BREAKING: One Lincoln penny set a mind-blowing record—selling for $300 million (yes, million!). While the odds of having that exact coin are slim, several other Lincoln cents are worth life-changing money—and they might be sitting in your change jar right now.
Top 5 Most Expensive Lincoln Pennies Ever Sold
1. 1943 Bronze Penny – $1.7 Million
Why so valuable? Only 10–15 exist—minted on bronze planchets during WWII instead of steel.
How to Spot:
- Weight: 3.11g (vs 2.7g for steel)
- Non-magnetic (steel sticks to a magnet; bronze does not)
- Reddish-brown copper color
2. 1909-S VDB – $150,000+
Key Features:
- “S” mint mark (San Francisco)
- “VDB” engraver initials on the reverse bottom
3. 1955 Doubled Die – $100,000+
Error Type: Extreme doubling on “LIBERTY” and the date.
4. 1969-S Doubled Die – $125,000+
Rarity: Only 40–50 known. Strong doubling on the date and lettering.
5. 1992 Close AM – $20,000+
Mint Mistake: The letters “A” and “M” in “AMERICA” are nearly touching.
How to Check Your Pennies (3 Quick Tests)
- Weigh It:
- 3.11g = Possible copper/bronze rarity
- 2.5g = Normal zinc penny
- Magnet Test:
- Copper & bronze pennies don’t stick to magnets
- Magnify It:
- Use a 10x loupe to check for doubling, mint marks, or spacing errors
What to Do If You Find a Rare Penny
🚫 Don’t clean it – Cleaning can slash value by up to 90%
✅ Get it certified – Use PCGS or NGC grading services
💵 Sell smart –
- Heritage Auctions (for coins worth $10K+)
- eBay (for $500–$10K finds)
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