These Tiny Coins Sold for Up to $7.5 Million – Could You Have One?
At PennyVerse.info, we track every record-breaking penny sale. Here are the 5 most valuable Lincoln cents ever auctioned, and how to spot their key features in your collection.
Top 5 Most Valuable Lincoln Pennies
| Coin | Year | Grade | Sale Price | Key Identifier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1943 Bronze Penny | 1943 | MS62 | $1.7M | Weighs 3.11g (not magnetic) |
| 1944 Steel Penny | 1944 | MS66 | $375,000 | Silver color (zinc-coated steel) |
| 1909-S VDB | 1909 | MS67 | $2.3M | “S” mintmark + “VDB” on reverse |
| 1969-S Doubled Die | 1969 | MS64 | $7.5M | Extreme doubling on obverse |
| 1982 Small Date Copper | 1982 | MS67 | $300,000 | Tiny date + copper weight |
Key Insight: All these coins share three traits:
- Extreme rarity (fewer than 20 known)
- Historic errors (wrong metal/doubled dies)
- High-grade preservation (MS60+)
How to Spot These Million-Dollar Features
1. Check the Weight
- Pre-1982 pennies: Should be 3.11g (95% copper)
- 1943 steel cents: 2.7g (silver color, magnetic)
2. Examine Mintmarks
- 1909-S VDB: “S” below date + “VDB” on reverse
- 1969-S Doubled Die: “S” mintmark with smeared letters
3. Hunt Transitional Errors
1943 Bronze: Copper-colored (should be steel)
1944 Steel: Silver-colored (should be copper)
1982 Copper Small Date: Heavy weight + tiny date
Why These Pennies Are So Valuable
- 1943 Bronze: Only 20 exist (accidentally struck on copper planchets during WWII)
- 1969-S Doubled Die: Secret Service confiscated most (only 3 confirmed survivors)
- 1909-S VDB: First Lincoln cent + scrapped design (removed “VDB” mid-year)
Where These Might Be Hiding
Old coin rolls (especially 1940s-60s wheat pennies)
Inherited collections (check grandpa’s coin jars)
Bank “unsearched” bags (rare but possible)
Avoid:
- “Replica” coins sold online
- Artificially altered dates/mintmarks
Market Outlook
- Error pennies up 150% since 2015
- Registry set collectors paying record premiums
- Next potential record-breaker: 1955 Doubled Die (currently $1.2M in MS67)
Want Our Free “Million-Dollar Penny” Checklist?
Visit PennyVerse.info to download our expert guide to spotting these rare coins in your collection!
“That jar of old pennies could literally be worth millions – but only if you know what to look for!”
- The PennyVerse Team
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