Every record price below is cited to a named auction house and grade — not copied from the price-guide hearsay you'll find on other "rare penny" lists. Ranked by the highest amount each coin has actually sold for at public auction.
100 coins · $50 to $2.59 million · 29 cited to a live auction sourceMost "most valuable penny" lists recycle the same stale numbers — the 1969-S doubled die at "$126,000," the 1909-S VDB at "$168,000" — figures that were superseded years ago. We re-checked the headline coins against PCGS CoinFacts, Heritage, GreatCollections and Stack's Bowers in 2026 and corrected them: the 1969-S DDO record is now $601,875, and the 1909-S VDB is $345,375.
Each entry is tagged so you know exactly how solid the number is. A ✓ Verified or ✎ Corrected badge means we linked the realized price to a named sale. A ~ Guide badge means it's a price-guide or auction-data estimate we have not individually re-verified — we'd rather tell you that than pretend.
On November 12, 2025, the US Mint struck the final circulating cent, ending 232 years of penny production. That closed the Lincoln Shield series and sent collector interest across the entire penny series soaring — so knowing what's actually valuable matters more than ever.
Click any row to expand identification, authentication traps and the story. Sort by record price, year or rank. ✓ Verified / ✎ Corrected rows link to a named auction source; ~ Guide rows are price-guide estimates we have not individually re-verified.
| #▲ | Coin | Year | Record sale | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1792 Birch Cent not a circulating cent | 1792 | $2,585,000 | ✓ Verified |
|
How to identify: Robert Birch engraving; early federal pattern. Certification essential.
Authentication traps: Pattern — only ~10 known; any uncertified example is suspect.
Story: Among the very first cents struck under federal authority; ex-Donald Partrick / Garrett.
By the numbers:
~10 known
· MS $2,585,000
ℹ︎ A pattern/trial piece (Judd-4), never adopted for circulation — not a regular-issue one-cent coin. Included because it is widely cited as the most valuable 'penny'.
|
||||
| 2 | 1793 Chain Cent (S-4, AMERICA, Periods) | 1793 | $2,350,000 | ✎ Corrected |
|
How to identify: 15-link chain reverse; first US circulating cent. Sub-varieties: AMERI. (abbreviated), AMERICA, AMERICA with Periods.
Authentication traps: Beware 19th-century electrotypes and cast counterfeits.
Story: The Parmelee specimen set the highest price ever paid for any US one-cent coin. First regular-issue US cent; chain motif was criticized and quickly replaced.
By the numbers:
population n/a
· circulated $10,000
· MS $2,350,000
|
||||
| 3 | 1958 Doubled Die Obverse | 1958 | $1,136,250 | ✓ Verified |
|
How to identify: Bold Class I hub doubling on LIBERTY and IN GOD WE TRUST; far rarer than the 1955 DDO.
Authentication traps: Machine doubling on 1958 cents is common; true DDO has deeply separated, rounded serifs. Certification mandatory.
Story: First Lincoln cent (and first non-gold 20th-century US coin) to break $1 million. Ex-Stewart Blay 'Red Copper' Collection. Only 3 known.
By the numbers:
~3 known
· MS $1,136,250
|
||||
| 4 | 1799 Draped Bust Large Cent | 1799 | $977,500 | ✎ Corrected |
|
How to identify: Draped bust facing right, fractional 1/100 on reverse. Date must not be altered from 1798.
Authentication traps: Heavily counterfeited by altering the final 8 of 1798 to a 9. The 1799/8 overdate is a separate variety.
Story: Lowest mintage of the early large cents (42,540); the Henry Hines specimen is the sole Mint State survivor (Dan Holmes / ex-Naftzger).
By the numbers:
~1,000 known
· circulated $3,400
· MS $977,500
|
||||
| 5 | 1793 Liberty Cap Cent | 1793 | $940,000 | ✓ Verified |
|
How to identify: Liberty facing right with cap on a pole over her shoulder; beaded border. Third design change of 1793.
Authentication traps: Smooth genuine planchets are exceptionally rare; porous coins are often artificially 'smoothed'.
Story: The rarest 1793 type in high grade; from the D. Brent Pogue Collection.
By the numbers:
~416 known
· circulated $10,000
· MS $940,000
|
||||
| 6 | 1793 Wreath Cent — Strawberry Leaf | 1793 | $862,500 | ✓ Verified |
|
How to identify: A distinctive trefoil 'strawberry leaf' sprig above the date instead of the standard plain leaf.
Authentication traps: Tooling on standard Wreath cents to mimic the strawberry leaf.
Story: The most valuable large cent; only 4 known. One specimen surfaced in a Maine jewelry store in 2004 after 60 years off the market.
By the numbers:
~4 known
· circulated $218,500
|
||||
| 7 | 1943-D Bronze Cent | 1943-D | $840,000 | ✓ Verified |
|
How to identify: Date 1943 with D mintmark; non-magnetic; weighs 3.11g; copper color.
Authentication traps: Copper-plated 1943 steel cents (magnetic) and altered 1948-D cents (weigh 3.11g but wrong date). Most counterfeited US coin family.
Story: The unique 1943-D bronze cent — the only one known. Sold privately for a record $1.7 million in 2010 (Bob Simpson) before realizing $840,000 at public auction in 2021.
By the numbers:
~1 known
· MS $840,000
|
||||
| 8 | 1804 Draped Bust Large Cent | 1804 | $661,250 | ✎ Corrected |
|
How to identify: 1804 date, crosslet 4, Draped Bust right (Sheldon S-266).
Authentication traps: The 1804 'restrike' (an altered 1803 obverse + 1820s reverse die) is a private fantasy piece worth only hundreds — not a genuine 1804.
Story: Extremely low mintage (96,500) and terrible survival. No confirmed Mint State; the Goldberg MS63BN is the genuine record.
By the numbers:
~1,000 known
· circulated $1,500
· MS $661,250
|
||||
| 9 | 1969-S Doubled Die Obverse | 1969-S | $601,875 | ✎ Corrected |
|
How to identify: Strong, uniform doubling on LIBERTY, IN GOD WE TRUST and the date; the S mintmark is NOT doubled (punched separately).
