The oldest Lincoln pennies are the Wheaties with two sheaves of wheat on their back. Wheat pennies are worth thousands of dollars even though they only have a one-cent face value.
It is much easier to identify a wheat penny that is valuable if you are familiar with the types and why they are so valuable. There are many of these wheat pennies, as they were produced from 1909 to 1958. They are not all extremely valuable but they are your best bet when you are looking for Lincoln pennies that are worth money. As you go through your spare change, keep an eye out to see if there are any coins with unusual qualities.
List of the Most Valuable Wheat Pennies
Grab your magnifying lens if you have a collection of old pennies or a jar you found or inherited at a flea market. This list of one-cent coins will help you find the hidden treasures.
| Wheat Penny | You can also value |
| 1943-D bronze cent | $840,000 |
| 1943-S bronze cent | $504,000 |
| 1943 (Philadelphia) bronze cent | $372,000 |
| 1944-D steel cent | $115,000 |
| 1909-S VDB Lincoln cent | $92,000 |
| 1914 Lincoln cent | $83,000 |
| 1922 No D strong revers | $67,000 |
| 1921 Lincoln cent | $55,000 |
| 1925-S Lincoln cent | $54,000 |
| 1915-S Lincoln cent | $48,000 |
1943-D Bronze Cent
The 1943-D wheat penny struck in bronze by the Denver Mint is the most valuable. What’s fascinating about 1943 pennies, is that they were mostly made from steel. World War II was in full swing, and copper was required for the war effort. 1943 steel pennies are still valuable and can be worth up to $1,000, but the pennies that were accidentally struck on bronze are the most valuable. One of the only known Denver Mint pennies sold for $840,000 in 2021.
1943-S Bronze Cent
Denver Mint is not the only place where a mistake was made in the minting of the 1943 penny. There were also similar mistakes made in San Francisco and Philadelphia, when bronze planchets, or coin blanks in English, got stuck in tote bins used for the coin presses. The workers didn’t notice, and so the wheat pennies with the highest value entered circulation. Only six wheat pennies were minted in San Francisco. One in excellent condition was sold in 2020 for $504,000.
1943 (Philadelphia) Bronze Cent
It’s worth looking at a 1943 penny every time. You’re likely holding a treasure if it’s bronze- or copper-coloured. The 1943 wheat pennies without a mint letter, as well as the bronze planchets with the same minting mistake, were all made in Philadelphia. Around 20 of these pennies are believed to exist. In 2021, a coin in excellent condition was sold for $372,000.
1944-D Steel Cent
Do you remember the mistakes that were made when switching from steel to copper wheat pennies in 1944? In 1944, the country switched from pennies made of recycled shell case alloy to pennies that were not. There are fewer than 10 1944 D steel wheat pennies, one of which was sold in 2007 for $115,000.
1909-S VDB Lincoln Cent
Lincoln pennies were first minted by the Treasury Department in 1909 and included the initials of the designer (Victor David Brenner or VDB). Treasury Department officials were upset when they saw the pennies with initials and attempted to remove them from circulation. Few of the 484,000 pennies struck by the San Francisco Mint remained in circulation. The coins that were made tended to be worn out, but a near-mint condition was sold in 2005 for $92,000.
14 Wheat Penny
The 1914 Lincoln penny has become a highly sought-after item by collectors. They are 1000 times more rare than the penny of today. The 1914-D is rarer, but the condition of the coin is what determines its value. In excellent condition, the 1914-S can be more valuable than the 1914-D.
1922 No. D Strong Reverse
Sometimes, the coin’s design is worn unevenly or the dies used to create it are not aligned properly. This is not a mistake in the minting process, but it makes the coin more unique and valuable. The Denver Mint is not marked on the 1922 No D, even though it was struck at the Denver Mint. The reverse side, which is the wheat side, of the penny has a more prominent stamp than the face in Lincoln’s picture. These can be quite valuable in good condition. In 2014, one was sold for more than $67,000.
Lincoln Cent (1921)
The 1921 wheat penny may not be the rarest of all, but it is very difficult to find in perfect condition. Two of them are “superb” and worth a fortune. In 2005, one was sold for more than $55,000.
25-S Wheat Penny
The San Francisco Mint produced many of the 1925 pennies that were not well-made, and even those that were crisp and clear lost their crispness during circulation. Rarely do you find one in near-mint condition, let alone one with good clarity and details. In 2005, one in this condition was sold for more than $54,000.
How to Spot Wheat Pennies Worth Money
If you are looking for treasure, there are some things you should look out for:
- Wheaties with early dates are often the ones that have the highest value.
- World War II (1941-1945). Pennies from World War II are valuable, particularly if they were made in a metal that was not the standard for that particular year.
- Errors: If you find something odd on a penny, such as double-stamped numbers or words, the coin is likely to be valuable.
- The condition of the penny is important. A penny that has sharp details and crisp edges will be worth more than a penny that has lost its fine detail.
Find out more about Wheat Pennies
Wheat pennies will always be more rare than other designs. Wheat pennies are valuable to collectors even if they are not considered rare. Look closely at each detail to determine if there is something special hidden in your spare change.