Discover 10 Rare Penny Varieties Worth Hundreds – Essential for Coin Collectors

To the average person, pennies are just small change. But to a coin collector, they can represent history, artistry, and substantial value. Some rare pennies, thanks to minting errors, limited production, or historical significance, are worth far more than their face value. Let’s look into 10 highly sought-after pennies that could be hiding in your pocket change or old coin jars.

1943 Bronze Penny

The 1943 bronze penny is a legendary coin minted during World War II. That year, pennies were made from steel to conserve copper for the war effort, but a few bronze blanks were mistakenly used.

This penny due to its rarity and rich history, has become perhaps one of the most priceless coins in U.S. history; some examples, of course, sell in the hundreds of thousands. If you find one you’ve hit a numismatic jackpot.

1955 Double Die Penny

The 1955 double die

penny was one of the favorite choices among collectors. The dramatization of the error made it easily recognizable especially when seen on the date as well as lettering of the coin without magnifying glass.

Properly graded examples of this coin command hundreds to thousands of dollars, so it is considered a “must have” for anyone who likes to collect error coins.

1909-S VDB Penny

The 1909-S VDB penny, of course, is minted in San Francisco and would be coveted for its history as the first Lincoln cent and for the designer’s initials, “VDB” (Victor David Brenner), on the back of the coin.

With a mintage to only a few thousand coins, this coin is highly sought after by collectors. High-grade specimens are easily worth thousands of dollars and rank among the most wanted pennies in American numismatics.

1943 Copper Penny

Another rarity of World War II is the 1943 copper penny. Most pennies from that year were made from steel, but a handful of copper blanks were inadvertently struck.

These coins are extremely rare, selling sometimes for hundreds of thousands of dollars. You could consider it a part of history if you do get your hands on one.

1992 Close AM Penny

The 1992 close AM penny is a contemporary oddity featuring a variant spacing between the “A” and “M” in “AMERICA” on the back.

Collectors truly cherish this error, and well-preserved examples sell for hundreds of dollars. Spotting this subtle difference could lead to an unexpected treasure.

1972 Double Die Penny

The 1972 double die penny presents a minting error, wherein the design on the obverse appears doubled, especially the lettering and date.

This is one of the most popular errors with collectors because it’s quite visible, and high-grade versions are worth hundreds of dollars. It’s a great addition to any collection focused on mint mistakes.

2004-D Wisconsin Extra Leaf Penny

This penny has a unique minting error in which an extra leaf appears on the ear of corn depicted on the reverse.

This error, due to a die flaw, has made the coin a collector’s gem. Depending on its condition, it can sell for hundreds of dollars.

1983 Double Die Penny

The 1983 double die penny is another valuable error coin, with doubling visible on the obverse design.

This error is rare and highly sought after, with pristine examples fetching hundreds of dollars. It’s a modern reminder of how minting errors can create treasures.

1958 Double Die Penny

The 1958 double die penny is perhaps the rarest of the double die errors to ever be minted. It is a true treasure among numismatists with its dramatic doubling and extreme rarity.

The coin may fetch thousands of dollars; thus, it could easily become the focal point in any serious coin collector’s portfolio.

1914-D Lincoln Penny

The 1914-D Lincoln penny, being minted in Denver, is one of the classics and is low-mintage. It holds significance that makes it very valuable, due to its history and demand by collectors.

It can sell for hundreds or thousands of dollars when a coin is graded as excellent.

Rare Pennies

Penny	Year	Estimated Value	Notable Features
1943 Bronze Penny	1943	Hundreds of thousands	Mistakenly struck on bronze
1955 Double Die Penny	1955	Hundreds to thousands	Prominent doubling in text and date
1909-S VDB Penny	1909	Thousands of dollars	Designer’s initials, limited mintage
1943 Copper Penny	1943	Hundreds of thousands	Rare copper strike during WWII
1992 Close AM Penny	1992	Hundreds of dollars	Narrow spacing in “AMERICA”
1972 Double Die Penny	1972	Hundreds of dollars	Doubling visible on obverse text
2004-D Wisconsin Extra Leaf	2004	Hundreds of dollars	Extra leaf error on reverse
1983 Double Die Penny	1983	Hundreds of dollars	Doubling on obverse design
1958 Double Die Penny	1958	Thousands of dollars	Extremely rare doubling
1914-D Lincoln Penny	1914	Hundreds to thousands	Low mintage, high collector demand

Valuable

The value of such pennies lies in their rarity, historical significance, and unique characteristics. By their minting error, limited production, or history attached to significant moments, these coins become treasures for collectors. In case of having a keen eye, slight variations can present big rewards.

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