Top 100 Most Valuable Wheat Pennies Coin Worth Money (1909 – 1958)

Did you know a 1943-D Bronze penny sold for $840,000, a 1944-S Steel cent fetched $408,000, and 1943-S Bronze pennies have brought over $500,000? Welcome to the ultimate guide of the Most Valuable Wheat Pennies Coin Worth Money, focused exclusively on Lincoln Wheat cents (1909–1958).

Updated monthly with current market values, this chart reveals what makes Wheat pennies legendary: minting errors like the 1943 copper and 1944 steel transitionals, key dates such as the 1909-S VDB and 1914-D, and superb condition.

Looking for rare pennies from other years?

• Auto Coin Appraisal Tool: Best Coin Identifier App
• (1959 – Present): Top 100 Most Valuable Lincoln Pennies Worth Money
• (1859 -1909): Top 100 Most Valuable Indian Head Pennies Worth Money
• Even Older?: The Rarest Pennies In the US From 1787
• Misprint Penny: Penny Errors List with Pictures

Most Valuable Wheat Pennies Chart

Important Note: All coin values come from REAL sales tracked across Heritage Auctions, Stack’s Bowers, GreatCollections, and other major platforms. Unlike guides that claim fantasy “coin values” in the millions, we only report verified transactions. Every price listed represents the highest confirmed sale ever recorded for that variety. A coin is worth what someone actually paid for it—not what someone hopes it’s worth.

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Most Valuable Wheat Penny Worth Money

1. The Holy Grail: 1943-D Bronze Unique Penny

Record Price: $840,000 (PCGS MS64 Brown, Heritage Auctions 2021)

One known example. That’s it. The 1943-D Bronze cent is the only one ever confirmed from the Denver Mint, making it unique in the most literal sense—and the most valuable Wheat penny ever sold.

The coin’s origin story has long been the subject of speculation. It was owned by a former Denver Mint employee who is believed to have struck it. This coin has the strongest strike of any 1943 bronze cent, and speculation has it that the person hand fed a bronze planchet into the coining press, struck it twice to bring up the design, then kept it. Zinc fragments on both the obverse and the reverse confirm that the dies had already been used to strike normal 1943 zinc-coated steel cents.

The coin was kept secret for years. After the person died, the coin was given to one of his children, who in 1996 consigned it to Superior Galleries for auction. Its first public sale in 2003 brought $212,750. Texas Rangers owner Bob R. Simpson acquired it in 2010 for $1.7 million. When Simpson’s collection went to auction in 2021, it sold for $840,000.

Regardless of how this coin was created, it ranks as one of the most important and valuable of all Lincoln Cents. In a world where collectors hunt for any of the roughly 20 known 1943 copper cents across all mints, the Denver specimen stands completely alone.

Check 1943 Wheat Penny Coin Value, History, Variety Price Chart & Errors List

 

2. The San Francisco Stunner: 1943-S Bronze 5 Known Penny

Record Price: $504,000 (PCGS MS63 Brown, Heritage Auctions 2020)

Five confirmed examples. That makes the 1943-S Bronze scarcer than the better-known Philadelphia version, despite San Francisco’s higher mintage that year.

The discovery date for this off-metal error appears to be 1944, when a young 14 year-old collector found a 1943-S Bronze Cent in circulation. That was Kenneth Wing Jr. from Long Beach, who pulled a future half-million-dollar coin out of his pocket change at an age when most kids weren’t thinking about numismatics.

After more than three quarters of a century of relentless searching, only six examples of the 1943-S bronze Lincoln cent have been discovered, along with a handful of examples from the other U.S. Mints. Current consensus puts the confirmed count at 5 specimens.

This MS63 Brown is the finest known. Heritage Auctions described it as the finest-known example of this celebrated rarity from the fabulous Simpson Collection. Bob R. Simpson had acquired it for $1 million in 2012; the 2020 sale at $504,000 still represents a significant sum for the top example of a coin this scarce. The coin exhibits sharp design details, with intricate features on Lincoln’s hair and the wheat stalks. Its surface displays a light brown and crimson patina, with traces of original red visible in sheltered areas. The obverse surface shows a tiny fleck of zinc from the steel cents—physical evidence that this bronze planchet went through presses running steel cents.

The mythology around these coins runs deep. Rumors that Henry Ford would reward the finder of any 1943 “copper” cent with a new car swept the country in the 1940s, despite frequently published denials by the Ford Motor Company. Ford never paid, but today’s collectors certainly do.

