played. If you find a 1909 penny with an S on the front and the letters VDB on the back at the bottom, it could be worth nearly $1,000.
Is there a free app to scan coins for value? ›CoinSnap is a powerful mobile application that utilizes AI-driven image recognition technology to accurately identify any coin within seconds!
What makes a 1964 penny rare? ›A 1964 D penny is considered rare for a few reasons. First, only about 1% of all pennies minted in 1964 were of the D-mint variety. Second, the Denver Mint, where the D pennies were made, had a higher-than-average number of coins rejected due to quality control issues.
What are the 15 most valuable pennies? ›- 1914-S Lincoln Penny.
- 1944-D Lincoln Penny (Zinc-coated steel)
- 1909-S VDB Lincoln Penny.
- 1872 Indian Head Penny.
- 1969-S Lincoln Penny-Doubled Die Obverse.
- 1926-S Lincoln Penny.
- 1877 Indian Head Penny.
- 1914-D Lincoln Penny.
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.
Is a 1974 penny worth $2 million? ›Eric said the penny in question is worth an estimated $2million. However, despite its high value, the penny is technically illegal to own as it's considered to be government property. Federal authorities haven't been in a hurry to confiscate them, according to Coinworld, but it's important for sellers to know.
What year penny is worth $20000? ›Because the letters "A" and "M" in America are so close that they touch, the 1992 Close AM penny could be worth up to $20,000.
Why is the 1999 penny worth so much? ›It's from 1999 and could be worth $4,500 thanks to a little-known error on it. What you want to look for is a 1999 penny with no mint mark, which means no letter under the year on the heads side.
Which 1992 penny is worth money? ›
The most collectible Lincoln cent minted in 1992 is the rare, so-called Close AM variation. You can expect to get $20,000 for the specimen with MS 67 rating.
What penny is worth $50000? ›The 1959-D wheat penny is one of the most controversial mule coins ever. It's worth $50,000!
What penny is worth 25000? ›The last sale of a Close AM 1992 Lincoln penny was recorded back in 2017, with the coin selling for an incredible $25,850.
How much is the CoinSnap app? ›The current price is $0.000280 per SNAP.
Which is the best app for coin selling? ›Coinbazzar is India Best Numismatic App. Where you can buy sell Coins, Bank Notes, Medals, and any Numismatic related item also any antique items you have for sell. +Add Product & Show it to thousands of collectors. +Get Fast Payout.
Are no mint mark pennies valuable? ›Are They Worth Anything? Typically, no mint mark coins are not worth much at face value. Still, coins minted with an error or those produced in a small volume may be worth significant money.
Why is the 1961 D penny worth so much? ›Since Lincoln Memorial pennies minted in 1961 are made of pricey copper, all are worth far more than their face value, regardless of condition.
How much is a 1964 D wheat penny worth? ›A 1964 D cent is worth somewhere between $2 and almost $5,000. Its condition, grade, and patina, among other characteristics, make it a prized object among coin collectors. Only two points separate near-mint condition from the highest quality SMS penny discovered, which is classed MS68.
What penny is worth $10 000? ›You Could Find This Rare Penny In Your Pocket Change - Here's What To Look For. Someone found a 1982 copper penny worth more than $10,000 -- and you could too! Here's everything you want to know about the 1982 D penny - and how to find a 1982 small date penny.
What pennies are rare right now? ›- S Lincoln Penny – $105,800. ...
- 1944-D Lincoln Penny on a Zinc-Coated Steel Planchet – $115,000. ...
- 1909-S VDB Lincoln Penny. ...
- 1872 Indian Head Penny – $126,500. ...
- 1969-S Lincoln Penny–Doubled Die Obverse – $126,500. ...
- 1926-S Lincoln Penny – $149,500.
Why is the 1944 penny rare? ›
1944 wheat pennies were only made of copper and zinc from 1944 to 1946 due to a supply shortage of tin. Within the tin element in the composition of this metal, these coins were brass, not bronze.
