Each year, the US Mint releases a certain number of pennies, but some years, that number is low. Examine your coins for small mistakes that can add to their value. You'll notice that many of the old pennies listed here have errors which make them more valuable. Most old coins show wear from circulation, so one in great shape can be worth more. If you see a penny that is decades old but still shines like it's brand new, it may be worth looking up. Look for old pennies in excellent condition.If you're sorting through spare change, keep a few tips in mind to help you find pennies worth money: Tips for Identifying Old Pennies Worth MoneyĪlthough these ten old pennies are worth thousands, there are plenty of other examples that are still worth more than their face value. It's always worth checking out the value of a penny that's more than a few decades old. If you have a very old coin, it could still be worth a lot in rough condition. One lesson here is that condition matters, but it's not the only thing that affects value. From there, they've come down through the centuries to excite collectors today. What's also interesting is that examples are always in circulated condition, but those worth the most may only have passed from person to person for around 50 years before being put aside. Named for the strawberry leaves faintly visible over the date on the coin, the Strawberry Leaf cent is valuable because of how rare it is. It is in excellent condition for such an old penny and features clear details. This rare coin is one of only four examples in this style, which was struck the first year the US Mint officially made the penny. One of the most valuable "large cents," the 1793 Strawberry Leaf sold at auction for almost $863,000 in 2009. 1793 Strawberry Leaf Cent - About $863,000 A penny with a different color (or in this case, a copper colored penny from a year when they should have been steel) can be worth far more than a normal coin.ģ. If you're watching for rare coins, keep an eye out for anything outside the ordinary. Collectors began clamoring for it in the 1940s, and demand hasn't died down since. Rumor had it that Henry Ford offered a car to anyone who could find one, and even though that rumor was totally unsubstantiated, the fervor for this penny was the real deal. People considered this a rare penny to look for, even when it was first minted. In 2010, one of the bronze Lincoln pennies sold for $1.7 million, far higher in value than the 1943 steel penny's value. The US Mint estimates that 40 of them still exist. No one noticed the error, and the pennies entered circulation. This resulted in the steel mixing with the copper for the first few pennies produced that year. When they made this switch, some of the copper was accidentally left in the hoppers. 1943 Bronze Lincoln Penny - About $1.7 MillionĪs World War II raged in 1943, the US Mint switched to making pennies out of steel to save copper for the war effort. Not all old pennies are valuable, but age is a starting point for identifying a penny worth money.Ģ. Those in favor of Lady Liberty won out, but of course, George Washington has graced many coins since, including the current quarter.Įven though you might not have a 1792 Birch Cent lying around, keep an eye out for any coin with an old date. Still, the first president, George Washington, was such a popular figure that many people wanted his likeness on the first penny.
Keep in mind, the country was trying to separate itself from monarchies that had their kings and queens stamped on their coins. The coin features the profile of Lady Liberty on the front, which was a pretty controversial choice for the time. One in excellent "gem" condition sold in 2015 for an astounding $2.6 million. The coin was a "large cent," about the size of a quarter, and there are only 10 known examples. This penny is worth the most of all examples ever made. One of these is the famous Birch Cent of 1792, named after engraver Robert Birch. While the United States didn't officially start minting pennies until 1793, there were a few prototype pennies made prior to that time.
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