Authentication traps: Machine/strike doubling is extremely common on 1969-S; true DDO is raised and rounded, not flat and shelf-like.
Story: Once seized as counterfeit by the Secret Service before being proven genuine. Finest known (ex-Stewart Blay) reset the record at $601,875 in 2023. ~30–50 known.
By the numbers:
~50 known
· circulated $25,000
· MS $126,000
|
||||
| 10 | 1793 Wreath Cent (Vine & Bars Edge) | 1793 | $558,125 | ✓ Verified |
|
How to identify: Wreath reverse; edge ornamented with alternating vines and bars. Second design of 1793.
Authentication traps: Edge filing to mimic the design on plain-edge variants; multiple edge varieties exist.
Story: The Wreath design corrected the unpopular Chain cent and lasted only a few months before the Liberty Cap.
By the numbers:
~1,530 known
· circulated $2,500
· MS $558,125
|
||||
| 11 | 1943-S Bronze Cent | 1943-S | $504,000 | ✓ Verified |
|
How to identify: 1943 date, S mintmark, non-magnetic, 3.11g.
Authentication traps: Copper-plated 1943-S steel cents (magnetic) and altered 1948-S cents. Heavily counterfeited.
Story: ~6–7 known. The MS63BN (finest, ex-Simpson) holds the record at $504,000. An AU-55 PCGS Gold CAC — the only Gold CAC of any 1943 bronze — brought $456,000 at Stack's Bowers in March 2026.
By the numbers:
~7 known
· circulated $150,000
· MS $504,000
|
||||
| 12 | 1944-S Steel Cent | 1944-S | $490,500 | ✎ Corrected |
|
How to identify: 1944 date, S mintmark, magnetic, weighs 2.70g.
Authentication traps: Zinc-plated 1944 copper cents (weigh 3.11g, non-magnetic).
Story: Only 2 known; the Simpson MS66 is the sole Mint State example. Brought $408,000 in 2021, then $490,500 at GreatCollections in Jan 2025 — the current record.
By the numbers:
~2 known
· circulated $100,000
· MS $490,500
|
||||
| 13 | 1919 Lincoln Cent (Condition Rarity) | 1919 | $421,875 | ✓ Verified |
|
How to identify: Common date; value resides entirely in the unique MS69RD grade — blazing full-red original luster.
Authentication traps: Value is in the certified slab; artificial coloring/dipping of lower-grade coins is the main risk.
Story: The sole PCGS MS69RD wheat cent in existence (ex-Stewart Blay) — now the most valuable regular-issue (non-error) Lincoln cent ever sold.
By the numbers:
~1 known
· circulated $0.1
· MS $100
|
||||
| 14 | 1943 Bronze Cent (Philadelphia) | 1943 | $372,000 | ✓ Verified |
|
How to identify: 1943, no mintmark, non-magnetic, 3.11g.
Authentication traps: Plated steel fakes and altered 1948 dates. The single most counterfeited US coin.
Story: The most famous US error coin; ~15–20 known. Rumors once held that Henry Ford would give a car to anyone who found one.
By the numbers:
~18 known
· circulated $100,000
· MS $372,000
|
||||
| 15 | 1856 Flying Eagle Cent | 1856 | $312,000 | ✓ Verified |
|
How to identify: Flying eagle obverse, 4.70g, 88% copper / 12% nickel. Check the upright solid 5 in the date.
Authentication traps: Altered 1858 cents (the 5 reshaped from an 8).
Story: Originally a pattern (~1,500–2,150 struck) used to convince Congress that small cents were viable; the finest (Snow-3) set a $312,000 record in 2024.
By the numbers:
~2,000 known
· circulated $13,000
· MS $172,000
|
||||
| 16 | 1955 Doubled Die Obverse | 1955 | $287,156 | ✓ Verified |
|
How to identify: Massive naked-eye doubling on the date, LIBERTY and IN GOD WE TRUST. Reverse is normal.
Authentication traps: 'Poor Man's Doubled Die' (machine doubling on the 55) is common and nearly worthless; struck fakes exist — check die scratches.
Story: ~20,000–24,000 escaped from a single night shift; many were released as change in cigarette packs. The Stewart Blay MS65+RD set the record at $287,156.25 in 2023.
By the numbers:
~15,000 known
· circulated $1,500
· MS $25,000
|
||||
| 17 | 1944 Steel Cent (Philadelphia) | 1944 | $180,000 | ✓ Verified |
|
How to identify: 1944, no mintmark, magnetic, 2.7g.
Authentication traps: Plated 1944 copper cents. Some examples may be on Belgian 2-franc planchets.
Story: The most plentiful of the 1944 steel errors (~25–30 known); a stray steel blank from 1943 left in a tote bin.
By the numbers:
~30 known
· circulated $30,000
· MS $180,000
|
||||
| 18 | 1864-L Indian Head Cent (Proof) | 1864 | $161,000 | ✓ Verified |
|
How to identify: Designer's initial 'L' on the ribbon behind the neck; mirrored proof finish, pointed bust.
Authentication traps: Prooflike business strikes passed off as proofs; the L wears in low grades.
Story: Only ~20–35 proofs struck after the 'L' was added late in 1864 — the 'Holy Grail' Indian cent variety in proof.
By the numbers:
~25 known
· circulated $50,000
|
||||
| 19 | 1914-D Lincoln Cent | 1914-D | $158,625 | ✎ Corrected |
|
How to identify: 1914 date, D below the date. Premier key in Mint State.
Authentication traps: Altered 1944-D cents (the first 4 shaved to look like a 1) — look for an unnatural gap between 9 and 1.
Story: Low Denver mintage (1,193,000), heavily circulated; original full-red examples are exceptionally rare due to endemic carbon spotting.
By the numbers:
~50,000 known
· circulated $200
· MS $5,600
|
||||
| 20 | 1877 Indian Head Cent | 1877 | $149,500 | ✎ Corrected |
|
How to identify: Lowest business-strike mintage in the series (852,500); strong LIBERTY on headband.
