While April 1st is more commonly known for April Fool's Day, it is also National One Cent Day -- and what these pennies are worth is no joke.
According to Cointrackers.com, certain pennies that were minted in 1944 and 1943 top the list of the 25 most valuable pennies for coin collectors in 2024.
The 1944 Steel Wheat penny could be worth as much as $408,000 in mint condition, and up to $10,000 in average condition, the site said.
Additionally, the site reports that the 1943 copper penny in perfect condition is quoted at $250,000 and in average condition could be worth more than $60,000.
Here's a list of the top 10 most valuable pennies for 2024:
- 1)1944 Steel Wheat Penny -$408,000
- 2)1943 Copper Wheat Penny -$250,000
- 3)1856 Flying Eagle Penny -$25,000
- 4)1924 S Wheat Penny -$12,000
- 5)1873 Indian Head Penny -$10,000
- 6)1858 Flying Eagle Penny -$10,000
- 7)1857 Flying Eagle Penny -$7,000
- 8)1922 D Wheat Penny -$6,000
- 9)1914 D Wheat Penny -$5,600
- 10)1909 S VDB Wheat Penny -$4,150
Why are these pennies so highly valued?
The reason 1943 copper pennies are so rare is that all of them would have been released by error into the coin supply. The pennies minted that year, during World War II, were supposed to be steel so that more copper could be used in the manufacturing of war materials.
Similarly, any 1944 steel pennies would have been released by error into the coin supply. Therefore, because only a small number of pennies were made of copper in 1943 and steel in 1944, they are a rare and valued find for collectors.
How do I know if my penny is real?
A quick way to check the authenticity of a 1944 steel penny is to see if it sticks to a magnet, according to Coin Trackers. While authentic steel pennies will stick to magnets, fakes that are copper and zinc-coated will not.
The site also warns that many 1943 copper pennies are fakes because a 1948 copper penny can be filed down on the left side of the 8, making it look like a 3 instead.
Additionally, some scam artists copper-plate steel coins. To ensure your 1943 copper penny is not actually steel, do the magnet test. If the coin sticks to the magnet, it's a copper-plated steel, and therefore a fake.
FAQs
Which pennies are worth a lot of money? Some of the most valuable pennies include the 1943 copper Lincoln cent, 1955 double die Lincoln cent, 1909-S VDB Lincoln cent, and the 1873 Indian Head penny with a doubled "LIBERTY".
What 1958 penny is worth $1,000,000? ›
A 1958-dated Lincoln cent mistakenly made with doubling in some letters of the design has sold for a record $1,136,250. It was owned by a New York City collector who died soon after consigning his pristine condition coins to be sold at auction. He spent his life procuring the absolute best-of-the-best Lincoln cents...
Which penny is worth $35000? ›
Of the three the 1982 no mint mark is slightly scarcer than the other two. But the 1982 D 3.11 gm SMALL DATE is extremely rare. So far only two specimens have been found, and have sold at auction for close to $35,000. What is the 1982 penny worth with no mint?
Why is a 1977 penny worth so much? ›
There are no rare or in-demand Lincoln pennies from 1977. Their mintage was high, making them quite available. Only proof coins at a high grade are rarer on the market. Since only 59 of the 5,534 survived 1977 S DCAM pennies are in the PR 70 grade, you can expect them to be costly.
Which 1982 penny is the rare one? ›
The small date Lincoln Memorial cent is special because few of these were minted in copper. This Lincoln cent is considered transitional and is rare. If you remember the 1943 copper cent, it might help to think of the 1982 small date copper Lincoln cent, specifically the 1982-D copper Lincoln cent, as its cousin.
Why is a 1983 penny worth $10000? ›
The U.S. made about 7.7 billion pennies in 1983, but only about 5,000 of them are known to have been made with this doubling error, James McCartney, director of numismatics at Stack's Bowers Galleries, tells CNBC Make It. The rarity of these misprinted pennies are what make them more valuable than ordinary pennies.
What makes a 1964 D penny rare? ›
The 1964-D penny is relatively common in circulated grades until MS64. In MS65, they become harder to find. In MS66 condition, they become rare, with maybe less than 1,000 available. The ones minted at Denver Mint were the only ones that had a mint mark that year.
What penny is worth $250000? ›
Worth $100,000 to $250,000
The 1943 copper penny is worth more than its face value.
Why is the 1974-D penny rare? ›
The 1974-D Lincoln Memorial Cent is common and found in all grades. Much like the 1974 cent, the 1974-D also had an aluminum version made. However, only one coin was made for testing purposes. A law suit is in action between Randall Lawrence and the U.S. Government.
What pennies with no mint marks are worth money? ›
1922 pennies without the D mint mark are plain cents or plain pennies. An uncirculated 1922 plain penny with a high grade can be worth $12,000 or more.
The 1959-D wheat penny is one of the most controversial mule coins ever. It's worth $50,000! Here's everything you could possibly want to know about the 1959-D penny error!
What penny is worth 300k? ›
The 1943 bronze Lincoln cent is considered to be the most famous error coin made by the U.S. Mint and could be worth more than $300,000.
Why is the 1944 wheat penny so valuable? ›
The 1944 Lincoln penny is particularly desirable in the eyes of collectors not only because of its design, but also due to its scarcity. Being that there are no more 1944 Lincolns being produced, the scarcity of these coins is constantly on the rise, thus making the coins more valuable.
What year is penny worth $7000? ›
A $7,000 penny could be hiding in your pocket—here's how to identify it. You may want to think twice before tossing out your loose change — one of your pennies could be worth $7,000. That's if you have a 1983 Lincoln penny, says Blake Alma, whose “CoinHub” TikTok account has over 850,000 followers.
What year is penny worth $20,000? ›
Bucki estimates that a 1992 Close AM coin in fairly new condition could be worth about $20,000, while a used one could sell for around $2,000 to $3,000. One sold at a Heritage sale in 2012 for more than $20,000, according to Coin World.
Why is the 1999 penny worth so much? ›
All the three mints combined produced more than 10 billion pennies that year, making these coins extremely common. That said, some 1999 pennies are worth slightly more than their face value. Examples of 1999 Lincoln pennies worth money include those with notable errors and pennies in mint state or gem quality.
What years of pennies are worth money? ›
The following are fourteen different types of pennies worth the most money in present day:
- Fugio Copper Cent: 1787.
- Flowing Hair Cent: 1793.
- Liberty Cap Cent: 1793-1796.
- Draped Bust Cent: 1796-1807.
- Classic Head Cent: 1808-1814.
- Coronet Head Cent: 1816-1839.
- Braided Hair Cent: 1839-1857.
- Flying Eagle Cent: 1856-1858.
