Save Your 1963 Pennies... They're Worth More Than Face Value (Up To $40,000!) (2023)

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Save Your 1963 Pennies... They're Worth More Than Face Value (Up To $40,000!) (1)

All 1963 pennies are worth more than face value — so don’t spend them. Keep ’em!

So, you’re probably wondering how much your 1963 penny is worth. Am I right?

Well, read on to find out how much your 1963 Lincoln cent is worth. Plus a list of rare and valuable 1963 penny errors to look for!

How Much Is A 1963 Penny Worth?

While it’s true any 1963 penny that you find in your spare change has a value of more than one cent… how much more can vary widely, depending on:

  • The coin’s mintmark
  • The condition of the coin
  • The current demand for that coin

So, here’s a rundown of all 1963 penny values…

1963 No Mintmark Penny Value

The 1963 penny with no mintmark had a very high mintage of 754,110,000 — that’s over three-quarters of a billion!

Still, these coins are rather difficult to find in circulation today. One reason this coin that was once so commonly encountered has become scarce in pocket change is because people are hoarding them for their valuable copper content.

How much they’re worth:

  • A typical 1963 no mintmark penny is worth about 2 cents for its copper metal value. While that’s not a whole lot more than its face value of 1 cent, double the declared legal-tender value isn’t too shabby!
  • Uncirculated versions of the no mintmark 1963 penny are worth even more — around 10 to 30 cents for a coin that has not been used as money.
  • The most valuable 1963 penny with no mintmark was graded MS67 by Professional Coin Grading Service. It sold for $6,613 in a 2012 auction.

1963-D Penny Value

The 1963-D penny is more than twice as common as its Philadelphia Mint counterpart, with 1,774,020,400 pieces struck at the Denver Mint. These 1963 pennies have a “D” mintmark.

How much they’re worth:

(Video) 1963 pennies you should know about!

  • Like the 1963 Philly penny, the 1963-D Lincoln cent is worth more than its face value (due to its copper content), and trades for about 2 cents — twice its face value.
  • What are uncirculated 1963 pennies worth? A typical 1963-D penny that has never been used as money is worth about 10 to 30 cents.
  • Still… there are some 1963-D pennies that are worth much, much more! The record for the most valuable 1963-D penny goes to a specimen graded MS67 by Numismatic Guaranty Corporation and that sold for $2,820 in a 2013 sale.

1963 Proof Penny Value

What’s a 1963 proof penny?

It’s a type of coin that was struck in limited quantities for collectors by specially prepared dies and made with highly polished blanks.

Proofs were never intended for release in circulation, and they were sold at a special price to coin collectors during the year of their issue.

The 1963 proof pennies were struck at the Philadelphia Mint to the tune of 3,075,645 pieces.

How much they’re worth:

  • Most 1963 proof pennies are worth around 75 cents to $2.50 each. (Those with especially perfect surfaces sell for exponentially more.)
  • The all-time record price for a 1963 proof penny was claimed by a specimen graded by PR70DCAM by Professional Coin Grading Service and sold in a 2004 sale for a whopping $40,250!

IMPORTANT: Do You Know The Grade Of Your Penny?

To determine the true value of your 1963 penny, you first need to know what condition (or grade) your coin is in.

Grab a coin magnifier and a copy of the U.S. Coin Grading Standards book. Then, watch this video to see how to grade coins yourself at home:

How To Grade A Coin Yourself To Determine Its Value

Valuable 1963 Penny Errors To Look For

There are many highly collectible U.S. mint error coins and varieties you should be looking for on your 1963 Lincoln Memorial pennies!

(Video) CHECK YOUR 1963 PENNY FOR THESE RARE PENNIES THAT ARE WORTH MONEY!!

Some of the most widely collected 1963 error pennies are:

  • 1963 doubled die pennies
  • 1963 repunched mintmark pennies
  • 1963 BIE pennies
  • 1963 off-center pennies

Let’s look at each of these errors and varieties below with some information about their value, too…

1963 Doubled Die Penny Value

One of the penny errors that people most commonly search for is also one of the rarest. It’s a variety known as a doubled die. (Many newbie collectors would mistakenly call these coins a 1963 double die penny.)

