Do You Have A Rare 1989 Penny Worth $3,000? Here’s The Scoop On 1989 Pennies & Their Value

by

Joshua

Coin Values, Hobbies & Crafts

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Did you know there’s a rare 1989 penny worth $3,000 or more?

It’s true! And you may find one of them in your pocket change.

I’m going to tell you how to find this rare 1989-D penny, how much a 1989-D penny is worth, and how much all of your other 1989 pennies are worth.

Why Are Some 1989 Pennies Rare & Valuable?

Some old pennies are worth more than others, and in the case of a rare 1989-D penny, it’s worth much, much more!

Circulation-strike 1989 pennies are typically made of a copper-plated zinc composition. Many 1982 pennies and all business-strike pennies made since 1983 are supposed to be made from that zinc composition.

However, there have been a few hiccups in the metal composition of Lincoln pennies since 1982 — when the United States Mint transitioned from making 95% copper pennies to 97.5% zinc pennies.

Apparently, a few 1989-D pennies were accidentally minted on pre-1983 95% copper planchets (prepared coin blanks).

There’s not much info on how these 1989 penny copper planchets wound up getting struck some 7 years after the last copper Lincoln cents were supposed to be made. But, what we do know is that these rare off-metal error coins are worth a ton of money!

How much is a 1989-D penny worth?

Well… for starters, a rare 1989-D penny sold in August 2016 for $3,525!

How To Find A Rare 1989-D Penny

Sure, it’s pretty cool that some people have found these rare 1989-D pennies and that they’re worth more than $3,000…

But here’s some more good news for you: it’s possible to find these valuable coins in your pocket change!

So how can you tell a regular 1989-D penny apart from the rare 1989-D copper penny? Look for the “D” mintmark (for the Denver Mint) under the date. And then?

You’ve got to weigh them:

  • The valuable 1989-D copper penny weighs about 3.11 grams
  • A normal zinc-based 1989-D penny weigh approximately 2.5 grams

You can use a coin scale to see what your 1989 penny weighs, or you can try dropping it to listen for the difference:

  • Zinc-based pennies will make a dull clicking sound when dropped on a hard surface, such as a table.
  • Copper pennies let out a quiet, bell-like ring when hitting hard surfaces.

Normally, it’s not recommended to drop coins onto hard surfaces. But in this case, where you’re generally dealing with common coins, it’s okay.

There are other valuable, rare copper Lincoln pennies from the 1980s. These include:

What Are Other 1989 Pennies Worth?

Okay, so maybe you don’t have the rare 1989-D copper penny and your regular, worn 1989 and 1989-D pennies are worth only face value — but that doesn’t mean all of your 1989 pennies are worthless!

Here’s what uncirculated and proof 1989 pennies are worth today:

  • 1989 Philadelphia (no-mintmark) penny: 7,261,535,000 minted — 10 to 25+ cents
  • 1989-D penny: 5,345,467,111 minted — 10 to 25+ cents
  • 1989-S (San Francisco) proof penny: 3,220,948 minted — $2+

*Values listed above are for uncirculated and proof 1989 pennies. As previously mentioned, all worn, regular-issue (no error) 1989 and 1989-D pennies are worth face value. 

See What Else Happened When Your 1989 Penny Was Made

1989 was a busy year! While your 1989 Lincoln cent was rolling off the presses at the United States Mint, this is what else was going on:

  • President George Herbert Walker Bush became the 41st President of the United States on January 20, 1989.
  • The Exxon Valdez oil tanker ran aground in Prince William Sound, Alaska on March 24, 1989 — spilling 11 million gallons of oil and creating an environmental nightmare along miles of shoreline.
  • A deadly, 6.9-magnitude earthquake rattled San Francisco and the surrounding areas on October 17, 1989, killing 67 people and causing massive devastation.
  • The Berlin Wall fell in the German capital on November 9, 1989, helping reunite free West Germany and Soviet-governed East Germany.
  • Deadly pro-democratic rallies were held in China’s Tiananmen Square.
  • Top songs in 1989 included “Right Here Waiting” by Richard Marx, “Love Shack” by the B-52s, “Like A Prayer” by Madonna, “Don’t Wanna Lose You” by Gloria Estefan, “Miss You Much” by Janet Jackson, and “Blame It On The Rain” by Milli Vanilli.
  • The most popular movies of 1989 were Batman, Indiana Jones & The Last Crusade, Parenthood, Honey I Shrunk The Kids, Dead Poets Society, and The Little Mermaid.
  • Top-rated TV shows in 1989 included “Seinfeld,” “Cheers,” “The Simpsons,” “Quantum Leap,” “Who’s The Boss?,” “The Cosby Show,” “The Golden Girls,” “Roseanne,” “Full House,” and “Family Matters.”

More Info About 1989 Pennies

In addition to the links I’ve included above, here are some other resources to help you learn more about your 1989 penny value:

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155 thoughts on “Do You Have A Rare 1989 Penny Worth $3,000? Here’s The Scoop On 1989 Pennies & Their Value”

    • Hi, Casey —

      This appears to be light machine doubling. This is actually not an error or die variety per se but rather a result of a late-stage die. I’d hang on to it as some people do pay more for these coins (sometimes a dollar or two), but generally speaking these are not valuable coins.

