🪙One lucky collector just became a millionaire after their 1938 Lincoln penny sold for $1.5 million at auction🪙

The 1938 Wheat Penny is often overlooked — but that may change after a recent auction in New York, where a rare 1938 Lincoln Wheat Cent sold for $1.5 million in 2025. This proves that even common coins, with the right errors or condition, can be worth life-changing money.

Here’s everything you need to know about the 1938 penny, including mint marks, varieties, key errors, and how to know if yours could be the next six-figure sale.

 1938 Wheat Penny Details

• Mint locations: Philadelphia (no mint mark), San Francisco (S), Denver (D)
• Total mintage: 191,886,734
• Designer: Victor D. Brenner
• Composition: 95% copper, 5% tin and zinc
• Weight: 3.11g
• Edge: Plain

This coin comes from the popular Lincoln Wheat Cent series (1909–1958) and is still widely available, but key errors and pristine grades can send values into the thousands — or millions.

 1938 Wheat Penny Value Chart (Updated for 2025)

 Record-Breaking Sale: In 2025, a 1938 Lincoln Cent graded MS68+ RD with a rare doubled die and repunched mint mark sold for $1.5 million at auction in New York.

 Rare 1938 Penny Errors That Add Big Value

1.  Off-Center Strike

• Caused by the coin not being aligned properly during striking.
• Slightly off-center coins: $30–$60
• 50% or more off-center in high grade: up to $5,000+

2.  Doubled Die Error

• Look for doubled text (especially E PLURIBUS UNUM) or doubled wheat stalks.
• Regular doubled dies: $30–$100
• Uncirculated: $500–$5,000+
• The $1.5M 2025 coin had a prominent doubled die.

3.  BIE Die Break

• A vertical line appears between the “B” and “E” in LIBERTY, forming what looks like “BIE.”
• Common examples: $10–$30
• High-grade specimens: $100+

4.  Repunched Mint Mark (RPM)

• Look closely at the “D” or “S” mint mark — doubled or tripled punches can appear.
• Average RPMs: $10–$50
• Top-grade RPMs: $700+
• Note: The $1.5M coin included a repunched “D” mint mark combined with a doubled die.

 Highest Auction Prices (Updated)

• Philadelphia (No Mint Mark):
  • 2005 MS68 RD sold for $6,325
  • 2025 MS68+ RD error coin sold for $1.5 million
• Denver (D):
  • 2007 MS68 RD sold for $4,313
• San Francisco (S):
  • 2014 MS68 RD sold for $2,115

These prices reflect coins in MS67–MS68+ Red (RD) with strong eye appeal, full luster, and potentially a rare error variety.

 1938 Penny FAQ

 What makes a 1938 penny valuable?

Condition is key — coins in MS65+ Red condition, especially with rare errors (like doubled dies, off-center strikes, or repunched mint marks) can sell for thousands.
A combination of multiple errors and flawless preservation led to the $1.5 million auction in 2025.

 How much is a 1938 wheat penny worth?

Most range from $0.15 to $5, but:

• Proof coins: Up to $100+
• High-grade uncirculated: Up to $500
• Major error coins: $1,000–$10,000+
• Top-tier auction coins (2025): $1.5 million

 Final Thoughts

While the 1938 Wheat Penny is common, exceptional examples can be truly rare — and shockingly valuable. If you’ve got an old penny stashed away, especially one with visible errors or vibrant red luster, it might be worth a second look… or even $1.5 million.