Are any pennies from 1980 worth money? ›1980 D Penny Value
In lower mint state grades, the value is comparable to unmarked cents. At MS63, a red cent is worth about $5, and at MS65 it will be worth around $15. There's a slight premium at MS67, where a Denver red cent will be worth about $225, compared to $187 for one without a mint mark.
The finest brown 1983 D penny graded by the PCGS is at MS66. And it's valued at just $5. In mint state, the 1983 D penny is also common in grades up to MS67. At MS67, a red coin is valued at $35.
What 1980 pennies are rare? ›Only experts look for the majority of 1980 doubled-die Lincoln pennies since they are relatively uncommon. What is this? A 1980 twofold die obverse (heads side) penny with a thicker date and “LIBERTY” inscription, on the other hand, can range in price from $35 to $250+, depending on the coin's condition.
How much is a 1982 D small date zinc penny worth? ›You'll pay around 0.30 USD for the 1982 “D” zinc penny with a big date. The 1982 “D” zinc penny with a small date and an MS of at least 60 costs around 0.20 USD. Remember, the price is low because these coins are common.
What penny is worth $300000? ›The 1943 bronze Lincoln cent is considered to be the most famous error coin made by the U.S. Mint and could be worth more than $300,000.
Why is the 1972 penny worth so much? ›The San Francisco mint had the lowest penny mintage in 1972, with only 376,939,108 struck pieces. Therefore, you can expect well-preserved coins in high grades to cost more than coins from the other two mints.
What makes a 1970 penny rare? ›What makes a 1970 Lincoln penny rare? The 1970 Lincoln penny is not rare, but variations with a small date or coins with a DDO error can be scarce, particularly in high grades.
What year penny is worth millions? ›A report from Reuters notes that a rare 1792 American penny sold at auction for $2.6 million in 2015. Only 10 of the “Birch Cent” coins, named after their engraver Robert Birch, are believed to exist.
What penny is worth millions of dollars? ›1943-D Lincoln Bronze Wheat Penny — $1.7 million
Made of 95% copper and 5% tin and zinc alloy, it sold for $1.7 million in 2010. More recently, it went for $840,000 at an auction. There is only one copy known to be in existence, but other versions of the coin may sell for $100,000 and up.
What year is the lucky penny? ›
NATIONAL LUCKY PENNY DAY HISTORY
Benjamin Franklin designed the first American penny in 1787 known as the Fugio cent. Visitors to the Ben Franklins grave in Philadelphia leave one-cent pieces there for good luck.
1999 D Lincoln Memorial penny
The Denver mint reached the highest mintage in 1999 with 6,360,065,000 produced Lincoln Memorial pennies. Their average price is $0.10 to $30, while you can find even beautiful pieces in an MS 69 grade for $260.
In 2009, the U.S. Mint made four special penny designs to celebrate Abraham Lincoln's 200th birthday. It was also the 100th anniversary of the Lincoln penny, which the Mint first made in 1909. The image of Lincoln remained on the obverse (heads) of all four cents in the new program.
Is a 1947 penny worth $1.7 million? ›Extremely Rare Coin Discovered in a High Schooler's Lunch Money in 1947 Now Worth $1.7 Million. A rare coin found by a high schooler in his lunch money has been valued at almost $1.7million, following the owner's death.
What is a valuable 1993 penny? ›...
| 1993 Lincoln Penny value (proof) | |
|---|---|
| Condition | 1993 S red DCAM cent |
| PR 67 | $2 |
| PR 68 | $3 |
| PR 69 | $4 |
The 1992 Close AM examples struck at the Denver Mint are also considered very scarce and there is only about a dozen examples known for this variety.
How much is a 1991 D penny worth? ›1991 D penny Value
Only those with attractive red-colored surfaces in the mint state are worth more than their face value. You can buy such coins for $0.10 to $7, and only superb specimens in an MS 68 grade reach $50 during the sale.