A doubled die means the die that struck the variety was doubled by the hub — which then transferred an image onto the die, which was then impressed onto blank coins.

A lot of people who are looking for 1963 doubled die Lincoln pennies are probably doing so based on the perception that they’re worth a lot of money. And, as many collectors know, some of the most popular doubled die pennies are actually worth huge sums of money!

The reason some doubled dies are worth so much is because they’re both relatively rare and drastic in appearance — the doubling is pretty intense and can be seen with the naked eye.

However, if you’ve got to strain to find doubling on a coin with a 5X or 10X magnifier, chances are it’s not going to grab the attention of many collectors — and, even if rare, will not necessarily draw huge dollars. This seems to be the case with most of the known 1963 doubled die pennies.

Are they highly collectible? Yes, but they aren’t necessarily as rare or sought-after as some of the more valuable doubled die pennies out there.

Most 1963 doubled die pennies would usually trade for around $5 to $20 — depending on the specific type of doubled die and the coin’s condition.

1963 Repunched Mintmark Penny Value

On some 1963-D pennies, it’s possible to find signs of the mintmark being doubled, placed sideways, or unique with other oddities about it.

Why did weird things happen with the 1963-D mintmark?

Because in 1963 the U.S. Mint still individually hand-punched mintmarks onto working dies — so there was plenty of opportunity for human error to play a factor with the placement and positioning of the mintmarks.

(Video) 1963 LINCOLN PENNY WORTH MONEY - RARE PENNY COINS TO LOOK FOR!

There are many varieties known involving the mintmark on 1963-D pennies! Most of these repunched mintmark pennies are worth $3 to $5 each.

1963 BIE Penny Value

There’s a peculiar die variety known on many Lincoln pennies concerning the word “LIBERTY” on the obverse (head’s side) of the coin.

A vertical die break is often seen between the letters “B” and “E” of LIBERTY — giving the perceived appearance of a capital letter “I.”

BIE Lincoln penny errors are fairly common — but they’re extremely collectible. Some folks are even trying to find a BIE penny from each year that the Lincoln cent has been minted!

1963 BIE pennies are generally worth around $5.

1963 Off-Center Penny Value

A common but popular error is the so-called off-center penny.

These coins were mis-struck due to either poor alignment of the dies or the coin being off center on the press upon its strike.

How much is this type of error penny worth?

Normally, a 1963 penny that is less than 2% or 3% off center doesn’t really trigger any extra premium.

However, a 1963 penny that is 5% to 10% off center is usually worth $3 to $10 — with increasing values for coins that are further off center, up to about 50% off center.

The most valuable kind of 1963 off-center penny is about 50% off center and still shows a complete date. Such pennies are worth around $50 to $100.

CHECK YOUR 1963 PENNY FOR THESE RARE PENNIES THAT ARE WORTH MONEY!!

(Video) 1963 Lincoln Penny Worth Money! Rare Pennies Worth Money!

Save Your 1963 Pennies... They're Worth More Than Face Value (Up To $40,000!) (2)

Joshua

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!

(Video) Is 1963-D Lincoln Cent Penny Coin Worth $14,500? Are MS67 Cents Really Worth Thousands?

FAQs

How much is a valuable 1963 penny worth? ›

On average, a 1963 penny is worth its melt value and based on the cost of copper in October 2022, a penny is worth $0.02. Rare 1963 pennies in high grades can sell for up to $40,000 in superior proof condition. But the typical price for a 1963 penny is 10 to 30 cents.

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 old pennies are worth saving? ›

Rare 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.
Sep 17, 2022

What year pennies are worth more than face value? ›

Lincoln pennies that were minted between 1959 and 1982 tend to be worth more since they are almost 100 percent copper, rather than an alloy.