Check 1943-S Wheat Penny Coin Value, History, Variety Price Chart & Errors List

 

3. The Reverse Rarity: 1944-S Steel Penny

Record Price: $408,000 (PCGS MS66, Heritage Auctions 2021)

Everyone hunts for 1943 copper pennies. The 1944 steel cents are actually rarer—and this San Francisco specimen is one of only two known to exist.

In 1944, the U.S. Mint was forced to revert to the original bronze composition of 95% copper and 5% tin & zinc due to a couple of reasons. Firstly, the 1943 steel pennies were not well-received by the public since they tended to rust quickly, which affected their appearance and durability. But somehow, leftover steel planchets from 1943 got mixed into the 1944 production. Out of over 282 million bronze pennies struck at San Francisco that year, only 2 ended up on steel blanks.

No one exactly knows why the San Francisco mint produced these two steel pennies besides 282,760,000 standard cupronickel coins. Philadelphia had an explanation—they were simultaneously striking Belgian 2-franc coins on steel planchets—and Denver had at least a plausible excuse for leftover blanks. San Francisco had neither.

This MS66 is the finest known. It sold for $408,000 at Heritage Auctions in 2021 and holds the record of the highest-graded 1944 ‘Steelie’ penny from any mint. The only other confirmed example grades XF40 and brought $49,200 in 2018.

Authentication is straightforward: a genuine 1944 steel cent sticks to a magnet and weighs exactly 2.7 grams, versus 3.11g for bronze. Its silvery-gray color is unmistakable among copper-colored 1944 pennies.

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4. The Teen’s Triumph: 1943 Bronze Penny

Record Price: $372,000 (PCGS MS62 Brown, Heritage Auctions 2021)

In 1957, a 14-year-old named Marvin Wallace Beyer Jr. pulled a penny from his pocket change and stumbled into one of numismatics’ most famous discovery stories. This is one of roughly 20 Philadelphia Mint 1943 bronze cents known to exist.

His father spent $700 on metallurgical testing—a significant sum in the 1950s—to confirm the coin was genuine. When they attempted to auction it at the 1958 ANA Convention through dealer Abe Kosoff, they withdrew at the last moment, triggering a $60,750 lawsuit that made headlines in the collecting world.

The error traces back to wartime logistics. As 1942 ended, the Mint was switching from bronze to zinc-coated steel planchets to conserve copper for the war effort. Some bronze blanks got lodged in the crevices of transport bins. When steel blanks were loaded in 1943, these stowaways were dislodged and struck into pennies.

The total confirmed population across all mints sits at roughly 26: about 20 from Philadelphia, 5 from San Francisco, and 1 from Denver. This specimen weighs 3.11 grams (versus 2.7g for steel), is 95% copper with 5% tin & zinc, and displays vibrant blue toning over lustrous olive-brown surfaces that earned it an MS62 Brown grade with CAC approval.

After Beyer’s discovery, the coin reportedly sold to the “Greer Company” of Los Angeles in 1959 for $40,000 (roughly $420,000 in today’s dollars). It then vanished for 41 years before resurfacing at Superior’s Pre-Long Beach sale in 2000, later appeared in Goldberg Coins’ Benson Collection in 2003, and ultimately landed in Bob R. Simpson’s collection.

Real 1943 bronze cents won’t stick to a magnet, weigh 3.11 grams, and have a copper color that stands apart from the silvery steel pennies. Copper-plated steel fakes are common—professional authentication is essential for any suspected find. The most recent major discovery was the Don Lutes specimen in 2019, so these coins are still surfacing.

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5. The King of Doubled Dies: 1958 DDO Penny

Record Price: $336,000 (PCGS MS64 Red, Stack’s Bowers 2018)

The final year of the Wheat penny series produced one of its greatest rarities. According to the Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS), there are only three confirmed examples of the 1958 DDO penny. After 65-plus years of millions of collectors searching billions of pennies, that number hasn’t budged.

Two examples of the 1958 DDO wheat penny were discovered, allegedly around 1960, by a collector who claimed he found them searching a $50 sack of 1958 wheat pennies. They remained generally unknown until the 1980s when they were debuted at a New Jersey coin show specializing in error collections.

The doubling is not subtle. It is evident with the naked eye in the date, inscription LIBERTY, and in the motto IN GOD WE TRUST. Even a novice can spot it without magnification—this variety announces itself.

Why so few? Numismatic historian David Bowers speculates that the problematic die used in production was found early on in its life cycle, and replaced rather than retained. He points out that, given ordinary wear, a wheat penny die of the era was used for between 800,000 and 1,000,000 strikes before being replaced. An early catch would explain why the surviving population is in the single digits rather than the thousands.

