While most pennies are only worth a cent, certain rare dates and dramatic mint errors have made them some of the most valuable coins in U.S. history, with some specimens fetching over $1.7 million.
Here is a guide to the most valuable pennies to look for in your change as of 2026.
🚨 Top 10 Most Valuable Pennies
1. 1944-D Lincoln Penny on Steel Planchet
During WWII, pennies were briefly made of steel, but by 1944 they were supposed to be copper again. Only a few steel planchets were left over and used by mistake.
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Value: Record sale of approximately $1.7 million.
2. 1943-D Lincoln Bronze Penny
In a legendary wartime error, a few copper (bronze) planchets were accidentally struck with 1943 dies when they should have been steel. Only one specimen is confirmed from the Denver Mint.
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Value: $840,000 – $1.7 million.
3. 1969-S Doubled Die Obverse
This is one of the most famous modern error coins. The doubling is dramatic and easily seen on the date and the words “LIBERTY” and “IN GOD WE TRUST”.
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Value: High-grade versions have reached $1.7 million.
4. 1909-S VDB Lincoln Penny
This is the “Key Date” for every Lincoln penny collector. It features the initials of designer Victor D. Brenner (VDB) on the bottom of the reverse.
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Value: $700 – $1.2 million for top-tier grades.
5. 1914-D Lincoln Penny
Because of its extremely low mintage of just over 1 million, this is a major rarity.
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Value: Up to $420,000 for MS-66 specimens.
6. 1914-S Lincoln Penny
While more were made than the 1914-D, the San Francisco version is exceptionally rare in pristine condition.
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Value: Highest auction record of $330,000.
7. 1955 Doubled Die Obverse
Known for its extreme visual impact, the doubling on the date and letters is so clear you don’t even need a magnifying glass to see it.
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Value: Top grades are valued at nearly $288,000.
8. 1877 Indian Head Penny
This is the legendary “Key Date” of the entire Indian Head series. Even heavily worn versions are worth hundreds.
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Value: Highest recorded sale of $149,500.
9. 1922 “No D” Lincoln Penny
The Denver Mint struck these, but a clogged die caused the “D” mintmark to disappear entirely.
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Value: Up to $57,500 for the rarest variety.
10. 1992-D “Close AM” Penny
A transitional error where the letters “A” and “M” in “AMERICA” are touching, which was only supposed to happen on 1993 pennies.
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Value: Up to $25,850.
💎 [Value] Quick Reference Table
🎥 [Call to Action]
Always check your wheat pennies! If you find a 1943 penny, test it with a magnet—if it doesn’t stick, it’s copper and could be worth hundreds of thousands. Also, look for any doubling on the letters or dates of 1955 and 1969-S pennies.
Watch the Full List of 30 Pennies Worth a Fortune
Would you like me to analyze a photo of a penny you’ve found to see if it matches any of these rare varieties?
