Ever checked your pocket change and wondered if any of it might be worth a fortune? While most pennies are worth just one cent, a handful from the twentieth century have become hidden treasures—some selling for thousands, even hundreds of thousands of dollars.
From minting errors to limited production runs, here are 9 rare pennies of the 1900s that could be sitting unnoticed in a jar, drawer, or wallet near you.
1. 1909-S VDB Lincoln Cent
- Value: Up to $175,000
- Why it’s rare: First year of the Lincoln penny; only 484,000 were minted with designer Victor D. Brenner’s initials (VDB) before controversy led to their removal.
2. 1914-D Lincoln Cent
- Value: $200–$15,000+
- Why it’s rare: Low mintage from the Denver Mint. Only a few survive in good condition today, making it a must-have for serious collectors.
3. 1922 No D Lincoln Cent
- Value: $500–$30,000+
- Why it’s rare: A minting error caused some coins to be produced without the “D” mint mark. It’s one of the only U.S. coins missing a required mint mark.
4. 1931-S Lincoln Cent
- Value: $75–$3,000+
- Why it’s rare: Issued during the Great Depression, this penny had a low production run of just 866,000. It’s one of the lowest mintages in the Wheat Cent series.
5. 1943 Copper Penny
- Value: Up to $265,000
- Why it’s rare: During WWII, pennies were made of steel to save copper for the war effort. A few copper blanks accidentally made it into the presses—creating one of the most famous error coins in U.S. history.
6. 1944 Steel Penny
- Value: $75,000–$110,000+
- Why it’s rare: A reverse of the 1943 copper error. Some 1944 pennies were mistakenly struck on leftover steel blanks. Very few exist.
7. 1955 Doubled Die Lincoln Cent
- Value: $1,000–$15,000+
- Why it’s rare: A dramatic doubling of the date and lettering on the front makes this one of the most collectible error coins ever produced.
8. 1969-S Doubled Die Obverse
- Value: Up to $35,000
- Why it’s rare: Similar to the 1955 error, this coin shows strong doubling on the front text, but fewer were made—making it even more valuable to collectors.
9. 1992 Close AM Lincoln Penny
- Value: $1,000–$25,000
- Why it’s rare: A design anomaly where the “AM” in “AMERICA” is spaced incorrectly—letters appear nearly touching instead of spread apart. Only a few were minted by mistake.
How to Tell If You Have a Rare Penny
🔍 Check the Date
Look for key years like 1909, 1914, 1922, 1943, and 1955.
🧲 Do the Magnet Test
For 1943 pennies: copper ones won’t stick to a magnet (they’re rare), while steel ones will.
🔬 Look for Doubling
Use a magnifying glass to spot double lettering or numbers.
🏷️ Check the Mint Mark
Rare pennies often come from specific mints—like the San Francisco (S) or Denver (D) Mint.
Final Thoughts
These 9 rare pennies are more than just old coins—they’re pieces of American history with stories and surprises behind them. Whether you’re a seasoned numismatist or just curious about the coins in your change jar, it’s worth taking a second look. You might be holding onto a fortune without even realizing it.