This MS64 Red example brought $336,000 at Stack’s Bowers in March 2018 as part of the ESM Collection. But the real headline came on January 22, 2023, when one of the three known 1958 DDO Lincoln Cents crossed the block in a GreatCollections auction for over $1 million including Buyer’s Premium. Its listing described it as “King of the Doubled Dies”, a difficult sobriquet to contest. That MS65 Red became the first Lincoln cent to break the million-dollar barrier.

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6. The Proof Perfect Pioneer: 1909 VDB Proof Penny

Record Price: $258,500 (PCGS PR67+ Red-Brown, Heritage Auctions 2014)

The first year of the Lincoln cent, in proof, with the controversial VDB initials. This PR67+ Red-Brown with a CAC gold label is considered the single finest example regardless of color designation in its plus margin.

The coin carries real historical weight. The 1909 VDB was the first U.S. regular-issue coin to feature a real person’s portrait. President Theodore Roosevelt, impressed by Brenner’s talent, selected him in 1908 to design a medal for the Panama Canal. Roosevelt wanted a coin to honor Abraham Lincoln’s 100th birth anniversary (1809-1909) and ultimately accepted to feature Lincoln’s image on the coin. Before this, American coins depicted allegorical figures like Lady Liberty.

Only 1,194 proofs were struck. They are very scarce in red condition and can be worth up to 380,000 in Superb Gem condition (MS67+). For context, most modern “limited editions” that collectors chase have mintages orders of magnitude higher.

The VDB controversy created the rarity. Sculptor Victor David Brenner’s initials were initially placed on the reverse. However, this caused heavy criticism. Some saw the initials as unnecessary advertisement, while others said the letters were too prominent and that few knew what the possibly cabalistic notation meant. The mint decided, in response, to remove these VDB initials. The backlash was intense enough that production with the initials lasted only days.

The price hierarchy across color designations tells an interesting story. This PR67+ Red-Brown brought $258,500 at Heritage in 2014—outpacing even full red examples. The record for a Red coin stands at $70,500 for a PR66RD in 2019, and for Brown, $41,125 for a PR66BN in 2016. In this case, absolute grade trumped color designation.

You won’t find proofs in circulation, but old estates and forgotten collections occasionally yield them. Even lower-grade proof VDB pennies command thousands.

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7. The Belgian Connection: 1944 Steel Penny (Philadelphia)

Record Price: $180,000+ (PCGS MS64, Heritage Auctions 2021)

Philadelphia’s 1944 steel cent is the wrong-planchet error with an explanation—one that involves wartime secrecy and foreign coinage. PCGS estimates only 25-30 examples exist total, which actually makes them more than twice as rare as the 1943 bronze cents (10-15 survivors). This MS64 ties for the finest known.

The backstory: in 1944, the Philadelphia Mint was simultaneously striking two-franc pieces for Belgium (KM-133) using zinc-coated steel planchets. The leading theory is that a few steel planchets got lodged in the trap doors of tote bins used to transport blanks. When bronze planchets were loaded for 1944 penny production, the steel stowaways were jarred loose and fed into the presses.

NGC has certified just four examples, all in AU grades. PCGS has graded ten: two AUs and eight Mint State, with none grading higher than MS64. This particular coin has untoned surfaces free from noticeable marks, with only slight blending on Lincoln’s jaw and cheekbone. An identifying feature is a small gray freckle northeast of the second 4 in the date. At 2.70 grams (versus 3.11g for bronze), it’s 100% zinc-coated steel and will stick to a magnet.

A similar PCGS MS64 CAC example brought $158,625 at Stack’s Bowers in August 2013. This 2021 specimen likely exceeded $180,000. With nothing graded finer, these represent the top of the market for Lincoln cent wrong-planchet errors.

Be cautious with authentication. Real 1944 steel cents are magnetic, weigh 2.70 grams, and have a distinctive silvery-gray color. Fakers commonly alter 1943 steel cent dates to read 1944—professional grading is essential at these values.

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8. The People’s Rarity: 1909-S VDB Penny

Record Price: $168,000 (PCGS MS67 Red, Stack’s Bowers 2022)

If the 1909 VDB Proof (#6 on this list) was made for the collecting elite, the 1909-S VDB is the coin that turned ordinary people into collectors. It’s the single most famous key date in the Lincoln series and the reason generations of Americans started checking their pocket change.

