What old pennies are worth money?
Top Valuable Lincoln Cents
The most valuable Lincoln pennies are key dates with low mintages. The 1909-S VDB is famous for its designer's initials and had a mintage of 484,000; values range from $500 in good condition to over $2,000 in mint state. The 1914-D had 1.19 million minted and can bring $200–$1,000. The 1922 no-mintmark (actually from Denver) is rare and worth $500–$2,000 depending on grade.
Other semi-key dates include the 1909-S (without VDB), 1910-S, 1911-S, 1912-S, 1913-S, 1914-S, and 1915-S. These often sell for $20–$100 in circulated grades. The 1931-S had a low mintage of 866,000 and is worth $50–$200. Even common wheat pennies from the 1940s and 1950s are only worth a few cents unless in uncirculated condition.
- 1909-S VDB: $500–$2,000+
- 1914-D: $200–$1,000
- 1922 No Mintmark: $500–$2,000
- 1931-S: $50–$200
- 1909-S: $50–$200
- 1910-S to 1915-S: $20–$100
Indian Head and Other Old Pennies
Indian Head pennies (1859–1909) also have valuable dates. The 1877 is the key date, with only 852,500 minted, worth $500–$2,000 in circulated grades. The 1908-S and 1909-S Indian Heads are worth $50–$200. Flying Eagle cents (1856–1858) are worth $20–$100 in circulated condition, with the 1856 being rare and worth thousands.
Condition is critical. A coin with full details and no wear can be worth 10–100 times more than a worn one. Have potential key dates authenticated and graded by a service like PCGS or NGC to maximize value and avoid selling a fake.
- 1877 Indian Head: $500–$2,000
- 1908-S Indian Head: $50–$200
- 1909-S Indian Head: $50–$200
- 1856 Flying Eagle: $5,000+
- 1857–1858 Flying Eagle: $20–$100
Common mistakes
- Thinking all old pennies are valuable; most wheat pennies are common.
- Cleaning pennies to make them shiny, which destroys collector value.
- Not checking for mint marks, which can make a huge difference in value.
