Find Out How Much Your Old Pennies Are Worth (2025)

Although many factors determine the exact value of a coin, you can quickly determine the value of your penny by knowing its type, date, mintmark, and grade. Additionally, the value of a particular coin can vary between markets and coin dealers. If a coin dealer is overstocked with the coin you are trying to sell, she is more likely to offer you less money for it. If the coin dealer is in search of that particular coin for a frequent customer, she is more likely to pay you more for it.

A coin type is very easily determined by looking at it. The design that is used in a particular denomination of coin over time is known as its type. For example, Lincoln cents feature a portrait of Lincoln on the obverse that has been there since 1909. The reverse originally featured two stalks of wheat and this type was known as the Lincoln Wheat Penny.

The United States Mint has made four different types of small cents:

  • Flying Eagle Penny (1856-1858)
  • Indian Head Penny (1859-1909)
  • Wheat Penny (1909-1958)
  • Lincoln Memorial Penny (1959-2008)

Finding the Value of Your Penny

To determine how much your U.S. penny is worth, we first need to determine its type. The U.S. has made two significant types of pennies, the Large Cent and the Small Cent. The Large Cents are dated 1857 and earlier and are much bigger and heavier than our current penny type, the Small Cent.

Suppose you have Large Cents in your collection that you need information or values for. In that case, I recommend that you find an honest coin dealer to help you evaluate them, as Large Cents have many different varieties for most dates and shouldn't be priced using an online price guide if you want maximum money for them.

Determine Your Penny Type

If your penny is the Small Cent type, it will be about the same size as the ones we use today although it might be a tiny bit heavier. The United States Mint currently makes all one-cent coins on zinc planchets that have a thin layer of pure copper covering the entire surface. Pennies minted before 1982 were made of solid copper or bronze. This alloy is slightly heavier than the current zinc-plated alloy that the mint is currently using. Should

What is My Flying Eagle Cent Worth?

Find Out How Much Your Old Pennies Are Worth (1)

If your small-sized penny is dated 1857 or 1858, it is a Flying Eagle Cent. A Flying Eagle Cent in the well-worn condition is worth about $15 to $25 if you sold it to a coin dealer. (Note: Most of the coin prices are realistic amounts that a dealer will pay you. They're not retail or "catalog" values like you find virtually everywhere else. Most people looking for coin prices want to know how much they can sell their coins for today.)

If your Flying Eagle Cent is dated 1856, you need to take it to a dealer to get an appraisal. This penny is very rare, with a mintage of only 2,000 specimens, and forgeries and alterations of this date are far more common than the genuine 1856. The 1856 Flying Eagle Cent is considered to be a pattern coin,rather than a circulation issue by many experts.For a full chart of Indian Flying Eagle Penny values, see:

What is My Indian Head Penny Worth?

Find Out How Much Your Old Pennies Are Worth (2)

Indian Head pennies are dated from 1859 through 1909, and have a depiction of Lady Liberty wearing an Indian-style feathered headdress, hence the misnomer "Indian Head" Penny. In general, all Indian Head Pennies are worth at least $1 each, even in very worn condition, as long as they're not severely damaged. Be on the lookout for 1877 and 1909-S Indian head pennies. They are most valuable in any condition and are highly sought after by coin collectors. Also, they are one of the most counterfeited coins two. Make sure you purchase them through a trusted coin dealer or by an authenticated example that is encased by a third-party grading company.

What is My Wheat Penny Worth?

Find Out How Much Your Old Pennies Are Worth (3)

Wheat Pennies are dated from 1909 to 1958 and have a portrait of Lincoln on one side, and a wreath-like design of wheat heads on the other. Sometimes called "Lincoln Cents" (without mentioning the Memorial as described below,) they are made of almost pure copper (95%) except for one year, the 1943 penny, which is made of zinc-plated steel.

All Wheat Pennies are worth at least three times face value, but of course many are worth substantially more especially the key date Wheat pennies. Be on the lookout for the ultra-rare 1909-S VDB. this coin is most sought after by collectors and is most valuable in any grade. Also, the 1909-S (no VDB on the reverse), the 1914-D and the 1931-S are also valuable coins in any condition.

What is My Lincoln Memorial Penny Worth?

Find Out How Much Your Old Pennies Are Worth (4)

Lincoln Memorial Pennies are dated 1959 to 2008 and have a portrait of Lincoln on one side of the Lincoln Memorial building on the other. They were made of 95% copper until 1982. During 1982 the composition was changed to 97.5% zinc, with a thin copper plating, so that you have pennies dated 1982 made of both metal types. From 1983 until today, all U.S. pennies are made of mostly zinc. Most Lincoln Memorial Pennies are only worth face value unless they have their original copper luster from the Mint.

In 2009, the U.S. Mint issued a unique commemorative set of four pennies to celebrate the 100th anniversary of President Lincoln's birth and the Lincoln cent design. Lincoln Cents enjoyed a surge in popularity, which meant some higher values for these incredibly popular pennies.

The United States Mint in 2010 permanently changed the reverse of the Lincoln cent to feature a shield with E PLURIBUS UNUM at the top and a banner emblazoned with ONE CENT across the shield. These new coins are known as the Lincoln Shield Reverse penny. Numismatists classify these three different types of Lincoln pennies all under the Lincoln Memorial Cent type.