San Francisco didn’t even receive the dies until late June 1909 and managed to strike only 484,000 examples before the VDB controversy killed production. Philadelphia had already cranked out 27.9 million—San Francisco’s output was just 1.7% of that.

The coin became an instant collectible. Within days of release, dealers charged premiums, and the 1909-S VDB was hoarded while technically still in production. It was a brand-new coin that became scarce overnight. Because of that early hoarding, many survived—but few survived well. Three times as many exist in Brown as Red-Brown, and seven times as many as full Red. Finding one is realistic; finding one with blazing original color is another matter entirely.

This MS67 Red specimen was described by Stack’s Bowers as approaching “the zenith of numismatic perfection,” with surfaces untroubled by even the most trivial blemishes and vivid reddish-orange color. It’s tied with 14 others at PCGS as the finest known, with none graded higher.

The price range across grades reflects broad demand. This MS67 Red brought $168,000 in 2022, an MS65 Red sells for $15,000 and up, and even a well-worn Good-4 brings $600-700. It’s been called a coin that even “non-collectors have sought ever since its introduction”—and that hasn’t changed in over a century.

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9. The Denver Depression: 1914-D Penny

Record Price: $158,625 (PCGS MS66+ Red, Legend Rare Coin Auctions 2018)

The undisputed key date of the regular-issue Lincoln Wheat series. The 1914 D Wheat Penny is one of the most famous coins in the collecting world, and the reason is simple. For regular business strike coins meant for circulation, the 1,193,000 made by Denver is incredibly low. Philadelphia struck over 75 million that same year—Denver’s output was a rounding error by comparison.

Finding one in high grade is the real challenge. Most 1914-D cents that survive are well-worn. These long-traveled coins have served dutifully as hole fillers in penny boards and albums for more than 60 years. They circulated through World War I, the Roaring Twenties, and the Great Depression before anyone thought to save them. Mint state survivors are genuinely scarce.

This MS66+ Red represents the top of the certified population. A red MS66 coin sold in 2018 for $158,625, and the plus grade adds significant value. A recent auction high price paid for a 1914-D was $81,075 in 2016 for a PCGS MS66 RD, tied for the finest known with four other examples according to the PCGS census.

The price curve across grades is steep. If you have an MS66 1914 D Wheat Penny, then you could be sitting on a life-changing amount of money. On average, these coins sell for $85,000, but they can be much more. Even problem-free examples in low grades bring $175 and up, and jumping to Mint State multiplies the value by 20 times or more.

One important caution: the 1914-D Lincoln cent is often counterfeited. Counterfeiters will occasionally forge a “1914-D cent” by adding a D mintmark from another Denver Mint cent. The coin’s fame and value make it a perpetual target. Professional authentication is non-negotiable at any grade.

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10. The Semi-Key Sensation: 1926-S Penny

Record Price: $149,500 (PCGS MS65 Red, Heritage Auctions 2006)

No errors, no doubled dies—just pure condition rarity. The 1926-S holds the record as the most expensive non-variety Lincoln penny ever sold: $149,500 for a top-grading PCGS MS65RD specimen at Heritage Auctions in 2006.

San Francisco produced 4,550,000 pennies in 1926, the lowest mintage of the year and enough to earn semi-key status. But the mintage only tells part of the story. The real scarcity is at the top of the grading scale. The auction record of $149,500 went to the 1926 S MS 65 RD Lincoln penny on January 5, 2006. MS65 Red appears to be the ceiling for this issue—unlike some dates where MS67 or MS68 examples exist, no 1926-S has been graded higher.

The reason is straightforward. 1926 coins of this grade are very rare. Specimens like these 1926-S were bought off the public in the 40s and 50s. This penny does not have any marks and comes with a high eye appeal. Most entered circulation during the 1920s and stayed there through the Depression, the war, and beyond. The handful that survived in mint state were often mishandled or poorly stored.

Color makes an enormous difference. The red-brown coins are better ranked, and their average price ranges from $9 to $45, with the auction record for a toned coin at $2,300. Full red examples exist in a different price universe entirely. The gap between Red-Brown and Red at MS65 is over $135,000.

This record has stood since 2006—nearly two decades—which says something about the staying power of a finest-known semi-key date. Even well-worn 1926-S pennies trade at premiums, and the coin serves as a reminder that condition rarity from a “common” date can rival or exceed famous key-date prices.

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Summary: Most Valuable Wheat Pennies

These copper classics range from $149,500 to $840,000+, with values driven by extreme rarity (often under 30 known examples), historical significance, and condition. Even worn examples of key dates command hundreds to thousands—making that old penny jar worth a careful look.