Authentication traps: Altered 1887 or 1897 cents. Genuine 1877s show a weak lower N in CENT on the reverse. Heavily counterfeited.
Story: The undisputed key date of the Indian Head series; a 'Golden Princess' MS66 Red holds the record. A later MS66 RD CAC brought ~$114,000 in 2019.
By the numbers:
~5,000 known
· circulated $850
· MS $6,000
|
||||
| 21 | 1926-S Lincoln Cent | 1926-S | $149,500 | ✓ Verified |
|
How to identify: 1926 date, S mintmark; notorious for weak strikes and poor die maintenance.
Authentication traps: Dipped and artificially re-colored brown cents.
Story: Finding a fully struck, blazing-red example is nearly impossible — single digits in MS65RD. Illustrates the extreme copper 'color premium' ($1,000 brown vs $100,000+ red).
By the numbers:
population n/a
· circulated $15
· MS $1,000
|
||||
| 22 | 1909 V.D.B. Matte Proof | 1909 | $258,500 |
~ Guide
PCGS price guide
|
|
How to identify: Granular matte texture, broad squared-off rims; V.D.B. on reverse bottom. ~1,194 struck.
Authentication traps: Acid-treated business strikes; look for a diagnostic die scratch behind Lincoln's ear.
Story: Collectors hated the dull matte look and spent them, drastically reducing high-grade survivors (~147 in RD).
By the numbers:
~147 known
· MS $70,000
|
||||
| 23 | 1909-S V.D.B. Lincoln Cent | 1909-S | $345,375 | ✎ Corrected |
|
How to identify: San Francisco S under 1909; V.D.B. on the reverse bottom edge. Mintage only 484,000.
Authentication traps: Added-S fakes on Philadelphia VDBs — the authentic S has specific serif markers.
Story: The 'King of Lincoln cents' and holy grail for casual collectors; public outcry over the initials halted production after ~3 days. The Blay MS67RD reset the record at $345,375 in 2023 (note: this entry's record is out of strict price order because it post-dates the original research).
By the numbers:
~50,000 known
· circulated $900
· MS $10,000
|
||||
| 24 | 1914 Matte Proof Lincoln Cent | 1914 | $126,500 |
~ Guide
PCGS price guide
|
|
How to identify: Sharp rims, granular matte surface texture. Low mintage among early matte proofs.
Authentication traps: Acid-treated business strikes.
Story: Unpopular at issue, ensuring low survival rates.
By the numbers:
~300 known
· MS $30,000
|
||||
| 25 | 1944-D Steel Cent | 1944-D | $115,000 | ✎ Corrected |
|
How to identify: 1944, D mintmark, magnetic, 2.7g.
Authentication traps: Plated copper cents.
Story: ~7 known. Corrected: the record is $115,000 (2007), not the ~$122,000 sometimes cited.
By the numbers:
~7 known
· circulated $30,000
· MS $115,000
|
||||
| 26 | 1911 Lincoln Cent (Condition Rarity) | 1911 | $120,937 |
~ Guide
PCGS price guide
|
|
How to identify: Common date; the single finest-known MS68+RD survivor.
Authentication traps: Value resides in the certified slab.
Story: Another Stewart Blay condition-census trophy — the absolute finest 1911 commands a lunar premium over a $30 uncirculated coin.
By the numbers:
~1 known
· circulated $0.5
· MS $30
|
||||
| 27 | 1917 Doubled Die Obverse | 1917 | $120,000 |
~ Guide
PCGS price guide
|
|
How to identify: Doubling on the date and IN GOD WE TRUST.
Authentication traps: Machine doubling.
Story: A major early doubled die, far rarer in high grades than the 1955 or 1972 DDOs.
By the numbers:
~200 known
· circulated $200
· MS $2,000
|
||||
| 28 | 1922 No D Strong Reverse (FS-401) | 1922 | $92,000 | ✓ Verified |
|
How to identify: No trace of the D; reverse must be exceptionally sharp (Strong Reverse). Weak second 2, strong TRUST. Die Pair 2.
Authentication traps: Denver mintmarks physically removed by counterfeiters (check tooling). Weak Reverse varieties are worth far less.
Story: Only Denver struck cents in 1922; an over-polished die erased the D entirely.
By the numbers:
~15,000 known
· circulated $700
· MS $15,000
|
||||
| 29 | 1925-S Lincoln Cent | 1925-S | $91,125 |
~ Guide
PCGS price guide
|
|
How to identify: S mintmark; notorious poor quality control. PCGS Pop 2 in MS65RD.
Authentication traps: Artificial color.
Story: Aggressive Registry bidding pushed it to nearly 4x its $25,000 price-guide value (Stewart Blay sale).
By the numbers:
~2 known
· circulated $5
· MS $500
|
||||
| 30 | 1811 Classic Head Cent | 1811 | $66,125 |
~ Guide
PCGS price guide
|
|
How to identify: Classic Head facing left, plain edge, normal date. Low mintage (218,025).
Authentication traps: Altered 1814 cents.
Story: Exceptionally soft copper meant almost all survivors are heavily worn.
By the numbers:
population n/a
· circulated $1,500
· MS $30,000
|
||||
| 31 | 1865 Indian Head Cent (Fancy 5) | 1865 | $66,000 |
~ Guide
PCGS price guide
|
|
How to identify: The 5 in the date has an ornate, curved top (Fancy 5).
Authentication traps: Plain 5 varieties altered.
Story: A sought-after die variety marking the post-Civil War transition to bronze planchets.
By the numbers:
~1,064 known
· circulated $50
· MS $500
|
||||
| 32 | 1921 Lincoln Cent (Condition Rarity) | 1921 | $59,625 |
~ Guide
PCGS price guide
|
|
How to identify: Common date; PCGS Population 1 in MS68RD.
Authentication traps: Cleaned coins.
Story: From the Red Copper collection; no other 1921 cent equals its grade.