What penny is $1000000? ›

The 1943 copper penny is a one million dollar penny! This copper penny was suppose to be a 1943 steel penny. Could you imagine finding this rare coin in your...

What is the error on a 1963 penny? ›

1963-D Lincoln Cent -- Struck on a Silver Dime Planchet -- AU58 PCGS. This wrong planchet mint error is aligned with the collar at 9 o'clock, resulting in stretching and minor incompleteness on TRUST and AMERICA.

What penny is worth $40000? ›

The Most Expensive Penny

Just 40 of the coins — probably created by accident, on copper-alloy one-cent blanks left in the presses in the wartime years when pennies were converted to steel — are known to exist. The first 1943 copper cent was sold in 1958 for more than $40,000.

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.

What penny is worth $25000? ›

Here's a list of the top 10 most valuable pennies for 2023: 1) 1944 Steel Wheat Penny - $408,000. 2) 1943 Copper Wheat Penny - $250,000. 3) 1856 Flying Eagle Penny - $25,000.

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.

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 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 penny is worth $10000? ›

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.

Which pennies are worth keeping? ›

Here's a rundown of 10 of the most expensive pennies made since 1900:
  • 1909-S Indian Cent: $300 to $1,000+ ...
  • 1909-S VDB Lincoln Cent: $600 to $1,300+ ...
  • 1914-D Lincoln Cent: $150 to $2,200+ ...
  • 1922 Plain Lincoln Cent: $500 to $10,500+ ...
  • 1931-S Lincoln Cent: $65 to $100+ ...
  • 1943 Bronze Lincoln Cent: $125,000+
Nov 18, 2022

What pennies are rare right now? ›

Let's start with the most valuable pennies minted in the USA.
  • 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.
Feb 16, 2023

What year penny is worth $1 million? ›

A 1943 Lincoln penny that soared in value because it was made from the "wrong" material reportedly has sold for $1 million. The penny was erroneously made of bronze instead of zinc-coated steel at the San Francisco Mint, according to UPI news agency.

What penny is super rare? ›

A penny from 1909 was the star of the show. It is, in fact, considered one of the rarest and most highly valued pennies in existence, made to celebrate the centennial of Abraham Lincoln's birth and inscribed with the initials of its designer, Victor D. Brenner.

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.

How much is a 1963 D mint penny worth? ›

The Denver Mint produced more than 1.7 billion 1963 D pennies. You can buy one of these for about $0.01 to $7.00 if the coin is in circulated condition. The price can be higher if it is favorably graded.

What are the most common error pennies? ›

Some of the most common penny errors include off-center coins, broadstrikes, and clipped planchets. Note that doubled dies, repunched mint marks, and die breaks are technically not errors, but rather varieties. These anomalies were created in the die creation stage or by way of wear-related changes to the die.

What does an error penny look like? ›

A blank planchet penny is an error piece often divided into two types: a blank coin with no visible rim and a blank planchet with a raised outer edge. These types of strike errors are relatively common. Their value varies according to their source metal and if they have a raised rim.

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.

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…

What penny is worth $200000? ›

Rare 1943 penny sells for over $200,000

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.

What penny is worth 400000? ›

These coins values are based on when they were issued into circulation – and some are worth over $400,000. According to the website, the most valuable coin is the 1944 Steel Wheat Penny, which were actually created by mistake. These coins are rare and only a handful are known to exist.

What pennies are worth thousands? ›

Which pennies are worth $1,000? Some examples of pennies worth $1,000 or more include the 1955 Doubled Die Lincoln Cent, the 1909-S Indian Cent, the 1909-S VDB Lincoln Cent and the 1914-D Lincoln Cent.

Why is the 1992 d penny worth so Much? ›

According to Professional Coin Grading Services, a whopping 9 billion Lincoln pennies were produced by both the Philadelphia and Denver Mints in 1992. Coinappraiser.com says, “It is approximated that only 10 or so of the 'Close AM' coins exist” — which is what makes them so valuable.

