Most Valuable Pennies

Top 25 pennies worth the most money, ranked by highest recorded value

The most valuable pennies are coins that stand out for their rarity, historical significance, and collector demand. Low mintage figures, key date status, mint errors, and exceptional condition all contribute to higher values. Below are the top 25 pennies ranked by their highest recorded price across all grades.

1943 Copper Penny

Key Date

Mintage: Unknown

1943 · Philadelphia

Up to $1,500,000

1944 Steel Penny

Key Date

Mintage: Unknown

1944 · Philadelphia

Up to $1,000,000

1969-S Doubled Die Lincoln Penny

Key Date

Mintage: Unknown

1969 · San Francisco

Up to $300,000

Top 25 Most Valuable Pennies

#	Coin	Year	Mint	Status	Mintage	Value Range
1	1943 Copper Penny	1943	Philadelphia	Key Date	Unknown	$100,000 - $1,500,000
2	1944 Steel Penny	1944	Philadelphia	Key Date	Unknown	$75,000 - $1,000,000
3	1969-S Doubled Die Lincoln Penny	1969	San Francisco	Key Date	Unknown	$25,000 - $300,000
4	Indian Head Penny - 1877	1877	Philadelphia	Key Date	852,500	$310 - $186,325
5	1864 Indian Head Penny	1864	P	Key Date	3,026,737	$265 - $142,050
6	1873 Indian Head Penny	1873	P	Key Date	127,496,259	$220 - $140,525
7	1955 Doubled Die Lincoln Penny	1955	Philadelphia	Key Date	20,000	$1,500 - $135,000
8	1922 No-D Lincoln Penny (Die Pair 2)	1922	Denver (No Mint Mark)	Key Date	Unknown	$500 - $125,000
9	1878 Indian Head Penny	1878	P	Key Date	182,812,335	$225 - $115,550
10	Indian Head Penny - 1909-S	1909	San Francisco	Key Date	1,668,000	$83 - $105,825
11	1909 VDB San Francisco Wheat Penny	1909	San Francisco	Key Date	484,000	$46 - $44,525
12	1974-D Doubled Die Lincoln Penny	1974	Denver	Key Date	Unknown	$1,000 - $35,000
13	1858/7 Flying Eagle Cent Overdate	1858	Philadelphia	Key Date	Unknown	$100 - $30,000
14	1857 Flying Eagle Cent	1857	No Mint Mark (Philadelphia)		17,450,000	$33 - $27,850
15	1858 Flying Eagle Cent (Small Letters)	1858	No Mint Mark (Philadelphia)		24,600,000	$42 - $27,500
16	1914 Denver Wheat Penny	1914	Denver	Key Date	1,193,000	$40 - $26,775
17	Indian Head Penny - 1872	1872	Philadelphia	Semi-Key	4,042,000	$35 - $24,075
18	Indian Head Penny - 1871	1871	Philadelphia	Semi-Key	3,929,500	$36 - $22,525
19	Indian Head Penny - 1859	1859	Philadelphia	Semi-Key	36,400,000	$40 - $21,275
20	Indian Head Penny - 1870	1870	Philadelphia	Semi-Key	5,275,500	$30 - $20,175
21	Indian Head Penny - 1869	1869	Philadelphia	Semi-Key	6,420,500	$28 - $18,625
22	1875 Indian Head Penny	1875	P	Semi-Key	25,700,324	$30 - $18,250
23	1880 Indian Head Penny	1880	P	Semi-Key	26,711,113	$29 - $18,250
24	1866 Indian Head Penny	1866	P	Semi-Key	2,946,614	$35 - $18,225
25	1922 (No Mint Mark) Wheat Penny	1922	Philadelphia	Key Date	Unknown	$21 - $17,900

