The 8 Rarest Lincoln Pennies That Could Be Worth a Fortune

Lincoln pennies have been an important part of American coinage history since they were first introduced in 1909. Even though many editions are common, some are distinguished by uncommon flaws, limited production, or unique designs. Let’s look at eight of the most valuable Lincoln pennies’ outstanding characteristics and market values.

1955 Doubled Die

The Doubled Die of 1955 One of the most recognizable mistake coins is the obverse penny. Its misplaced die resulted in doubled lettering, particularly in the dates “1955” and “LIBERTY.” Even though there are only 20,000–24,000 coins in circulation, they are nevertheless highly sought-after collector’s items, with prices ranging from $1,000 to $15,000, depending on condition.

1922 No D

The “D” mint mark indicates that Denver was the sole mint to produce Lincoln cents in 1922. However, certain coins, known as the “No D” type, lacked this because of excessive die polishing. With values ranging from $500 in lower grades to over $20,000 in immaculate condition, this uncommon anomaly is very sought for.

1943 Bronze

In order to conserve copper for WWII, the U.S. Mint made zinc-coated steel pennies. However, in 1943, some remaining bronze planchets were struck in error. Due to their extreme scarcity, these coins can fetch over $1 million at auction.

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1944 Steel

Some of the 1943 steel planchets were inadvertently used when the Mint switched back to bronze in 1944. Depending on their grade, these rare 1944 Steel pennies can sell for anywhere from $75,000 to $100,000 or more.

1969-S Doubled Die

The date and motto are among the obverse inscriptions on this cent that clearly double. There are less than 100 certified instances, which were formerly thought to be counterfeits. These coins are extremely valuable; high-grade ones can fetch anywhere from $50,000 to $70,000.

1972 Doubled Die

One other popular penny among collectors is the 1972 Doubled Die Obverse. Its inscriptions exhibit noticeable doubling, such as “IN GOD WE TRUST.” The value of an uncirculated example of this mistake coin ranges from $200 to $1,000.

1992 Close AM

In certain 1992 pennies, the “AM” in “AMERICA” on the reverse appeared closer together than usual due to a rare die fault. In good grade, these coins, also known as the Close AM variant, can fetch between $5,000 and $25,000.

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1999 Wide AM

However, there is more distance between the “A” and “M” in “AMERICA” on the 1999 Wide AM penny. Uncirculated copies of this mistake are worth between $100 and $500, making it valuable even though it is less common than the Close AM.

Year	Variety	Description	Value Range
1955	Doubled Die Obverse	Doubling of inscriptions and date	$1,000 – $15,000
1922	No D (Plain)	Missing mint mark	$500 – $20,000+
1943	Bronze Cent	Bronze planchet error during wartime	$100,000 – $1M+
1944	Steel Cent	Steel planchet error post-war	$75,000 – $100,000+
1969	Doubled Die Obverse S	Doubling on inscriptions and date	$50,000 – $70,000+
1972	Doubled Die Obverse	Doubling on obverse inscriptions	$200 – $1,000
1992	Close AM Reverse	Narrow “AM” spacing on reverse	$5,000 – $25,000
1999	Wide AM Reverse	Wider “AM” spacing on reverse	$100 – $500

Searching for these uncommon Lincoln pennies may be a thrilling experience, regardless of your level of coin collecting expertise. To properly understand coins’ worth and historical significance, always have them authenticated and graded by professionals.