πŸ’° 1979 Penny Value Guide: Worth Up to $7,000+ – Don’t Miss These Rare Finds!

Most 1979 Lincoln pennies are worth only face value (1Β’)… but a few rare errors and varieties can sell for $5,000–$7,000+ at auction! πŸ€‘

Here’s everything you need to know to check if the penny in your pocket change is a jackpot coin.


πŸ“Š 1979 Penny Value Chart (2024 Update)

VarietyCirculated ValueUncirculated ValueRecord Sale
Normal (No Mint Mark)1Β’ – 25Β’$1 – $5–
Near Date Variety$10 – $50$100 – $300$550 (MS65)
Type 2 ProofN/A$25 – $150–
Double Die Obverse$250 – $5,580$1,000 – $7,000$7,050 (MS64)

πŸ‘‰ Key Insight: Only 2 known 1979 Double Die pennies have sold for more than $5,000, but even minor errors can be worth $50+.


πŸ”Ž How to Spot Valuable 1979 Pennies

1️⃣ Check the Date Position

  • Near Date Variety β†’ Date closer to LIBERTY = πŸ’΅ $10–$300
  • Far Date (Normal) β†’ No extra value

2️⃣ Look for Doubling (Error Coins)

  • Double Die Obverse β†’ Clear doubling on LIBERTY & date = πŸ’΅ $250+
  • Machine Doubling β†’ Flat, shelf-like doubling = ❌ No added value

3️⃣ Examine the Mintmark

  • No Mint Mark = Philadelphia (most common)
  • β€œD” Mint Mark = Denver (no premium)
  • β€œS” Mint Mark = San Francisco (proofs only)

πŸ’Ž Grading & Condition Value

βœ… Premium Coins:

  • MS65+ Red β†’ $5 – $300
  • Proof Coins (mirror finish) β†’ $25 – $150

⚠️ Circulated Coins:

  • XF40 (light wear) β†’ 5Β’ – 50Β’
  • G4 (heavy wear) β†’ Face value

πŸ‘‰ Pro Tip: Use a 10x magnifying loupe πŸ” to check for doublingβ€”true errors show clean separation lines in the letters.


πŸ† Top 3 Most Valuable 1979 Penny Varieties

  1. Double Die Obverse (FS-101)
    • Value: $250 – $7,000
    • ID: Strong doubling on LIBERTY
  2. Near Date Variety
    • Value: $10 – $300
    • ID: Date almost touches the rim
  3. Type 2 Proof
    • Value: $25 – $150
    • ID: Sharper, crisper details than Type 1

🏦 Where to Find Valuable 1979 Pennies

βœ… Best Places:

  • Bank penny rolls (avg. 1 error per $25 box)
  • Old family coin collections
  • U.S. Mint proof sets (for Type 2)

🚫 Avoid:

  • β€œRare penny” eBay lots (many misidentified)
  • Overpriced β€œuncirculated” rolls

πŸ“ˆ Market Trends (2024 Update)

  • πŸ”Ό Double Die prices up 45% since 2020
  • πŸ“š Registry set collectors increasing demand
  • πŸŽ₯ TikTok coin hunters creating new hype

πŸ’‘ Prediction: High-grade Double Dies could hit $10,000+ by 2026!


🎯 Final Verdict

βœ… Most 1979 pennies = 1Β’
βœ… Near Date / Double Die = $10 – $7,000+
βœ… Takes just 30 seconds to check your pocket change!

πŸ’¬ β€œThat ordinary 1979 penny in your drawer could be hiding a down payment on a car!” πŸš—πŸ’¨


Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *