The most valuable and rare varieties of the iconic U.S. pennies, minted since 1909, the Lincoln cents, are highly sought after by the collectors. Although the majority of pennies are merely printed with the face value, some important dates, mint marks and minting errors can transform some coin into thousands of dollars or even millions of dollars. The following 11 amazing cent Lincoln coins all the collectors should know about due to their high values that they might hold.
1. 1909-S VDB Lincoln Cent
– Designer Victor David Brenner used the initials (VDB) on the reverse side of the first year and only San Francisco-minted penny.
– It is one of the most valuable and rare Lincoln cents with only 484,000 of them struck.
2. 1909 VDB Lincoln Cent
– Philadelphia mint, which bears VDB initials, is more rare than no VDB 1909 pennies and is also very valued in uncirculated form.
3. 1914-D Lincoln Cent
– A low minted Denver penny was a major date, particularly of high grade.
4. 1922 ‘No D’ Lincoln Cent
– This mint mistake, which consists in the absence of the Denver mint mark on a coin which is only supposed to be coined at Denver, is very uncommon.
5. 1931-S Lincoln Cent
– It is considered one of the most famous significant dates in the Lincoln wheat cent series, not very numerous because of the poor production.
6. 1955 Doubled Die Lincoln Cent
– Date and letters are evidently doubled, one of the most attractive and desirable mistake coins.
7. 1969-S Doubled Die Lincoln Cent
– One of the more noticeable doubled die obverse coins, especially not very common in good survivor.
8. 1972 Doubled Die Lincoln Cent
– shows evident doubling; very marketable in mint condition.
9. 1983 Doubled Die Reverse Lincoln Cent
– Lettering doubled on the back, and this is desired by the lovers of error coins.
10. 1982 No Mint Mark Lincoln Cent
– The coin itself is rare; most 1982 pennies were minted with a mint mark; no-mint-mark is rare and a collectible coin.
11. 1992 Close AM Lincoln Cent
– Lincoln memorial penny in great variety; distinctive of value to the collector, the large distance between the letters AM in AMERICA.
Why These Coins Are Valuable
– Low mints, and minting mistakes.
– Artificial and historical importance and fame with collectors.
– Condition of the grade has a drastic influence on value with the most uncirculated grades bringing the highest prices.
– Good auction and dealer demand.
Summary Table: 11 Lincoln Cents Worth Watch
| Coin | Year | Feature | Collector Interest |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1909-S VDB | 1909 | First year, VDB initials | Extremely rare |
| 1909 VDB | 1909 | Philadelphia VDB | Key early date |
| 1914-D | 1914 | Denver mint | Low mintage |
| 1922 No D | 1922 | Missing Denver mint mark | Rare error |
| 1931-S | 1931 | Scarce San Francisco penny | High demand |
| 1955 Doubled Die | 1955 | Noticeable doubling | Popular error |
| 1969-S Doubled Die | 1969 | Doubled obverse | Collector favorite |
| 1972 Doubled Die | 1972 | Obvious doubling | Highly collectible |
| 1983 Doubled Die Reverse | 1983 | Reverse doubling | Error coin sought |
| 1982 No Mint Mark | 1982 | Missing mint mark | Modern rarity |
| 1992 Close AM | 1992 | Close spacing of AM | Key variety |
FAQs
Q1: What do I do to find valuable Lincoln cents?
Search for die dates, mint marks, and die strikes; use grading services.
Q2: Do we have any valuable Lincoln cents in circulation?
Pennies that are found in circulation are rare, but may be high-value.
Q3: Coin grading or coin appraisal location?
Authentication and grading are offered by professional services like PCGS or NGC.