Edited by: James Bucki

Find Out How Much Your Old Pennies Are Worth (2025)

FAQs

How can I tell if my old pennies are worth anything? ›

Coins with mistakes, such as a double die or missing letters, can be worth significantly more than their regular counterparts. Another way is to look for specific years known to be scarce or have low mintage numbers. Collectors also value wheat pennies with a high level of detail and minimal wear.

How to find out if old coins are valuable? ›

Hire a professional appraiser to grade your coins and tell you how much it is worth. The American Society of Appraisers and International Society of Appraisers have searchable directories of professional appraisers. A dealer might also be able to help.

Is it worth keeping pre-1982 pennies? ›

A: All U.S. pennies, regardless of their year of minting, are considered legal tender and can be used to pay for goods and services. However, pre-1982 pennies contain a higher copper content and may be worth more than their face value to collectors.

Why is the 1999 penny worth so much? ›

However, one exception is the 1999 “Wide AM” penny. In this case, the “AM” in “AMERICA” on the reverse side of the penny is spaced wider than usual. These pennies are relatively rare, and while they won't fetch thousands, they can still be worth up to $5 in uncirculated condition.

Why is the 1983 penny so valuable? ›

The U.S. made about 7.7 billion pennies in 1983, but only about 5,000 of them are known to have been made with this doubling error, James McCartney, director of numismatics at Stack's Bowers Galleries, tells CNBC Make It. The rarity of these misprinted pennies are what make them more valuable than ordinary pennies.

Is there an app to check old coins? ›

CoinSnap is a powerful mobile application that utilizes AI-driven image recognition technology to accurately identify any coin within seconds! The identification process is relatively straightforward.

What is the best free website for coin values? ›

These websites have comprehensive coin price guides and easy to use search tools to help you identify and get the value of your coins.
  1. Coin Value Checker. ...
  2. PCGS CoinFacts. ...
  3. NGC Coin Price Guide. ...
  4. Coin Value Lookup. ...
  5. The Coin Dealer Newsletter (CDN) Greysheet. ...
  6. Numista Coin Price Estimator. ...
  7. Coin Value Finder. ...
  8. PCGS Photograde Online.
Jan 18, 2024

What year are pennies worth money? ›

Some of the most valuable pennies include the 1943 copper Lincoln cent, 1955 double die Lincoln cent, 1909-S VDB Lincoln cent, and the 1873 Indian Head penny with a doubled "LIBERTY". How can I tell if my penny is valuable? Check for key dates, mint marks, and errors. Research its history for rarity and demand.

Why is the 1974 D penny rare? ›

Value of 1974-D Lincoln Memorial Cent

However, only one coin was made for testing purposes. A law suit is in action between Randall Lawrence and the U.S. Government. The government suspects that the coin was illegally removed from the Mint by Lawrence's father, former Deputy Director of the Mint.

How rare is a 1971 D penny? ›

With over 2.9 billion 1971-D Lincoln Cents struck, collectors should have no problem at all obtaining a nice example. Examples up to MS66 condition are abundant. In MS67 condition they are very scarce and anything grading higher is considered rare.

What penny sold for $2.5 million? ›

One of the rarest pennies cost a Beverly Hills man a pretty penny. At an auction last Thursday, Kevin Lipton shelled out $2,585,000 for the Birch Cent, a penny made in 1792 that is named after its engraver, Robert Birch. It's the most money ever paid for a one-cent piece.

How do I tell if my penny is worth money? ›

Watch for low mintage years like 1955-S, 1939-D, 1933-D, and 1931-S. Depending on condition, rarer pennies are worth more. Look for all-copper pennies. Old pennies made before 1982 are 95% copper, which gives them an inherent metal value.

Why is the 1982 penny so expensive? ›

One reason these coins are so valuable has to do with what they are made of. As GOBankingRates previously reported, any penny minted before 1982 contains 95% copper. Copper pennies are a relatively common find in a penny roll, which lowers their value.

What old pennies should I look for? ›

Here's a list of the top 10 most valuable pennies for 2023:
  • 1) 1944 Steel Wheat Penny - $408,000.
  • 2) 1943 Copper Wheat Penny - $250,000.
  • 3) 1856 Flying Eagle Penny - $25,000.
  • 4) 1873 Indian Head Penny - $10,000.
  • 5) 1858 Flying Eagle Penny - $10,000.
  • 6) 1857 Flying Eagle Penny - $7,000.
  • 7) 1914 D Wheat Penny - $5,500.
Mar 1, 2023

Which year of pennies are worth money? ›

Some of the most valuable pennies include the 1943 copper Lincoln cent, 1955 double die Lincoln cent, 1909-S VDB Lincoln cent, and the 1873 Indian Head penny with a doubled "LIBERTY". How can I tell if my penny is valuable? Check for key dates, mint marks, and errors. Research its history for rarity and demand.

Is there an app to scan pennies for value? ›

The Coinoscope mobile app makes coin identification and valuation easy - just snap a picture of a coin with your phone camera and the app will show you a list of similar coins. It is fast and accurate.

Is a 1964 penny worth anything? ›

The 1964 penny is one of the rare coins in United States history. Uncirculated or “mint condition” 1964 Pennies are worth around $1 to $2, while circulated examples are worth around $0.01 or less. A single 1964 D penny can fetch more than $10,000 at auction.

What year is penny worth $20,000? ›

1992 Lincoln Penny Sells for Over $20,000.

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