5 Most Valuable Wheat Pennies Collectors Still Find Today

Just by looking through your coin collection, there's a chance to come across a valuable coin that is worth hundreds to thousands today. And this also goes for pennies . For instance, these are some of the most valuable wheat pennies that collectors are still on the hunt for today.

5. 1909-S VDB Wheat Penny

The 1909-S VDB wheat penny is easily one of the most valuable wheat pennies that you can come across. The reason it's so valuable is that it's the first year the Lincoln cent featured designer Victor David Brenner's initials, VDB, on the reverse. Public controversy caused the initials to be removed shortly after production began. There are only 484,000 coins around , and they're often worth hundreds to thousands of dollars, depending on condition. Check beneath the date for the S mint mark and the reverse for VDB initials.

4. 1914-D Wheat Penny

Next on the list is the 1914-D wheat penny, which is a low-mintage treasure, with around 1,193,000. The reason it's so worthwhile is that it's one of the lowest-mintage regular Lincoln wheat cents produced at Denver. Most entered circulation rather than being saved by collectors. Depending on condition, these can be worth hundreds of dollars in worn condition; high-grade examples can reach five figures. Look for the D mint mark directly below the date.

3. 1922 No D Wheat Penny

Easily one of the most valuable wheat pennies that you can find is the 1922 famous mint error penny . The reason this one is so valuable is that a worn die caused the Denver mint mark to disappear on certain coins, creating the famous No D variety . Something as small as a mistake can make genuine examples worth hundreds to thousands of dollars, with exceptional specimens commanding much more. Examine the area beneath the date carefully. Authentication is essential because some coins have had their D mint marks removed.

2. 1943 Bronze Wheat Penny

Another one of the many valuable wheat pennies is this extremely rare case. The 1943 cents were supposed to be struck in zinc-coated steel. However, a small number were accidentally struck on leftover bronze planchets instead. Because of this, authenticated examples have sold for hundreds of thousands of dollars. A genuine bronze example is nonmagnetic and weighs approximately 3.11 grams. Professional authentication is necessary.

1. 1955 Doubled Die Obverse Wheat Penny

One that really stands out amongst the rest is the 1955 Doubled Die Obverse wheat penny. What makes this one stand out is that a dramatic die error caused visible doubling in the date and inscriptions on the front of the coin. What makes this one so shocking is that finding one of these can be worth thousands of dollars in collectible condition. Exceptional examples have sold for well over $100,000. Examine the date, LIBERTY, and IN GOD WE TRUST for strong doubling.