By the numbers:
~1 known
· circulated $0.1
· MS $20
|
||||
| 33 | 1918-D Lincoln Cent (Condition Rarity) | 1918-D | $53,859 |
~ Guide
PCGS price guide
|
|
How to identify: Crisp detail in Lincoln's hair and beard; Pop 1 in MS66+RD.
Authentication traps: Re-colored coins.
Story: Denver issues from the late 1910s are plagued by die deterioration; an extreme condition-census multiplier.
By the numbers:
~1 known
· circulated $1
· MS $100
|
||||
| 34 | 1927-S Lincoln Cent (Condition Rarity) | 1927-S | $52,875 |
~ Guide
PCGS price guide
|
|
How to identify: S mintmark, full wheat lines; Pop 1 in MS65+RD.
Authentication traps: Fake S added to 1927 Philadelphia cents.
Story: Notoriously weak strikes make MS65+ specimens unicorns; exceeded its $34,000 price guide by 50%.
By the numbers:
~1 known
· circulated $2
· MS $200
|
||||
| 35 | 1910-S Lincoln Cent (Condition Rarity) | 1910-S | $48,000 |
~ Guide
PCGS price guide
|
|
How to identify: S beneath the date; second year of the Lincoln cent.
Authentication traps: Altered mintmarks.
Story: Gem red survivors are difficult due to early circulation; a favorite among early-cent specialists.
By the numbers:
~2,215 known
· circulated $15
· MS $150
|
||||
| 36 | 1911-S Lincoln Cent (Condition Rarity) | 1911-S | $45,000 |
~ Guide
PCGS price guide
|
|
How to identify: S mintmark; low mintage (4,026,000), highly susceptible to fading.
Authentication traps: Fake mintmarks.
Story: Doubled its $22,500 price guide at the Blay sale.
By the numbers:
population n/a
· circulated $40
· MS $300
|
||||
| 37 | 1919-S Lincoln Cent (Condition Rarity) | 1919-S | $43,200 |
~ Guide
PCGS price guide
|
|
How to identify: Sharp details; massive mintage (139M) but <100 known in MS65+.
Authentication traps: Artificial luster.
Story: Stark contrast between a $1 circulated coin and a $43,000 gem.
By the numbers:
~90 known
· circulated $1
· MS $50
|
||||
| 38 | 1912 Lincoln Cent (Condition Rarity) | 1912 | $42,469 |
~ Guide
PCGS price guide
|
|
How to identify: Flawless fields; highest graded survivor, Pop 1 in MS67+RD.
Authentication traps: N/A for certified gems.
Story: From the Blay collection.
By the numbers:
~1 known
· circulated $1
· MS $40
|
||||
| 39 | 1864 Indian Head Cent (Bronze Proof) | 1864 | $40,800 |
~ Guide
PCGS price guide
|
|
How to identify: Thin bronze planchet, mirrored proof surfaces.
Authentication traps: Polished business strikes.
Story: The Mint switched from copper-nickel to bronze mid-1864; bronze proofs are rare. The alloy stayed standard until 1982.
By the numbers:
~309 known
· MS $40,000
|
||||
| 40 | 1926-D Lincoln Cent (Condition Rarity) | 1926-D | $38,400 |
~ Guide
PCGS price guide
|
|
How to identify: D mintmark; most 1926-D cents suffer mushy strikes on the wheat lines. Pop 1 in MS66+RD.
Authentication traps: Cleaned coins.
Story: Highly elusive in grades MS65 and above.
By the numbers:
~1 known
· circulated $2
· MS $150
|
||||
| 41 | 1910-S/S Repunched Mint Mark | 1910-S | $32,900 |
~ Guide
PCGS price guide
|
|
How to identify: A secondary S protruding horizontally beneath the primary S.
Authentication traps: Die gouges mimicking a second S.
Story: A prominent early repunched mint mark; hand-punching produced dozens of RPM varieties until the 1990s.
By the numbers:
~1,264 known
· circulated $100
· MS $500
|
||||
| 42 | 1918-S Lincoln Cent (Condition Rarity) | 1918-S | $32,635 |
~ Guide
PCGS price guide
|
|
How to identify: Full details on Lincoln's coat lapel; Pop 1 in MS65+RD.
Authentication traps: Re-colored cents.
Story: San Francisco strikes from 1918 are notoriously poor; another Blay market-setter.
By the numbers:
~1 known
· circulated $1
· MS $100
|
||||
| 43 | 1920-S Lincoln Cent (Condition Rarity) | 1920-S | $29,935 |
~ Guide
PCGS price guide
|
|
How to identify: Clean red fields; Pop 1 in MS65RD.
Authentication traps: Artificial toning.
Story: Extremely tough to find in full red; surpassed its $16,000 estimate.
By the numbers:
~1 known
· circulated $1
· MS $150
|
||||
| 44 | 1992 Close AM (Philadelphia) | 1992 | $25,850 | ✓ Verified |
|
How to identify: A and M in AMERICA nearly touching (a 1993 reverse die used in error); FG near the building, no G serif.
Authentication traps: Plating blisters are not Close AM; normal 1992 Wide AMs.
Story: A transitional mule — Close AM should only appear on 1993+ cents. 3–16 known.
By the numbers:
~16 known
· circulated $2,000
· MS $24,000
|
||||
| 45 | 1865 Indian Head Cent (Proof) | 1865 | $25,850 |
~ Guide
PCGS price guide
|
|
How to identify: Mirrored proof fields; low proof mintage (~500).
Authentication traps: Polished business strikes.
Story: Struck the year the Civil War ended and Lincoln was assassinated.
By the numbers:
~410 known
· MS $25,000
|
||||
| 46 | 1866 Indian Head Cent (Proof) | 1866 | $22,800 |
~ Guide
PCGS price guide
|
|
How to identify: Mirrored proof fields.
Authentication traps: Altered dates.
Story: Highly sought by 19th-century proof collectors.
By the numbers:
~321 known
· MS $22,000
|
||||
| 47 | 1972 Doubled Die Obverse #4 (Minor) | 1972 | $21,811 |
~ Guide
PCGS price guide
|
|
How to identify: Slight clockwise spread on the date; rim cuds (CONECA DDO-004).