A rare copper penny that a Massachusetts man found in his lunch money more than 70 years ago has been auctioned for more than $200,000. The 1943 penny is one of 20 that were accidentally minted when the federal government was trying to conserve copper for World War II.
Why is the 1943 D penny so valuable? ›A 1943 wheat penny is valuable for a few reasons. First, minting errors during that year led to some coins being made with a bronze cent planchet instead of the standard brass planchet. Second, the mint also produced a small number of 1943 pennies on zinc-coated steel planchets.
Is a 1943 penny worth a million dollars? ›Which 1943 copper penny is valuable? The all-time record price for a 1943 bronze cent is $1.7 million. This price was paid for the only known example of a 1943-D copper penny graded MS64BN by Professional Coin Grading Service.
What penny is worth $3000? ›
A RARE Lincoln penny from 1922 has sold for nearly $3,000 online – meaning you would be quite fortunate to have a coin like this one lying around. If you look closely, you'll noti…
How much would $1000000 in pennies be? ›Answer and Explanation: There are 100,000,000 pennies in one million dollars.
Can a penny be worth a million dollars? ›Yes, the PCGS-graded 1943 and 1943-S copper pennies were priced at $1 million, and the 1943-D copper penny was priced at $1.5 million.
Why is the 1992 D penny worth so much? ›What Makes This Penny so Special? In the 1990s and early 2000s, the United States Mint used different dies for producing coins for circulation and Proof coins for collectors. Due to a mix-up at the mint back in 1992, a proof die was used for the reverse of the coin before it was supposed to be used starting in 1993.
What penny is worth $300? ›Yes! Ultimate Guide To 1999 Penny Values (Including The 1999 Penny Error/1999 Wide AM Penny) There's a rare 1999 penny error that is worth hundreds of dollars and you could find it in your pocket change!
How much is a 1977 penny worth? ›1977 Lincoln penny value
You can find them for $0.20 to $24, but the best-quality coins can be worth about $110. However, their prices at auctions can be significantly higher.
Coins can sometimes be struck on planchets meant for a different denomination. That was the case with one 1980 penny without a mint mark. Instead of being struck on a blank copper planchet, it was struck on a Roosevelt dime. This type of error is very rare, which also makes it valuable.
What is the rarest D penny? ›1943-D Lincoln Bronze Cent – $1,700,000
Accidents can produce the rarest coins as we have seen. When the US changed from bronze alloy to zinc-plated steel pennies in 1943, only a handful of bronze pennies slipped through.
Although most pieces are inexpensive and abundant in circulation, you can still earn some money in some cases. Even if that is not the case, this lovely coin is collectible because of its silver luster. Plus, the 1978 penny value can be higher for errors and pieces in high grades.
Why is a 1976 penny valuable? ›1976 Penny Struck on a Clad Nickel Planchet
So a penny struck on a cupronickel planchet would be an interesting error to collect. And because the coins have different diameters – 19.05mm for pennies and 21.21mm for nickels, edge damage is expected. This error coin sold for $1,265.
Is a 1945 penny worth $85,000? ›
The value of a 1945 wheat penny depends on its condition and whether it's the rare “steel” variety. A well-circulated coin could be worth only a few cents, while a pristine steel penny could fetch up to $85,000.
What penny is worth millions 1944? ›1944 STEEL Wheat Penny Value
According to the NGC Price Guide, as of March 2023, a Wheat Penny from 1944 in circulated condition is worth between $35000 and $43500. However, on the open market 1944 STEEL Pennies in pristine, uncirculated condition sell for as much as $175000.
The 1944 D wheat penny ranges between $0.02 and $0.89. It is worth $0.04 in extremely fine circulated condition and $0.89 in uncirculated condition. The Denver Mint made an error and punched an S into the D. It attempted to rectify the error, but remnants of the S are still visible. The penny is worth $100 at minimum.