A Lincoln penny recently sold for an incredible $195,200 at a Heritage Auctions sale, proving some old coins are worth far more than their face value.
And as impressive as that price is, the penny wasn’t even close to being the most expensive coin sold. Five other rare U.S. coins brought in more than $1 million each, including one that sold for over $2.5 million.
Here’s a closer look at the Lincoln penny that sold for nearly $200,000 and the five other rare coins that fetched even higher prices at the auction.
The 1914 Lincoln Penny That Sold for $195,200
The penny that attracted so much attention was a 1914 Lincoln cent from the Bolt Collection of Proof Lincoln Cents. According to Heritage Auctions, only 1,365 proof versions were originally made, and this particular coin is considered the finest-known proof Lincoln cent from 1909 through 1916.
Its value comes largely from its condition. Despite being more than 110 years old, the coin has retained its original red color and is exceptionally well preserved. Its $195,200 selling price also broke the previous auction record of $126,500 for a 1914 proof Lincoln cent.
Related: 10 Wheat Pennies Worth Far More Than One Cent
The Five Coins That Sold for More Than $1 Million
The Lincoln penny was far from the auction’s only valuable coin. Five other U.S. coins reached seven-figure prices, with some dating back nearly 200 years.
1879 Liberty Head Quintuple Stella — $2,562,000
The auction’s most expensive coin was an 1879 Liberty Head Quintuple Stella, which sold for more than $2.5 million. Only five examples have been traced, including one held by the Smithsonian Institution, making it an exceptionally rare piece of American coinage history.
1879 Coiled Hair Stella — $1,891,000
Another 1879 coin brought in nearly $1.9 million. The Coiled Hair Stella is a rare $4 gold coin with only 14 known examples, and the one sold at Heritage was tied for the highest grade awarded to any example.
1824/1 Capped Head Left Quarter Eagle — $1,494,500
This $2.50 gold coin sold for almost $1.5 million, largely because of how few proof examples exist. Only two have been confirmed, and one is permanently housed at the Smithsonian, leaving collectors with very few opportunities to purchase one.
1876 Liberty Double Eagle — $1,403,000
The 1876 Liberty Double Eagle is especially unusual because only one example is known to exist. It was created as an experimental design during a period of changes to U.S. gold coinage and hadn’t appeared at auction since the 1980s.
1880 Coiled Hair Stella — $1,189,500
Rounding out the million-dollar sales was another Coiled Hair Stella, this time dated 1880. Only 10 examples have been traced, making it even scarcer than the 1879 version, though this particular coin sold for less.
The Heritage Auctions auction report reported all five prices and rarity details.
What Makes These Old Coins So Valuable?
Age alone doesn’t make a coin valuable. Collectors also look at how many were originally produced, how many still exist, the coin’s condition, and whether it has an unusual history or design.
The 1914 Lincoln penny is a good example. It wasn’t an ordinary penny pulled from circulation, but a specially produced proof coin that survived in remarkable condition. The million-dollar coins were even rarer, with only a handful of known examples.