Authentication traps: Machine doubling.
Story: Die #4 in MS66RD sold for 15x the famous major DDO in the same grade due to absolute scarcity.
By the numbers:
population n/a
· circulated $20
· MS $100
|
||||
| 48 | 1990 No-S Proof Cent | 1990 | $20,700 | ✓ Verified |
|
How to identify: Deep cameo proof but completely missing the S mintmark.
Authentication traps: Found in 1990 proof/prestige sets; business strikes polished to look like proofs.
Story: The only Lincoln proof from 1909–present lacking a mintmark; 145 were destroyed, <200 known.
By the numbers:
~200 known
· MS $5,000
|
||||
| 49 | 1924-D Lincoln Cent | 1924-D | $19,550 |
~ Guide
PCGS price guide
|
|
How to identify: D mintmark; low mintage (2,520,000).
Authentication traps: Altered mintmarks; certify Mint State examples.
Story: The toughest 1920s Denver cent in high grade.
By the numbers:
population n/a
· circulated $50
· MS $2,000
|
||||
| 50 | 1982-D Small Date Copper Cent | 1982-D | $18,800 | ✓ Verified |
|
How to identify: Must weigh 3.11g (not 2.5g) and show the delicate, curved Small Date font with a D mintmark.
Authentication traps: Copper-plated zinc 1982-D small dates (weigh 2.5g).
Story: A transitional error — Denver wasn't supposed to strike Small Dates on leftover bronze planchets. Discovered Nov 2016; only 2 confirmed, so roll hunters keep searching.
By the numbers:
~2 known
· circulated $10,000
· MS $18,800
|
||||
| 51 | 1867 Indian Head Cent (Proof) | 1867 | $17,825 |
~ Guide
PCGS price guide
|
|
How to identify: Deep mirrors; very low proof mintage (~625).
Authentication traps: Cleaned business strikes.
Story: Fundamental to advanced 19th-century proof type sets.
By the numbers:
~337 known
· MS $17,000
|
||||
| 52 | 1922 No D Weak Reverse | 1922 | $16,100 |
~ Guide
PCGS price guide
|
|
How to identify: No D mark, but reverse wheat lines are mushy and indistinct (Die Pair 1 or 3).
Authentication traps: Standard 1922-D cents with the D worn off naturally.
Story: A genuine error but far less prized than the Strong Reverse; many hopeful submissions get this lower designation.
By the numbers:
~15,000 known
· circulated $50
· MS $1,000
|
||||
| 53 | 1926 Lincoln Cent (Condition Rarity) | 1926 | $15,173 |
~ Guide
PCGS price guide
|
|
How to identify: Perfect strike; Pop 1 in MS67+RD.
Authentication traps: N/A.
Story: A common coin exceedingly rare in perfect grade; exceeded estimates with CAC approval.
By the numbers:
~1 known
· circulated $0.1
· MS $20
|
||||
| 54 | 1972 Doubled Die Obverse (FS-101 Major) | 1972 | $14,400 | ✓ Verified |
|
How to identify: Massive naked-eye doubling on the date and IN GOD WE TRUST; deep separated serifs.
Authentication traps: Machine doubling (flat shelf appearance); many minor 1972 doubled dies exist.
Story: The most famous Memorial-series error; bridges the classic 1955 DDO and modern varieties.
By the numbers:
~20,000 known
· circulated $300
· MS $1,000
|
||||
| 55 | 1983 Doubled Die Reverse | 1983 | $14,400 |
~ Guide
PCGS price guide
|
|
How to identify: Massive spread on ONE CENT and E PLURIBUS UNUM on the reverse.
Authentication traps: Machine doubling.
Story: The strongest and most prominent doubled-die reverse in the Lincoln series; first major DD on the new zinc-core planchets.
By the numbers:
~5,000 known
· circulated $150
· MS $1,000
|
||||
| 56 | 1992-D Close AM | 1992-D | $14,100 |
~ Guide
PCGS price guide
|
|
How to identify: A and M in AMERICA touching; no G serif. 1993 reverse on a 1992-D coin.
Authentication traps: Normal Wide AM coins; verify the date isn't altered from 1993.
Story: More common than the Philadelphia version but still extremely rare (~12–15 confirmed).
By the numbers:
~15 known
· circulated $500
· MS $4,555
|
||||
| 57 | 1916-S Lincoln Cent (Condition Rarity) | 1916-S | $12,938 |
~ Guide
PCGS price guide
|
|
How to identify: Flawless red luster; Pop 1 in MS65RD.
Authentication traps: Cleaned coins.
Story: Over-performed its $6,000 price-guide estimate at the Blay sale.
By the numbers:
~1 known
· circulated $2
· MS $100
|
||||
| 58 | 1924-S Lincoln Cent | 1924-S | $12,000 |
~ Guide
PCGS price guide
|
|
How to identify: S mintmark; a classic semi-key date.
Authentication traps: Toned coins dipped to look red.
Story: Extremely scarce in original red condition.
By the numbers:
population n/a
· circulated $2
· MS $300
|
||||
| 59 | 1991-D Lincoln Cent (Condition Rarity) | 1991-D | $11,400 |
~ Guide
PCGS price guide
|
|
How to identify: Flawless under 5x magnification; only valuable in a PCGS/NGC MS69 slab.
Authentication traps: Zinc rot makes perfect 30-year-old examples extremely hard to find.
Story: An anomaly where a common modern zinc cent achieved a near-perfect grade.
By the numbers:
~192 known
· circulated $0.01
· MS $1
|
||||
| 60 | 1927-D Lincoln Cent (Condition Rarity) | 1927-D | $11,250 |
~ Guide
PCGS price guide
|
|
How to identify: D mintmark; Pop 1 in MS65+RD.
Authentication traps: N/A.
Story: Rare in Gem Red; featured in the Blay collection.
