Most people don’t think twice about an old penny. But with growing discussions about the cost of producing pennies and efforts to phase out or reduce their use, many people are taking a fresh look at the one-cent coin and discovering that some are worth far more than their face value.

While most are only worth a few cents, certain rare dates and error coins have become some of the most sought-after collectibles in the coin hobby, selling for thousands, hundreds of thousands, and in a few extraordinary cases, well over a million dollars.

1909-S Lincoln Cent

The 1909-S was produced during the first year of the Lincoln cent series and had a relatively low mintage compared to other issues of the era. Its historical significance and scarcity have made it one of the key dates every Wheat Penny collector wants to own.

1922 No D Strong Reverse

Since Denver was the only mint producing pennies in 1922, every coin should have carried a “D” mint mark. A heavily polished die accidentally removed that mark, creating one of the most famous and valuable Lincoln cent errors ever discovered.

1955 Doubled Die Obverse

This dramatic error shows obvious doubling on the date, “LIBERTY,” and “IN GOD WE TRUST,” making it one of the most recognizable error coins in American history. Even people who know very little about coin collecting have often heard stories about the famous 1955 doubled die.

1944-S Steel Cent

Most 1944 pennies were struck in copper, but a few leftover steel blanks from 1943 accidentally made their way into production. Only a tiny number are known to exist, making this one of the rarest Wheat Pennies ever created.

1943-D Bronze Cent

During World War II, pennies were supposed to be made from steel to conserve copper for the war effort. One bronze planchet somehow slipped through at the Denver Mint, creating a coin so rare that it has sold for well over a million dollars.

1931-S Lincoln Cent

With just 866,000 coins struck, the 1931-S has one of the lowest mintages in the entire Wheat Penny series. Many were saved by collectors from the start, but high-grade examples can still sell for tens of thousands of dollars.

1909-S Over Horizontal S

This fascinating error occurred when the San Francisco mint mark was accidentally punched sideways before being corrected. The visible remnants of the original “S” make it a favorite among collectors who specialize in minting mistakes.

1917 Doubled Die Obverse

Strong doubling can be seen on the date and lettering, making this one of the easiest doubled-die errors to spot. Well-preserved examples are extremely scarce because most circulated heavily before collectors recognized their significance.

1914-D Lincoln Cent

The 1914-D is widely considered one of the toughest regular-issue Wheat Pennies to find. Its low mintage and decades of circulation have left very few high-grade examples available today.

1909-S V.D.B. Lincoln Cent

Often called the king of Wheat Pennies, this coin combines low mintage with a famous controversy involving designer Victor David Brenner’s initials. Only 484,000 were produced before the initials were removed, instantly creating one of the hobby’s most famous rarities.