Which copper pennies are valuable

This came about because in the s and early s, the Mint used different dies for producing coins for circulation and proof coins for collectors, explained Bucki. But due to a mix-up, a proof die was used for the reverse of the coin before it was supposed to be used starting in It's likely that an entire run of , pennies were printed this way, he said.

That makes them much easier to find than the Doubled Die coins. Bucki estimates that at least , coins released with the doubled die. Being more common, they're also less valuable. Once again, the mint erroneously used a proof die to strike normal circulation coins. Roughly , of these pennies were minted, he said. If you think you've found a valuable penny, Stone suggests consulting a professional.

Some auction houses offer free evaluations. Additionally, they can help get your coin certified by a grading service and guide you through the entire selling process. With so many rare coins out there, being a "penny pincher" might not be such a bad thing after all.

The mint returned to using copper planchets in While there are examples of this coin in zinc from both the Philadelphia and Denver Mints, it is estimated that there are no more than 10 from Denver.

Lincoln pennies that were minted between and tend to be worth more since they are almost percent copper, rather than an alloy. Improperly prepared dies can result in coins with a "double" image. The most well-known was in , but this also occurred in coins dated , , , S, , S, and Originally believed to be counterfeit, the government destroyed five coins before acknowledging the error.

In January , a doubled die obverse uncirculated penny, red-brown in color, sold at Heritage Auctions in Orlando.

More than 4 million of these coins were minted, but they were inconsistent in quality, so problem-free examples are fairly rare. This particular coin was not only in excellent condition. It also was struck from a fresh set of coin dies. While the excellent condition makes it valuable, it would be so even in worse condition since only nine other wheat pennies were produced in lesser quantities.

Though it had a mintage of just over 1 million which is low for a penny , most of these coins went into circulation so a mint-condition example is rare. The scarcity of this coin increases its value. The Indian Head penny design dates back to During the Civil War, the government had difficulty obtaining metal for coins, so halfway through , they switched from a copper-nickel mix to a bronze alloy.

In , the price of copper made a penny cost more than one cent to produce, so the U. More than one billion steel cents were struck, but a few were accidentally made from bronze planchets. It's unknown exactly how many exist, but the number totals around two dozen from the Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco Mints combined. The more common Steel Lincoln cent. The steel cents were officially a one-year-only production, but a few leftover steel planchets were inadvertently stamped with dated Lincoln cent dies intended for bronze production.

One of the most popular varieties ever struck was the doubled die Lincoln cent. The doubled die penny shows heavy doubling in the obverse inscriptions and the date. One of the most valuable doubled die varieties ever produced is this S penny error. Doubling is apparent on the obverse in the inscription and date but not the mintmark.

The mintmark was hand-punched on the die after it was hubbed the process of creating a working die, where the doubling on this coin would have occurred. Another doubled die Lincoln cent rounds out the top 10 on this list of most valuable pennies, with this highly popular variety from Work with a coin dealer that has been involved in the numismatic industry for many years, has affiliations with organizations such as Professional Coin Grading Service and Numismatic Guaranty Corporation, and hires highly experienced professionals who are willing to answer your questions with courtesy and skill.

As a collector, you eventually get to the point where you need to purchase your coins from a coin dealer or at auction to achieve the quality you are looking for. Since pennies hold a special place in almost every coin collector's heart, demand for high-quality coins can drive the value through the roof.

Here are 15 of the most valuable U. The S Lincoln cent is by no means a rare coin. After all, there were over 4 million of them minted at the San Francisco mint. What makes this particular coin extremely valuable is its pristine condition despite being over years old.

There is no noticeable bag mark on the surface of the coin, and it has retained its original bright red-orange copper color. For a coin like this to survive so long in pristine condition, it is evident that a collector in San Francisco back in must have set it aside before it could become tattered and worn in circulation. The collector also ensured that the coin was stored properly to preserve its color.

Coins in this condition are few and far between and are truly treasures to behold. A Lincoln penny struck at the Denver, Colorado mint facility is nothing special.

In fact, over million of them were struck. What makes this coin extremely valuable is the fact that it was struck on a zinc-coated steel planchet.

These steel planchets were used primarily in After many complaints, the United States Mint changed back to the regular copper planchets beginning in However, a steel planchet left over from must have found its way into the coining press.

This stray planchet created a great rarity treasured by coin collectors, and they are willing to pay handsomely to add this coin to their collection. In , the Indian Head penny was replaced with the Lincoln cent. Brenner added his initials V. Up to this point, coin designers used only the first initial of their last name. To have all three initials on a coin's design was unheard of. Slightly less than a half-million of these pennies were minted before the Treasury Department demanded that the initials be removed.

This created an overnight sensation among coin collectors, and this penny has come be known as the "Holy Grail" for collectors of Lincoln pennies. An Indian Head penny is a scarce coin but can readily be found at any coin show or coin dealer in circulated grades.

Slightly more than 4 million of them were minted. However, financial hardship of the time including the economic downturn following the "Panic of " meant that few people were able to save coins for their collections.

As a result, most of these pennies went into circulation. What makes this coin extremely rare is its exceptional condition that combines a nearly flawless coin with a sharp strike from a fresh set of coin dies. Additionally, it has been sufficiently well preserved to retain its original bright red-copper color. This coin was first discovered in and was reported by Coin World on the front page in its July 8, edition. Originally, the government believed that these were counterfeit coins and began confiscating them.