Everyone dreams of finding a tiny copper coin in their pocket change that’s actually worth a fortune. In the 20th century, a handful of rare pennies were minted with mistakes or in super-low numbers — and today collectors are paying insane money for them. Here’s the ultimate list of the 10 rarest 20th-century pennies that could turn spare change into serious cash.
Why Some Old Pennies Are Worth a Fortune
Before we jump into the list, here’s the simple reason these pennies are so valuable:
- Tiny mintage numbers (very few were made)
- Famous mint errors (like double stamps or wrong metal)
- Perfect condition examples are almost impossible to find
Now let’s look at the top 10!
Top 10 Most Valuable 20th-Century U.S. Pennies
| Rank | Year & Mint | Key Feature / Error | Record Sale Price | Why It’s So Rare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1943 Bronze | Made in bronze instead of steel during WWII | $1.7 million+ (1943-D) | Only about 20 known |
| 2 | 1944 Steel | Made in steel instead of bronze | $373,000+ | Wartime mix-up, very few survived |
| 3 | 1955 Double Die | Dramatic doubling on date and letters | $124,000+ (MS65+) | Famous visible error |
| 4 | 1909-S VDB | First year with Lincoln + designer’s initials | $108,000+ (MS67+) | Only 484,000 minted |
| 5 | 1969-S Double Die | Strong doubling on “LIBERTY” and date | $126,000+ | Most were destroyed |
| 6 | 1931-S | Extremely low mintage during Depression | $21,000+ (MS66+) | Just 866,000 made |
| 7 | 1914-D | Low production in Denver | $11,000+ (MS66+) | Only 1.2 million minted |
| 8 | 1922 No “D” | Missing mint mark (only Denver made them) | $32,000+ (MS65) | Die error hid the “D” |
| 9 | 1972 Double Die | Clear doubling on date and words | $14,000+ (MS67) | Popular modern error |
| 10 | 1943-S Bronze | Bronze planchet used by mistake in San Francisco | $504,000+ | Only 6-12 believed to exist |
1943 Bronze Penny – The Million-Dollar Mistake
In 1943, pennies were supposed to be made of steel to save copper for the war. A few bronze blanks got mixed in by accident. Today, the 1943-D bronze sold for over $1.8 million — the highest price ever for a penny!
1944 Steel Penny – The Opposite Error
In 1944, pennies went back to bronze… but a few steel ones slipped through. Super rare and super cool!
1955 Double Die Obverse – You Can See It With the Naked Eye
This one has crazy doubling on the date and “IN GOD WE TRUST.” It’s the most famous error penny that even beginners can spot.
1909-S VDB – The First Lincoln Penny Drama
The very first Lincoln cents had the designer’s initials (VDB) on the back. People complained, so they removed them fast. The San Francisco version had the lowest mintage — instant rarity!
1969-S Double Die – The Hidden Gem
Most of these were caught and melted, but a few escaped. Look closely at “LIBERTY” — if it looks thick and doubled, you might have a $50,000+ coin!
How to Check If You Have One of These Rare Pennies
- Grab a magnifying glass or your phone’s camera zoom
- Look at the date first — do you see any from the list above?
- Check the mint mark (under the date): “S” = San Francisco, “D” = Denver, no mark = Philadelphia
- Look for weird doubling, wrong color (bronze in 1943 or steel in 1944), or missing mint marks
- Compare with pictures online (PCGS CoinFacts or NGC are great)
What Are These Rare Pennies Worth in 2025?
Prices change fast, but here’s a quick guide (average prices for nice condition):
- 1943 Bronze → $300,000 – $1.8 million
- 1944 Steel → $50,000 – $400,000
- 1955 Double Die → $1,000 – $100,000+
- 1909-S VDB → $700 – $100,000+
- 1969-S Double Die → $25,000 – $126,000
Even low-grade examples can bring thousands!
Final Tip: Check Your Change Jars Today!
You don’t need to be a coin expert. Many of these million-dollar pennies were found in everyday change, inherited collections, or old jars. One man found a 1943 bronze penny in his school lunch money from the 1940s — it later sold for $204,000!
So go dig through that old piggy bank. Your next car payment (or house payment!) might be hiding as a dusty old penny.