10 Rare Pennies Worth Thousands to Collectors

Most pennies are worth exactly one cent. A few, however, can be serious money, depending on what is hiding in the date, mintmark, metal, or design.

The difference between an ordinary old penny and a valuable collectible isn't always obvious. Some pennies are rare and valuable because of scarcity, as the Mint produced very few. Other coins gain value because of a production mistake or how well they're preserved. A worn 1914-D Lincoln cent can sell for a few hundred dollars, while an exceptionally preserved example can bring six figures.

If you're looking to make extra money, it may be worth taking a closer look at the change in your jar.

Here are some of the pennies collectors watch most closely.

1793 Chain cent

Estimated market value: $15,000 to $348,000

The 1793 Chain cent has a claim to fame beyond its rarity. It was among the first cents struck by the newly established U.S. Mint. Only 36,103 were produced, and the issue had five known die varieties. The Mint produced it for just a few weeks in 1793 before swapping the design.

Condition and variety make an enormous difference. A VF25 example of the scarce S-2 variety sold for $27,600 on December 30, 2024, while an AU58 example of the S-1 variety brought a staggering $348,000 at Heritage on January 4, 2024.

1799 Draped Bust cent

Estimated market value: $5,000 to $210,000

This is one of the legendary early American large cents, with a historically reported mintage of 42,540. Joseph Mickley, often called the father of American coin collecting, famously struggled to find one dated to his birth year. This publicized struggle helped cement the coin's status as a legendary rarity.

The date remains valuable even when the coin is far from pristine. A 1799/8 example in Good-6 sold for $8,400, while an XF45 PCGS example brought $210,000 on January 9, 2025. A Fair 2 example sold for $5,124 in March 2026.

1877 Indian Head cent

Estimated market value: $700 to $37,820

The 1877 is the key date of the Indian Head cent series, with only 852,500 circulation strikes produced. That is a tiny mintage compared with many other Indian Head cents, and collectors have long considered it the series' most important regular-issue rarity.

You don't need a pristine specimen for it to be worth serious money. A Good 6 example sold for $701.50 on July 7, 2026, while a PCGS MS65 Red example sold for $19,200 in February 2025.

The finest examples can climb much higher. A 1877 proof graded PR67 Red sold for $37,820 in September 2026, although proof and circulation strikes are separate issues and shouldn't be treated as directly comparable.

1909-S VDB Lincoln cent

Estimated market value: $4,000 to $170,800

The 1909-S VDB is probably the most famous key date in the Lincoln cent series. Only 484,000 were struck at the San Francisco Mint before the Mint removed designer Victor David Brenner's initials, V.D.B., from the reverse.

The coin is valuable in circulated grades, but condition and color can send prices into another stratosphere. Recent Heritage sales include MS65 Red examples around $6,100 to $10,370, while an MS67 Red example sold for $170,800 on January 17, 2026.

This is also one of the coins collectors should be most suspicious of. NGC identifies the 1909-S VDB as the world's most commonly counterfeited coin, with altered Philadelphia cents receiving fake S mintmarks or V.D.B. initials.

1914-D Lincoln cent

Estimated market value: $200 to $128,100

The 1914-D is another classic Lincoln cent key date. The Denver Mint produced only 1,193,000, and the coin is particularly difficult to find in high-grade condition.

Recent auction results show just how dramatically condition affects the price. An MS65 Red and Brown example brought $12,200 in May, while an MS66+ Red sold for $128,100 in January 2026.

1922 No D Lincoln cent

Estimated market value: $6,000 to $31,200

The 1922 No D is a great example of why simply looking for a low mintage isn't enough. In 1922, Lincoln cents were struck only at Denver, but die problems produced cents with a weak or missing D mintmark. The most desirable variety is the Strong Reverse, Die Pair 2.

A key diagnostic is that the Strong Reverse variety has a sharply defined reverse, while the obverse tends to be weak. Collectors can also examine the two 2s in the date and the word TRUST; the first 2 is typically weaker and the second 2 is stronger, while sharply struck TRUST is another important clue.

1931-S Lincoln cent

Estimated market value: $80 to $43,200

The 1931-S is another famous low-mintage Wheat cent, with only 866,000 produced. Unlike some of the more spectacular errors on this list, its value comes primarily from scarcity and condition.

Circulated examples can still be relatively affordable compared with the headline-making rarities. The finest-known MS67 Red example sold for $43,200 on August 26, 2025.

1943 Bronze Lincoln cent

Estimated market value: $180,000 to $336,000

This is where the word error really earns its keep. During World War II, the Mint switched the 1943 Lincoln cent from bronze to zinc-coated steel to conserve copper for the war effort. A small number of leftover bronze planchets apparently made their way into the presses and were struck with 1943 dies.

Only a small number are known, making the 1943 Bronze cent one of America's most famous mint errors. Don't confuse the value with a copper-colored 1943 cent. There are vastly more fake 1943 Bronze cents than genuine ones, including copper-plated steel cents and altered dates. PCGS specifically warns that authenticity is a major concern with this issue.

1955 Doubled Die Lincoln cent

Estimated market value: $20,000 to $48,300

The 1955 Doubled Die is one of the most recognizable error coins in American collecting. The doubling is visible on the obverse lettering and date, particularly LIBERTY, IN GOD WE TRUST, and the date, rather than being a subtle effect that requires sophisticated equipment to notice.

The error occurred when an improperly aligned working die produced multiple impressions, creating the dramatic doubled design. Heritage says roughly 20,000 to 24,000 examples were produced before the Mint caught the problem.

A high-grade MS65 Red PCGS example sold for $37,375 in 2005, while another brought $48,300 that same year. A more recent MS64 Red example sold for $21,960 on January 15, 2026.

1969-S Doubled Die Lincoln cent

Estimated market value: $29,000 to $98,000

The 1969-S Doubled Die is considerably scarcer than the famous 1955 error. PCGS estimates that only about 30 examples are known, and the doubling is prominent on the date, LIBERTY, IN GOD WE TRUST, and Lincoln's jacket.

The rarity has also made it a magnet for counterfeiters. The genuine variety was initially mistaken for a counterfeit when examples surfaced in the 1970s, before further investigation established that the Mint error was legitimate.

How to tell if a penny is actually valuable

Start with the date and mintmark. An S means San Francisco, a D means Denver, and no mintmark means Philadelphia for the dates covered here. Then check for known variety diagnostics rather than assuming an unusual mark means rarity.

Cleaning, scratches, corrosion, and wear can cut a coin's value, while well-preserved examples can be worth much more. For copper cents, RD, RB and BN color designations can also affect value.

Be cautious with famous rarities such as the 1909-S VDB, 1914-D, 1922 No D and 1943 Bronze. Counterfeiters often alter dates, add mintmarks, or manipulate coins to mimic valuable varieties.

Bottom line

Most pennies are worth only their one-cent face value, but certain dates, mintmarks, errors, and well-preserved examples can be worth hundreds, thousands, or even hundreds of thousands of dollars. Before spending or tossing your old pennies, check the date, mintmark, condition, and design details. That little coin could be a source of extra income outside of work.

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