By the numbers:
~1 known
· circulated $1
· MS $100
|
||||
| 61 | 1910 Lincoln Cent (Condition Rarity) | 1910 | $10,868 |
~ Guide
PCGS price guide
|
|
How to identify: Blazing red color; the second year of the Lincoln design.
Authentication traps: Artificial color.
Story: Extremely high grades command massive premiums.
By the numbers:
~1,536 known
· circulated $0.5
· MS $40
|
||||
| 62 | 1858 Flying Eagle Cent (Large Letters) | 1858 | $10,000 |
~ Guide
PCGS price guide
|
|
How to identify: A and M in AMERICA joined at the base (Large Letters). Final year of the Flying Eagle design.
Authentication traps: Altered dates.
Story: A popular 19th-century type coin, scarce in MS65+.
By the numbers:
population n/a
· circulated $30
· MS $500
|
||||
| 63 | 1873 Indian Head Cent (Doubled LIBERTY) | 1873 | $10,000 |
~ Guide
PCGS price guide
|
|
How to identify: Doubling on the word LIBERTY on the headdress (Doubled Die Obverse). Open vs Closed 3 sub-varieties exist.
Authentication traps: Strike doubling.
Story: The most famous doubled die in the Indian Head series.
By the numbers:
population n/a
· circulated $500
· MS $3,000
|
||||
| 64 | 1919-D Lincoln Cent (Condition Rarity) | 1919-D | $9,956 |
~ Guide
PCGS price guide
|
|
How to identify: Sharp D mintmark; semi-key that becomes extremely scarce in MS65.
Authentication traps: Cleaned coins.
Story: Remained affordable until the modern grading era exposed its condition rarity.
By the numbers:
population n/a
· circulated $1
· MS $100
|
||||
| 65 | 1908-S Indian Head Cent | 1908-S | $7,800 |
~ Guide
PCGS price guide
|
|
How to identify: S on the reverse under the wreath; the first minor coin struck at a branch mint. Low mintage (1,115,000).
Authentication traps: Added S mintmarks.
Story: Broke the tradition of only Philadelphia striking copper coins.
By the numbers:
~15,000 known
· circulated $120
· MS $1,000
|
||||
| 66 | 1857 Flying Eagle Cent | 1857 | $7,000 |
~ Guide
PCGS price guide
|
|
How to identify: 1857 date, flying eagle obverse. First year of official issue for the small cent.
Authentication traps: Heavily polished pieces mimicking uncirculated luster.
Story: Americans traded large cents and foreign silver for these during the 1857 economic panic.
By the numbers:
population n/a
· circulated $30
· MS $500
|
||||
| 67 | 1945-D Lincoln Cent (Condition Rarity) | 1945-D | $6,669 |
~ Guide
PCGS price guide
|
|
How to identify: Post-war shell-case bronze; flawless surfaces, Pop 1 in MS67+RD.
Authentication traps: N/A.
Story: Sold for double the typical price thanks to a green CAC sticker.
By the numbers:
~1 known
· circulated $0.05
· MS $5
|
||||
| 68 | 1922-D Lincoln Cent | 1922-D | $6,000 |
~ Guide
PCGS price guide
|
|
How to identify: 1922 date with a strong D; the only mint to produce cents in 1922 was Denver.
Authentication traps: Altered dates from 1920 or 1921.
Story: Overshadowed by the No-D error, but a tough date in its own right.
By the numbers:
population n/a
· circulated $20
· MS $300
|
||||
| 69 | 1992-D Lincoln Cent (Condition Rarity) | 1992-D | $5,175 |
~ Guide
PCGS price guide
|
|
How to identify: Standard Wide AM; perfect modern strike at MS69RD.
Authentication traps: N/A.
Story: An extreme outlier for modern zinc cents (do not confuse with the rare 1992-D Close AM).
By the numbers:
~284 known
· circulated $0.01
· MS $1
|
||||
| 70 | 1960-D Small Date over Large Date | 1960-D | $5,000 |
~ Guide
PCGS price guide
|
|
How to identify: A Small Date punched over a Large Date, with a repunched D mintmark. Check inside the 0 and the D for underlying numerals.
Authentication traps: Machine doubling on standard dates.
Story: The Mint modified the date mid-year because the Small Date 0 was prone to chipping.
By the numbers:
~5,000 known
· circulated $50
· MS $500
|
||||
| 71 | 1992 Lincoln Cent (Condition Rarity) | 1992 | $4,830 |
~ Guide
PCGS price guide
|
|
How to identify: Standard Wide AM; flawless zinc penny at MS69RD.
Authentication traps: N/A.
Story: Condition census driving the price.
By the numbers:
~282 known
· circulated $0.01
· MS $1
|
||||
| 72 | 1993-D Lincoln Cent (Condition Rarity) | 1993-D | $4,600 |
~ Guide
PCGS price guide
|
|
How to identify: Perfect strike at MS69RD.
Authentication traps: N/A.
Story: Any post-1982 zinc cent can be valuable if it survives 30 years without a single spot.
By the numbers:
~237 known
· circulated $0.01
· MS $1
|
||||
| 73 | 1990-S No S Proof Cent | 1990-S | $4,250 |
~ Guide
PCGS price guide
|
|
How to identify: Deep cameo proof completely missing the S under the date (same error family as the 1990 No-S).
Authentication traps: Business strikes polished to look like proofs.
Story: Found by collectors breaking open 1990 prestige proof sets.
By the numbers:
~138 known
· MS $4,000
|
||||
| 74 | 1864-L Indian Head Cent (Business Strike) | 1864 | $4,080 |
~ Guide
PCGS price guide
|
|
How to identify: Designer's initial L on the ribbon behind the neck (business strike).
Authentication traps: Tooling to add an L.
Story: Longacre added his initial after the bronze alloy was approved mid-1864.
By the numbers:
~30,000 known
· circulated $50
· MS $300
|
||||
| 75 | 1993 Lincoln Cent (Condition Rarity) | 1993 | $3,375 |
~ Guide
PCGS price guide
|
|
How to identify: Perfect strike at MS69RD.
Authentication traps: N/A.
