Because error coins are so rare, they are worth more to fans, so if your penny has a mistake on it, it could make it worth a lot more. It doesn’t hurt to look over the pennies in your pocket; even small mistakes could cost you a lot of money.
1. 1943-D Lincoln Bronze Wheat Penny: $2.35 million
This is one of the most valuable pennies in circulation right now. It was designed by Victor D. Brenner. Steel was used instead of copper for pennies during World War II so that copper could be used for army needs.
Some, though, were made of bronze instead, which is why they are so rare and expensive. It was made of an alloy of 95% copper, 5% tin, and zinc. It sold for $1.7 million in 2010, but in mint state, it’s worth $2.3 million.
It was sold at an auction not long ago for $840,000. One copy is known to exist because it was made by mistake at the Denver Mint on a bronze planchet. Other coins of the same design may fetch $100,000 or more. You should take your 1943 wheat pennies to a coin trader to find out how much they are worth.
2. A 1944-S steel wheat penny worth $1.1 million
This penny is very valuable because it was made before 1944, when zinc coated in steel became copper. There are only two copies left of the one made in San Francisco. In average state, coins in circulation are worth $408,000 to $409,000. Coins that have never been used are worth more than $1.1 million.
3. A 1793 Strawberry Leaf Cent is worth $862,500
The Strawberry Leaf penny sold for $862,000. That was the most money ever paid for a penny at auction. The Strawberry Leaf cent is very uncommon. Instead of the usual three-leaf trefoil, the tail of the coin has a four-leaf strawberry plant.
There are four of these coins, so if you find one, you’ll be very happy. It’s more lucky than finding a four-leaf clover.
4. 1943-S Lincoln Cent Made of Bronze—$282,000
It was 1943 before the United States stopped using metal pennies. But some bronze planchets, which are coins with no pattern on them, may have been left behind. These are what make 1943-S bronze pennies so rare and valuable. In 2016, this penny was auctioned off and sold for $282,000.
5. A 1909 VDB matte proof Lincoln penny that is worth $258,000
Coins that have been around longer tend to be worth more. Collectors usually really want matte-proof coins, and this 1909 VDB version is the one they want the most. The square, sharp edges on the rims and other features show that it is real.
A lot of people bid $258,000 on this very rare coin from 1909. The designer’s letters, VDB, are on the bottom, making it one of a kind.
Also See: Could Your Quarter Be Worth $2,000? The Hidden Value Of The 2004 Wisconsin Coin