Have you ever checked your pocket change and wondered if any of your coins might be worth a fortune? If you have an old wheat penny, you might be in luck! Minted from 1909 to 1958, wheat pennies are some of the most collectible U.S. coins.
While most are only worth a few cents, some rare varieties can sell for thousands—or even hundreds of thousands—of dollars.
The best part? Some of these rare wheat pennies could still be hiding in circulation! Let’s explore the 10 most valuable wheat pennies that you should keep an eye out for.
1. 1909-S VDB Wheat Penny
This is the most famous wheat penny ever made. In 1909, the U.S. Mint released the first Lincoln pennies, and some had the initials “V.D.B.” (for designer Victor David Brenner) on the back. However, they quickly removed them due to complaints, making this coin extremely rare.
Why It’s Valuable: Very low mintage—only 484,000 were made.
Value: $700 – $100,000+, depending on condition.
2. 1943 Copper Wheat Penny
During World War II, pennies were supposed to be made from steel instead of copper to save metal for the war effort. But a few 1943 pennies were mistakenly struck on copper, making them one of the most valuable error coins in U.S. history.
Why It’s Valuable: Only a few exist due to a minting mistake.
Value: $75,000 – $250,000+, depending on condition.
3. 1914-D Wheat Penny
This penny is highly sought after by collectors because very few were made—only 1.2 million. Finding one in good condition is extremely rare.
Why It’s Valuable: Low mintage and high collector demand.
Value: $200 – $50,000+, depending on grade.
4. 1922 No D Wheat Penny
All pennies from 1922 were supposed to have a “D” mintmark (for Denver). However, due to a minting error, some coins were struck without the “D”, making them rare collector’s items.
Why It’s Valuable: It’s an error coin with no visible “D” mintmark.
Value: $1,000 – $35,000+, depending on condition.
5. 1955 Doubled Die Wheat Penny
One of the most famous error coins, the 1955 Doubled Die penny features a double image on the date and lettering, which is clearly visible to the naked eye.
Why It’s Valuable: The doubling effect makes it unique and desirable.
Value: $1,500 – $25,000+, depending on grade.
6. 1931-S Wheat Penny
With a mintage of just 866,000, this is one of the rarest regular-issue wheat pennies. Many were saved by collectors, but finding one in circulation is still possible.
Why It’s Valuable: Low production numbers make it rare.
Value: $50 – $18,000+, depending on condition.
7. 1944 Steel Wheat Penny
In 1944, the U.S. Mint switched back to copper pennies, but a few were mistakenly struck using leftover steel planchets from 1943. These rare error coins are worth a small fortune.
Why It’s Valuable: A minting mistake resulted in very few steel pennies.
Value: $75,000 – $100,000+, based on condition.
8. 1909-S Wheat Penny
This is a slightly more common version of the 1909-S VDB, but it is still valuable because only 1.8 million were made. Unlike the VDB version, this coin does not have the designer’s initials.
Why It’s Valuable: First-year Lincoln penny with a low mintage.
Value: $200 – $1,500+, depending on condition.
9. 1942-D Over Horizontal D Wheat Penny
This is a mintmark error where the “D” was first stamped sideways and then corrected. Under magnification, you can see the original misplaced “D” under the proper one.
Why It’s Valuable: It’s a rare error that collectors love.
Value: $500 – $12,000+, depending on grade.
10. 1925-S Wheat Penny
This penny was minted in San Francisco, but not many were made, and even fewer survived in good condition.
Why It’s Valuable: Low mintage and difficult to find in high grades.
Value: $1,000 – $5,000+, depending on condition.
How to Identify a Valuable Wheat Penny
Think you might have a valuable wheat penny? Here’s what to look for:
Key Dates & Mintmarks: Some years and mints are more valuable than others (1909-S, 1914-D, 1922 No D, 1955 Doubled Die).
Minting Errors: Look for unusual features like doubled letters, missing mintmarks, or over-punched mintmarks.
Metal Composition: 1943 copper pennies and 1944 steel pennies are rare due to metal shortages during WWII.
Condition: Coins in better condition are worth more. An uncirculated penny can sell for thousands, while a worn-out one might be worth much less.
Weight Check: Use a small scale—1943 copper pennies should weigh 3.11 grams, while steel pennies weigh 2.7 grams.
Table – Most Valuable Wheat Pennies in Circulation
| Coin | Mint | Value | Unique Feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1909-S VDB Wheat Penny | S | $700 – $100,000+ | First-year Lincoln cent; very low mintage (484,000) |
| 1943 Copper Wheat Penny | P/D/S | $75,000 – $250,000+ | Mistakenly struck on copper instead of steel |
| 1914-D Wheat Penny | D | $200 – $50,000+ | Low mintage (1.2 million); highly sought-after |
| 1922 No D Wheat Penny | D | $1,000 – $35,000+ | Minting error with no “D” mintmark |
| 1955 Doubled Die Wheat Penny | P | $1,500 – $25,000+ | Strong doubling on date and lettering |
| 1931-S Wheat Penny | S | $50 – $18,000+ | Low mintage (866,000); collector favorite |
| 1944 Steel Wheat Penny | P/D/S | $75,000 – $100,000+ | Struck on leftover steel planchets |
| 1909-S Wheat Penny | S | $200 – $1,500+ | First-year Lincoln penny; no “VDB” initials |
| 1942-D Over Horizontal D | D | $500 – $12,000+ | Mintmark error with a sideways “D” |
| 1925-S Wheat Penny | S | $1,000 – $5,000+ | Rare San Francisco issue in high grades |
Even though wheat pennies are over 100 years old, some are still found in circulation today.
Whether it’s a 1909-S VDB, a 1955 Doubled Die, or the ultra-rare 1943 Copper Penny, these coins continue to excite collectors. Check your spare change—you never know what you might find!
