Valuable pennies are typically old, rare dates (like 1909-S VDB, 1914-D), have specific mint errors (like doubled dies, off-center strikes, or wrong metal like 1943 copper), or are in exceptional condition, with some rare US pennies fetching thousands or even millions, though most pocket change pennies are only worth face value. Key things to check are the date, mintmark (D, S, or none), and any unusual features or errors.
The 10 Most Valuable Lincoln Pennies
It's from 1999 and could be worth $4,500 thanks to a little-known error on it. What you want to look for is a 1999 penny with no mint mark, which means no letter under the year on the heads side. As for the tails side, that's where you have to look closely.
Your 1982 penny value is going to be based mainly on whether the coin is made of bronze or is the more common clad coin variety. The bronze versions, especially with small dates, can be worth significantly more than face value!
While many pennies have little value, specific rare pennies, especially error coins like the 1992 Close AM Lincoln Cent, the elusive 1930 Australian Penny, or certain 1982 Copper Pennies (like the 1982-D Small Date), can be worth $20,000 or more, depending heavily on their condition and specific error, with the Australian 1930 penny being a national icon worth tens of thousands in average condition.
How to tell if an old penny is worth money
GB Classic Coins are committed to offering the best prices for your old British coins. We consider anything from single coins to whole collections. We're particularly interested in pre-decimal silver coins such as crowns, double florins, half crowns, florins, shilling, sixpences and threepences.
A 1943-S bronze Lincoln cent sold in August 2007 for $1 million to a collector. This sale was a private transaction rather than an auction. Another 1943 copper penny from the Philadelphia mint was sold by Legend Numismatics of Lincroft, New Jersey, for $1.7 million in September 2010.
Polishing and/or cleaning coins can reduce their value. Older coins that show deep age coloration are more desirable than coins whose surfaces have been stripped away by improper polishing or cleaning. If you do polish a coin to remove dirt, use mild soap and water.
Arguably the most valuable one penny coin is the 1933 George V penny, which is worth an estimated value of £72,000. Although this was originally created as a pattern coin – which means it is not intended for release into circulation – it is believed seven were issued, making them extraordinarily rare.
This cute 1971 Penny is special because they were the first pennies to be introduced to the UK after decimalisation. This was when the UK switched from using old currency to the system we use today so they are rare.
1. Pay them in at the Post Office. Most UK banks will allow you to pay into your account at the Post Office. This is probably the easiest place to get rid of old coins (as well as notes) – you can deposit them into your bank account at any Post Office.
What Should You Do With Your Pennies?
1971 Pennies are worth little more than their face value of 1p. While more than 1.5 billion were issued, many have been withdrawn from circulation, making them hard to find in your change. If you need one for your collection, you should pay no more than £1-2, including shipping costs.
Key Date Wheat Pennies
Top 25 most valuable pennies
The 1958 D Wheat Penny is not particularly rare as it had a large mintage, but high-grade examples or those with errors are more valuable. What factors affect the 1958 D Wheat Penny value? Condition, mint errors, and rarity influence its value.
If you have heard of only one rare coin, there is a good chance that it is the 1933 penny. For some reason this coin, more than any other, has lodged itself in the public consciousness.
For example, the 1909-S VDB Wheat Penny is one of the most sought-after, often selling for thousands of dollars. Other valuable dates include the 1914-D, 1922 No D, and 1955 Double Die pennies, which can fetch hundreds to thousands depending on condition.
1974-S Reverse Brockage of 1973-S Penny: $11,400
“Brockage” coins are prized by collectors because they have the normal design on one side and the mirror image on the other. For example, this 1974-S penny features the standard printed Lincoln portrait on the front and the backward 1973 Lincoln design on the reverse.