5 Rare Lincoln Wheat Pennies Worth Up to $12 Million – Do You Have One?

Lincoln Wheat Penny is a numismatic treasure in America. This small copper cheek is produced between 1909 and 1958, and is now the gemstone of the collector, some of these examples kill astronomical prices. To think about the possibility of discovering a penny of more than a million dollars, life -changing, someone?

Today, we are investigating five of the most worth Lincoln Wheat Pennies, together worth almost $12 million. If you’ve got an old penny jar gathering dust somewhere, you may need to take a second glance!

1944 Steel Wheat Penny

Estimated Value: $75,000 – $125,000

Although 1943 had an error with copper pennies, the opposite occurred in 1944. The U.S. Mint went back to copper, but some remaining steel planchets from 1943 were accidentally used. With only some 30 proven examples, this is a very rare discovery. A high-grade 1944-S steel cent sold for $408,000 at auction in 2021.

To determine a 1944 steel penny, test it with a magnet. Real steel pennies will be attracted to a magnet. Check for a silvery-gray color rather than copper, and weigh the coin—steel cents are lighter than copper at 2.7g compared to 3.11g.

1943 Copper Wheat Penny

Estimated Value: $1,000,000 – $1,750,000

During World War II, the American coin began to use zinc -coated steel instead of copper to save copper for war attempts. Since 1942, some remaining copper rooms somehow found the way in the production of 1943, which made one of the most famous mistakes in history. Of these, only 40 kroner is still present today, and they sell for astronomical figures at auction. In 2010, 1943-D Copper Penny was sold for $1.7 million.

Place a magnet on it to find out if a penny is 1943 Copper Penny. If the money is gripped, it is steel, not copper. In addition, you can check out unique brown copper color. Be careful, as some crowns from 1948 are revised to look like 1943.

1955 Double Die Obverse Wheat Penny

Estimated Value: $50,000 – $100,000

This legendary minting error resulted from the die used to strike the pennies being out of alignment, resulting in obvious doubling of inscriptions. The error was noticed too late, and the U.S. Mint released the coins into circulation. A mint-state 1955 Double Die penny can fetch in excess of $100,000. One graded MS65 Red by PCGS fetched $114,000 in 2018.

To spot a 1955 Double Die penny, check for sharp doubling on the date, “LIBERTY,” and “IN GOD WE TRUST.” The doubling is only on the front (obverse) of the coin. Be cautious of fakes because real specimens have clean, even doubling.

1909-S VDB Wheat Penny

Estimated Value: $50,000 – $100,000

This penny was among the first of the Lincoln Wheat Pennies ever made. Designer Victor David Brenner’s initials (VDB) were added to the back, but because of a controversy over their size, they were soon removed, making the 1909-S VDB a rare collector’s item. With only 484,000 being made, this penny is a must-have among serious collectors. One in mint condition sold for $117,500 in 2014.

To find 1909-S VDB Penny, see “VDB” at the bottom of the back. Search for “s” coin mark under the date, which means it was built in San Francisco. Be careful because converted coins are sometimes made with fake “s” on regular VDB pennies from 1909.

1914-D Wheat Penny

Estimated Value: $50,000 – $100,000

Unlike other registrations, 1914-D Penny is not an error coin. Rather, it’s worth the money because it’s rare. Only a few 1.1 million were produced, and many of them were overweight, so examples of high quality are very valuable. In 2018, a PCG MS66+ red graded 1914-D Penny was sold in $158,625.

To identify Penny from 1914-D, look for the “D” coin mark under the date (Denver Mint). Be careful to fake as any Philadelphia nerves 1914 pennies are approved by a fake “D”. Most of the authentic people wear Lincoln’s cheeks and wheat stitches.

Conclusion

These five Lincoln Wheat Pennies are a testimony that treasures await discovery in the most unexpected of places. Either in an attic jar of coins, a flea market, or in a passed-down collection of your own, you never know when you may stumble upon a life-changing find.

Even if you don’t find one of these extremely rare pennies, all Lincoln Wheat Pennies are a story—of history, of skill, and the thrill of the hunt. So examine your change closely the next time you roll it. You might very well be holding millions in your hand!

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