Story: A condition-census marker for the modern zinc series.
By the numbers:
~201 known
· circulated $0.01
· MS $1
|
||||
| 76 | 1909-S/S Repunched Mint Mark | 1909-S | $3,290 |
~ Guide
PCGS price guide
|
|
How to identify: Secondary S visible inside the primary S.
Authentication traps: Die gouges.
Story: A first-year repunched mint mark, sought after by RPM specialists.
By the numbers:
~28 known
· circulated $100
· MS $1,000
|
||||
| 77 | 1914-S Lincoln Cent | 1914-S | $3,200 |
~ Guide
PCGS price guide
|
|
How to identify: 1914 date, S mintmark; low mintage (4.1M).
Authentication traps: Added S mintmarks.
Story: Overshadowed by the 1914-D but equally tough in high grades.
By the numbers:
population n/a
· circulated $20
· MS $300
|
||||
| 78 | 1865 Indian Head Cent (Business Strike) | 1865 | $3,055 |
~ Guide
PCGS price guide
|
|
How to identify: Plain 5 (business strike); difficult to find in full red.
Authentication traps: Re-colored copper.
Story: Produced in the year of Lincoln's assassination.
By the numbers:
~2 known
· circulated $10
· MS $500
|
||||
| 79 | 1994 Lincoln Cent (Condition Rarity) | 1994 | $2,875 |
~ Guide
PCGS price guide
|
|
How to identify: Perfect strike; PCGS Top Pop.
Authentication traps: N/A.
Story: A modern condition-census example.
By the numbers:
~196 known
· circulated $0.01
· MS $1
|
||||
| 80 | 1909-S Indian Head Cent | 1909-S | $2,250 |
~ Guide
PCGS price guide
|
|
How to identify: S mintmark; lowest mintage Indian cent (309,000). High baseline value even mid-grade.
Authentication traps: Added/altered mintmarks. Heavily counterfeited.
Story: The last-year (1909) S-mint Indian cent — a highly liquid key date.
By the numbers:
~10,000 known
· circulated $400
· MS $1,500
|
||||
| 81 | 1913-S Lincoln Cent | 1913-S | $2,000 |
~ Guide
PCGS price guide
|
|
How to identify: S mintmark; a tough early San Francisco date.
Authentication traps: Altered mintmarks.
Story: Essential for completing the early wheat set.
By the numbers:
population n/a
· circulated $15
· MS $200
|
||||
| 82 | 1864 Indian Head Cent (Copper-Nickel Proof) | 1864 | $1,898 |
~ Guide
PCGS price guide
|
|
How to identify: Thicker copper-nickel planchet, pale color, mirrored fields (before the mid-year bronze switch).
Authentication traps: Polished business strikes.
Story: The last of the 'white cents.'
By the numbers:
~309 known
· MS $2,000
|
||||
| 83 | 1925-D Lincoln Cent | 1925-D | $1,800 |
~ Guide
PCGS price guide
|
|
How to identify: D mintmark; notoriously weak strikes. 'Woody' wood-grain alloy cents are common this year.
Authentication traps: Altered dates.
Story: A semi-key tough to find well struck and fully red.
By the numbers:
population n/a
· circulated $5
· MS $100
|
||||
| 84 | 1912-S Lincoln Cent | 1912-S | $1,500 |
~ Guide
PCGS price guide
|
|
How to identify: S mintmark; low mintage. Part of the difficult early-S trio (1910–1912).
Authentication traps: Added mintmarks.
Story: A semi-key from the early Lincoln years.
By the numbers:
population n/a
· circulated $15
· MS $150
|
||||
| 85 | 1913-D Lincoln Cent | 1913-D | $1,500 |
~ Guide
PCGS price guide
|
|
How to identify: D mintmark; low mintage, heavily circulated before the Depression.
Authentication traps: Added mintmarks.
Story: A semi-key Denver date.
By the numbers:
population n/a
· circulated $10
· MS $100
|
||||
| 86 | 1920 Lincoln Cent (Condition Rarity) | 1920 | $1,500 |
~ Guide
PCGS price guide
|
|
How to identify: Flawless fields; very scarce in gem red despite a high mintage.
Authentication traps: Artificial color.
Story: High-mintage year, but few were preserved in gem condition.
By the numbers:
population n/a
· circulated $0.1
· MS $20
|
||||
| 87 | 1999 Wide AM Lincoln Cent | 1999 | $1,450 |
~ Guide
PCGS price guide
|
|
How to identify: A and M in AMERICA distinctly separated; FG closer to the building (proof reverse die on a business strike).
Authentication traps: Confusion with standard Wide AMs from pre-1993.
Story: The scarcest of the 1998–2000 Wide AM trio; sparked a coin-roll-hunting resurgence in the 2000s.
By the numbers:
population n/a
· circulated $75
· MS $600
|
||||
| 88 | 1872 Indian Head Cent | 1872 | $1,350 |
~ Guide
PCGS price guide
|
|
How to identify: 1872 date; third-lowest mintage of the series (4M). Bold N sub-variety exists.
Authentication traps: Altered dates.
Story: Often overlooked next to the 1877, but extremely tough in high grades.
By the numbers:
~20,000 known
· circulated $50
· MS $500
|
||||
| 89 | 1915-S Lincoln Cent | 1915-S | $1,200 |
~ Guide
PCGS price guide
|
|
How to identify: S mintmark; low mintage.
Authentication traps: Added mintmarks.
Story: Part of the difficult early-S branch series.
By the numbers:
population n/a
· circulated $15
· MS $150
|
||||
| 90 | 1916-D Lincoln Cent | 1916-D | $1,200 |
~ Guide
PCGS price guide
|
|
How to identify: D mintmark; scarce well-struck and red.
Authentication traps: Altered dates.
Story: Eclipsed by the 1914-D but highly collectible.
By the numbers:
population n/a
· circulated $5
· MS $100
|
||||
| 91 | 1923-S Lincoln Cent | 1923-S | $1,200 |
~ Guide
PCGS price guide
|
|
How to identify: S mintmark; low mintage and atrocious strike quality.
