Some Abraham Lincoln pennies (Lincoln Cents) are extremely rare and have sold for large sums, though most are worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, with a few notable examples crossing into the million-dollar range at auction.
The most valuable Lincoln Cents often involve a rare mintage or a significant mint error.
Some of the most valuable Lincoln pennies include:
- 1943 Lincoln Cent Struck on Bronze (Copper) Alloy: During World War II, pennies were temporarily made of steel to conserve copper for the war effort. A small number of 1943 pennies were accidentally struck on leftover bronze planchets (the copper alloy).
- One example of a 1943-D Bronze Lincoln Wheat Penny sold for an estimated $2.3 million.
- Other high-value records include a 1943-D Bronze selling for over $800,000 and the 1943-S Copper Lincoln Wheat Penny selling for up to $1 million.
- 1944 Lincoln Cent Struck on Zinc-Coated Steel Planchet: In 1944, the Mint was supposed to switch back to bronze, but a small number of steel planchets were accidentally struck with the 1944 die.
- A 1944-D Lincoln Penny on a zinc-coated steel planchet has an approximate high auction record of $1.7 million.
- A 1944-S Lincoln Steel Penny is known to have sold for between $700,000 and $1,000,000.
- 1909-S VDB Lincoln Penny: This coin is famous for including the initials of the designer, Victor David Brenner (VDB), on the reverse. Only 484,000 were struck at the San Francisco Mint with the initials, making them very scarce. The highest recorded auction price is approximately $1.2 million for a coin in exceptional condition.
- 1969-S Doubled Die Obverse: This error coin has strong, visible doubling on the date and the words “LIBERTY” and “IN GOD WE TRUST”. A high-grade example has an estimated auction record of approximately $1.7 million.
If you believe you have one of these rare coins, it is recommended to have it professionally graded and authenticated by a reputable service like PCGS or NGC.