What penny is worth $15000? ›

There's a rare 1983 copper penny (a 1983-D penny) worth $15,000 -- you could find one in your pocket change!

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!

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.

What makes a 1983 D penny rare? ›

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.

Are pre 1982 pennies worth saving? ›

It turns out all pennies with a date of 1981 or earlier were made from nearly pure copper, which means they are actually worth three times their face value - three cents.

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 makes a 1974 D penny rare? ›

McConnell discovered the coin was a 1974-D aluminum penny. Only ten of the coins were ever made and it was believed that all of them were destroyed. The coins were made as as a test, but they didn't work in vending machines and didn't show up in a X-rays.

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 pennies from the 60s are worth money? ›

The rarest and the most valuable Lincoln Memorial penny minted in 1960 is the one from the Denver mint with a unique D Over D overdate. This coin has a Small Date struck over the Large Date on the obverse.

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 $85000? ›

More From Good Housekeeping. Whoever didn't get that no-copper memo in 1943 is now responsible for creating some of the most valuable coins in all of history. While a 1943 penny in "good" condition could earn you around $60,000, coin connoisseurs might pay upwards of $85,000 for the coin if it's in mint-condition.

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.

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.

How rare is a 1992 Close AM penny? ›

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.

Are any old pennies rare? ›

If you have heard of only one rare coin, there is a good chance that it is the 1933 penny. For some reason this coin, more than any other, has lodged itself in the public consciousness. Indeed, people have spent a lifetime sifting through their coins in a vain attempt to find one.

What makes a 1962 D penny rare? ›

Penny struck on a silver dime planchet

In rare cases, you can find the 1962 D Lincoln penny with almond-gold toning. This error appeared because of sticking the penny on a silver dime planchet. Such pieces can be valuable, and one coin in an MS 62 grade was sold for $823 at an auction in 2013.

What does the D mean on a penny? ›

The mint mark is the small letter that shows which Mint location made the coin. The two most common mint marks are the “P” for Philadelphia and “D” for Denver.

Is a 1963 D penny rare? ›

No, it's not rare. The Philadelphia Mint doesn't add a mint mark to the coins they produce. In 1963, there were more than 754 million pennies produced by the Philadelphia Mint, which don't have the mint mark.

What is the rarest penny year? ›

1877 Indian Head Penny – $149,500

This particular penny is the rarest date of all the Indian Head pennies minted. In 1877 the demand for US coinage was at an all-time low due to a long recession. So, people didn't save pennies then. To find an uncirculated version in mint condition is rare.

What year is the rarest old penny? ›

If you have heard of only one rare coin, there is a good chance that it is the 1933 penny. For some reason this coin, more than any other, has lodged itself in the public consciousness. Indeed, people have spent a lifetime sifting through their coins in a vain attempt to find one.

How much is a 1963 D Lincoln cent worth? ›

USA Coin Book Estimated Value of 1963-D Lincoln Memorial Penny is Worth $0.17 to $1.16 or more in Uncirculated (MS+) Mint Condition. Click here to Learn How to use Coin Price Charts. Also, click here to Learn About Grading Coins.

How much is a 1963 D mint quarter worth? ›

1963 D Washington Quarter Value

According to the NGC Price Guide, as of February 2023, a Washington Quarter from 1963 in circulated condition is worth between $4.45 and $7. However, on the open market 1963 D Quarters in pristine, uncirculated condition sell for as much as $17750.

How much is a 1963 no mint nickel worth? ›

photo source: PCGS

There's no mint mark and the average price ranges from $0.05 to $3.00. There are more than 175 million 1963-P Jefferson nickels, making this coin a common coin.

What year penny is worth $1000? ›

1955 Doubled Die Lincoln Cent: $1,000 to $2,000+

The 1955 doubled die penny shows heavy doubling in the inscriptions on the obverse side such as the word LIBERTY and the date. It is worth $1,000 and up even in well-worn condition, with uncirculated specimens taking $2,000 or more.

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