When it comes to coin collecting, few coins spark as much excitement as rare U.S. pennies. Throughout the twentieth century, certain Lincoln cents were struck in limited numbers, featured minting errors, or had unique characteristics that made them highly collectible. Some of these coins, which once circulated in everyday pocket change, are now worth thousands—or even millions—of dollars.
In this article, we’ll explore 11 rare pennies of the twentieth century that every collector and treasure hunter should know about.
1. 1909-S VDB Lincoln Cent
- Why it’s rare: First year of the Lincoln cent series, with designer Victor D. Brenner’s initials “VDB” on the reverse.
- Mintage: Only 484,000 made.
- Value today: $700–$2,000+ depending on grade.
2. 1914-D Lincoln Cent
- Why it’s rare: Low mintage from the Denver Mint, often heavily circulated.
- Mintage: 1,193,000 coins.
- Value today: $300–$5,000+.
3. 1922 No D (Plain) Lincoln Cent
- Why it’s rare: Weak or missing mintmark error from Denver.
- Mintage: Unknown, but extremely limited.
- Value today: $500–$15,000+.
4. 1931-S Lincoln Cent
- Why it’s rare: The Great Depression caused low demand, so only a small batch was struck.
- Mintage: 866,000 coins.
- Value today: $100–$1,000+.
5. 1943 Bronze Lincoln Cent
- Why it’s rare: In 1943, cents were made from steel for the war effort. A few were mistakenly struck in bronze.
- Mintage: Estimated less than 40.
- Value today: $100,000–$1,000,000+.
6. 1944 Steel Lincoln Cent
- Why it’s rare: Similar to the 1943 bronze error, a few leftover steel planchets were used in 1944.
- Mintage: Estimated 30 or fewer.
- Value today: $75,000–$200,000+.
7. 1955 Double Die Lincoln Cent
- Why it’s rare: One of the most famous error coins, with clear doubling in the date and lettering.
- Mintage: Around 20,000 released.
- Value today: $1,000–$20,000+.
8. 1969-S Double Die Lincoln Cent
- Why it’s rare: Bold doubling on “LIBERTY” and “IN GOD WE TRUST.” Many were mistakenly destroyed by the Mint.
- Mintage: Extremely scarce.
- Value today: $20,000–$100,000+.
9. 1970-S Small Date Lincoln Cent
- Why it’s rare: The 1970-S comes in both “large date” and “small date” varieties. The small date is far scarcer.
- Mintage: Limited within overall production.
- Value today: $200–$3,000+.
10. 1983 Double Die Reverse Lincoln Cent
- Why it’s rare: Strong doubling visible on the reverse lettering.
- Mintage: Very limited.
- Value today: $200–$1,500+.
11. 1992 Close AM Lincoln Cent
- Why it’s rare: The spacing between the “A” and “M” in AMERICA is unusually close, a variety not intended for circulation.
- Mintage: Extremely scarce.
- Value today: $1,000–$25,000+.
Final Thoughts
The twentieth century gave us some of the most valuable and fascinating pennies in American history. Whether it’s the legendary 1943 Bronze Cent or the famous 1955 Double Die, these coins remind us that a simple penny can be worth a fortune.
If you’re a collector—or just someone who checks their pocket change—you never know when you might stumble upon one of these rare treasures.