Authentication traps: Altered dates.
Story: Almost impossible to find with full wheat lines.
By the numbers:
population n/a
· circulated $5
· MS $150
|
||||
| 92 | 1931-S Lincoln Cent | 1931-S | $1,000 |
~ Guide
PCGS price guide
|
|
How to identify: S mintmark; second-lowest mintage of the series (866,000).
Authentication traps: Altered 1930 or 1936 cents; added-S fakes.
Story: Saved en masse during the Depression after its low mintage leaked to the public, so Mint State survivors are common but universally demanded.
By the numbers:
population n/a
· circulated $100
· MS $300
|
||||
| 93 | 1971 Doubled Die Obverse | 1971 | $1,000 |
~ Guide
PCGS price guide
|
|
How to identify: Distinct doubling on IN GOD WE TRUST and LIBERTY; clockwise spread on the motto.
Authentication traps: Machine doubling.
Story: A strong naked-eye DDO, much scarcer than the 1972 but overshadowed by it.
By the numbers:
~1,000 known
· circulated $50
· MS $500
|
||||
| 94 | 1970-S Small Date (High 7) | 1970-S | $614 |
~ Guide
PCGS price guide
|
|
How to identify: The top of the 7 in the date is level with the 9 and 0 (Small Date), not below them. 'IN GOD WE TRUST' appears stronger.
Authentication traps: Confusing it with the common Large Date.
Story: An early-year die that broke quickly; created a collector craze when discovered in 1970.
By the numbers:
~100,000 known
· circulated $5
· MS $60
|
||||
| 95 | 1998 Wide AM Lincoln Cent | 1998 | $500 |
~ Guide
PCGS price guide
|
|
How to identify: A and M in AMERICA distinctly separated (proof reverse die on a business strike).
Authentication traps: Misattributing standard Wide AMs from previous years.
Story: Same mechanical error as the 1999 Wide AM but more common; easily found by cherrypickers in bank rolls.
By the numbers:
population n/a
· circulated $10
· MS $25
|
||||
| 96 | 1984 Doubled Ear | 1984 | $250 |
~ Guide
PCGS price guide
|
|
How to identify: A prominent second earlobe just beneath Lincoln's primary ear (FS-101 DDO).
Authentication traps: Die gouges or zinc plating blisters masquerading as an earlobe.
Story: One of the few major hub-doubling errors found on the portrait itself rather than the text.
By the numbers:
~2,000 known
· circulated $20
· MS $100
|
||||
| 97 | 1787 Fugio Cent not a circulating cent | 1787 | $11,400 | ✓ Verified |
|
How to identify: Sundial obverse ('FUGIO', 'MIND YOUR BUSINESS'), thirteen linked rings reverse. Dies by Abel Buell.
Authentication traps: Newman variety attribution required; many varieties and later restrikes.
Story: The first coin authorized by the United States (1787). Common varieties ~$180; finest examples reach into five figures.
By the numbers:
population n/a
· circulated $180
· MS $2,000
ℹ︎ Confederation-era contract coinage that predates the US Mint — a colonial/federal-contract piece, not a US Mint one-cent coin. Included for historical context.
|
||||
| 98 | 1955 Doubled Die Reverse (Proof) | 1955 | $203 |
~ Guide
PCGS price guide
|
|
How to identify: Minor doubling on the reverse of the proof issue (VP-001); mirrored fields, slight spread on wheat stalks.
Authentication traps: Not the famous 1955 DDO business strike — a separate, far cheaper proof variety.
Story: An interesting footnote to the legendary 1955 doubled-die obverse.
By the numbers:
population n/a
· circulated $38
· MS $200
|
||||
| 99 | 2023 'Extra V' Shield Cent | 2023 | $100 |
~ Guide
PCGS price guide
|
|
How to identify: An apparent extra 'V' shape next to the VDB initials on Lincoln's shoulder.
Authentication traps: Zinc plating blisters; retail demand far exceeds actual numismatic rarity.
Story: A recent discovery popularized by social media — included as a caution: hype-driven 'finds' rarely hold long-term premium value.
By the numbers:
population n/a
· circulated $15
· MS $50
|
||||
| 100 | 1995 Doubled Die Obverse | 1995 | $50 |
~ Guide
PCGS price guide
|
|
How to identify: Clear spread on the tops of the letters in LIBERTY and IN GOD WE TRUST.
Authentication traps: Machine doubling. Note: the so-called '1995 Close AM' is a myth — that spacing is the standard 1995 design.
Story: The last prominent business-strike obverse doubled die before the Mint adopted single-squeeze hubbing; found in huge quantities in 1995 bank rolls, keeping it affordable for beginners.
By the numbers:
population n/a
· circulated $5
· MS $20
|
||||
No coins match — try a different search.
These run entirely on your device using the verified data above. They give you a likely identification and value range — for a precise, current appraisal, Look up your Lincoln cent's value by year and mint mark.
Two forces are driving prices. First, condition-census competition: a single January 2023 sale of the Stewart Blay "Red Copper" collection (over $7.7 million realized) reset the record for dozens of otherwise-common Lincoln cents — an everyday 1919 cent in flawless MS69 Red brought $421,875, making it the most valuable regular-issue Lincoln ever sold.
Second, the end of the penny. The final cents were marked with a small "Ω" (Omega) privy mark; 232 special three-coin "Omega" sets — each including a one-cent piece struck in 24-karat gold — were sold by Stack's Bowers on December 11, 2025 for a combined $16,764,500, with the top set realizing $800,000, a record for a modern US numismatic item.
Blue-chip errors remain the safest store of value: the unique 1943-D bronze cent ($840,000), the 1943 and 1943-S bronze cents, and the 1955 and 1958 doubled dies have all held or grown their values for decades.
Certification by PCGS or NGC is the only reliable defense. Identify your penny instantly with the Assay app for a fast first-pass identification.
This list shows record sales for the finest known examples. For a value tailored to your coin's exact date, mint mark and grade, check the live penny value guide.
Check current penny values across every date