1943 Copper Penny

Key Date

1943 · Philadelphia · Mintage: Unknown

$100,000 - $1,500,000 View →

1944 Steel Penny

Key Date

1944 · Philadelphia · Mintage: Unknown

$75,000 - $1,000,000 View →

1969-S Doubled Die Lincoln Penny

Key Date

1969 · San Francisco · Mintage: Unknown

$25,000 - $300,000 View →

Indian Head Penny - 1877

Key Date

1877 · Philadelphia · Mintage: 852,500

$310 - $186,325 View →

1864 Indian Head Penny

Key Date

1864 · P · Mintage: 3,026,737

$265 - $142,050 View →

1873 Indian Head Penny

Key Date

1873 · P · Mintage: 127,496,259

$220 - $140,525 View →

1955 Doubled Die Lincoln Penny

Key Date

1955 · Philadelphia · Mintage: 20,000

$1,500 - $135,000 View →

1922 No-D Lincoln Penny (Die Pair 2)

Key Date

1922 · Denver (No Mint Mark) · Mintage: Unknown

$500 - $125,000 View →

1878 Indian Head Penny

Key Date

1878 · P · Mintage: 182,812,335

$225 - $115,550 View →

Indian Head Penny - 1909-S

Key Date

1909 · San Francisco · Mintage: 1,668,000

$83 - $105,825 View →

1909 VDB San Francisco Wheat Penny

Key Date

1909 · San Francisco · Mintage: 484,000

$46 - $44,525 View →

1974-D Doubled Die Lincoln Penny

Key Date

1974 · Denver · Mintage: Unknown

$1,000 - $35,000 View →

1858/7 Flying Eagle Cent Overdate

Key Date

1858 · Philadelphia · Mintage: Unknown

$100 - $30,000 View →

1857 Flying Eagle Cent

1857 · No Mint Mark (Philadelphia) · Mintage: 17,450,000

$33 - $27,850 View →

1858 Flying Eagle Cent (Small Letters)

1858 · No Mint Mark (Philadelphia) · Mintage: 24,600,000

$42 - $27,500 View →

1914 Denver Wheat Penny

Key Date

1914 · Denver · Mintage: 1,193,000

$40 - $26,775 View →

Indian Head Penny - 1872

Semi-Key

1872 · Philadelphia · Mintage: 4,042,000

$35 - $24,075 View →

Indian Head Penny - 1871

Semi-Key

1871 · Philadelphia · Mintage: 3,929,500

$36 - $22,525 View →

Indian Head Penny - 1859

Semi-Key

1859 · Philadelphia · Mintage: 36,400,000

$40 - $21,275 View →

Indian Head Penny - 1870

Semi-Key

1870 · Philadelphia · Mintage: 5,275,500

$30 - $20,175 View →

Indian Head Penny - 1869

Semi-Key

1869 · Philadelphia · Mintage: 6,420,500

$28 - $18,625 View →

1875 Indian Head Penny

Semi-Key

1875 · P · Mintage: 25,700,324

$30 - $18,250 View →

1880 Indian Head Penny

Semi-Key

1880 · P · Mintage: 26,711,113

$29 - $18,250 View →

1866 Indian Head Penny

Semi-Key

1866 · P · Mintage: 2,946,614

$35 - $18,225 View →

1922 (No Mint Mark) Wheat Penny

Key Date

1922 · Philadelphia · Mintage: Unknown

$21 - $17,900 View →

Why These Pennies Are Valuable

Background on the most sought-after pennies and what drives their value.

#1 1943 Copper Penny

Key Date

Mintage: Unknown Up to $1,500,000

One of the most famous US coins. In 1943, pennies were struck on zinc-coated steel to conserve copper for WWII. A few bronze planchets left in the hopper produced these legendary errors. Only about 20-40 are known to exist.

#2 1944 Steel Penny

Key Date

Mintage: Unknown Up to $1,000,000

The reverse of the 1943 copper penny error. When the mint switched back to copper planchets in 1944, some leftover steel planchets were struck, creating one of the rarest US error coins.

#3 1969-S Doubled Die Lincoln Penny

Key Date

Mintage: Unknown Up to $300,000

One of the rarest and most valuable modern error coins. The doubling is so extreme that the Secret Service initially confiscated examples, suspecting they were counterfeits. Fewer than 50 are known to exist.

#4 Indian Head Penny - 1877

Key Date

Mintage: 852,500 Up to $186,325

The most famous and sought-after date in the Indian Head Penny series. Only 852,500 minted.

#5 1864 Indian Head Penny

Key Date

Mintage: 3,026,737 Up to $142,050

Popular key date

#6 1873 Indian Head Penny

Key Date

Mintage: 127,496,259 Up to $140,525

Popular key date

#7 1955 Doubled Die Lincoln Penny

Key Date

Mintage: 20,000 Up to $135,000

The most famous US error coin. A misaligned hub created dramatic doubling visible to the naked eye on LIBERTY, IN GOD WE TRUST, and the date. Approximately 20,000 entered circulation before the error was caught.

#8 1922 No-D Lincoln Penny (Die Pair 2)

Key Date

Mintage: Unknown Up to $125,000

In 1922, only the Denver Mint struck Lincoln cents. Some dies became so worn that the D mint mark was completely obliterated, creating the famous 1922 'No-D' or 'Plain' cent. Die Pair 2 is the most valuable, showing no trace of the mint mark at all.

#9 1878 Indian Head Penny

Key Date

Mintage: 182,812,335 Up to $115,550

Popular key date

#10 Indian Head Penny - 1909-S

Key Date

Mintage: 1,668,000 Up to $105,825

Last year of the Indian Head Penny series. San Francisco Mint issue is a key date.

Have a penny? Scan it now.

Get instant identification, condition grading, and market value.

Scan Now — It's Free

Frequently Asked Questions

What pennies are worth the most money? +

The most valuable pennies include key dates with very low mintages, coins from branch mints (especially Carson City, San Francisco, and New Orleans), and coins preserved in exceptional condition. The list above ranks the top 25 by highest known value across all grades.

How do I know if my penny is valuable? +

Check the date, mint mark, and condition of your penny. Coins that appear on key date lists typically carry the highest premiums. Even common-date coins can be valuable in high grades (MS-65 and above). For a quick assessment, use our free coin scanner to identify your coin and get an estimated value.

Where can I sell valuable pennies? +

Valuable pennies can be sold through major auction houses like Heritage Auctions and Great Collections, reputable coin dealers, online marketplaces like eBay, or at local coin shows. For coins worth $100 or more, professional grading from PCGS or NGC is recommended to maximize your selling price.