      Best wishes,
      Josh

      Reply

  4. Hi Joshua,

    I’m happy that I’ve come across your article on 1989 USA Pennies. I’m wondering if I may have one of the rare D pennies. Here are photos of the front and back of the coin. Thoughts?

    Thank you for taking time to read my inquiry and have a look at the photos.

    Myrna De Jesús https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/8291f5bebb2f20dfda6b14e2a8111f4ca8219cbbccdd2b700440ce3f7ede8e2c.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/f4da838a6076c2c3bca74b1bea3982e667a5099edbc40020d7f4c74bd8fedcc6.jpg

    Reply

    • Hello, Myrna!

      We’re happy to hear from you. What would make your 1989-D penny rare is if it was made from a bronze composition instead of zinc-based composition. To tell this, you need to weigh your coin with a gram scale. If it weighs about 3.11 grams it’s likely one of those rare coins and we’d love to hear from you if it checks out.

      Good luck and thanks for reaching out!
      Josh

      Reply

  7. Josh, i got a 2003 penny with numbers 4 and 2 between Lincolns face. What do u think about this coin? And how do i show the picture of the penny in this discussion

    Reply

    • Hi, Joepennies —

      What you have is a regular Lincoln cent that was counterstamped with the numbers “4” and “2” after the coin left the mint. It may have been repurposed as a merchant token or something like that. Some people collect novelty coins like this, and I’ve seen similar modern pieces sell for 50 cents to $1.

      Best wishes,
      Josh

      Reply

    • Hi, Lali —

      The coin would need to be inspected in-hand to rule out the possibility of a copper coating error on the zinc-based planchet. Such plating errors are worth $50-100. However, the vast majority of these pieces — easily 99% — are post-Mint alterations in which the coin’s copper coating was removed by chemicals to reveal the inner, silvery colored zinc core. This is a common school laboratory experiment. If this were the case, it’s worth face value.

      Best wishes,
      Josh

      Reply

  10. Hi Joshua, I have a 1989 P Lincoln cent that is not the best looking coin in my collection, but has multiple issues in my opinion. The coin has a fine die crack on the reverse side from the rim over the A in America to the N in cent. The N in cent has a minor die chip at the top of the N in cent. The G in FG looks like it has a doubling and a small hole next to it. This coin also looks as if some of the columns are doubled. The word cent looks as if it has some doubling as well. Thank you for your time.

    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/0b36da2946fd3f14c82fccdb4f1879cece62094766220389997bf8e9d4fa7fe1.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/66b9f4ee00c223c3cbfd8c2410b4e0898561e566342ad40abef9118cfe493225.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/99bf6959f12f415818e308509bf4fe9e474183fabbd2697c6306e857c9bb9115.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/41118eb30d494100aacbd0d233afceb677569fc7be36aa5f1756583d768a3e19.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/32b50186e0bf37ab059988ac63422024a5805830e18e2096860f11952953a447.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/66b9f4ee00c223c3cbfd8c2410b4e0898561e566342ad40abef9118cfe493225.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/4d7f2efab623d52dea88941ad9ba82958d5c1ea630d34bd5cb39471c2fdaa6ba.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/e4f55d93190679f716f987c55e110c1aa7443439f638dff3edaa9723fe12e044.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/0b36da2946fd3f14c82fccdb4f1879cece62094766220389997bf8e9d4fa7fe1.jpg

    Reply

    • Hi, Paul —

      WOW, that squiggly line is raised? Certainly if so then this is one really nice die break! Definitely worth keeping and possibly worth a nice little chunk of change from the right buyer. Some of the shadowy secondary columns in the Lincoln Memorial design are normal in the design but there may be some light mechanical doubling in there, which isn’t really worth anything extra but a novel curiosity nonetheless.

      Awesome find overall!
      Josh

      Reply

  12. neil i found a 1989 d penny that appears to be silver . on the back the E and S of united states
    are barely legible yet everything else is clear . Another oddity is one side of the edge seems
    normal but the opposite side is quite thinner. Any suggestions

    Reply

    • Hi, Neil —

      Would you please post a couple clear photos of your coin here so I could help further?

      Thank you,
      Josh

      Reply

    • Hi, Joe —

      It’s hard to tell in the photo if it’s raised metal or just a stain. Safely soaking the coin in acetone for a few moments may be able to remove any surface adherents and help answer a lot of questions…

      Best wishes,
      Josh

      Reply

    • Hi, Joe —

      From what I can see in the image you sent, the “U” does appear to be there but it’s very light, consistent with possibly a weak strike. Such a weak strike is not atypical and in most cases does not warrant an extra premium, with this piece worth face value. If the letter was completely missing it would likely have been caused by a grease-filled die, and sometimes such pieces are worth a small amount more. Do keep your eyes peeled for grease-filled errors down the line.

      Best wishes,
      Josh

      Reply

    • Hi, Joe —

      This is a regular 1986-D Lincoln cent with no apparent errors or varieties and is worth face value.

      Best,
      Josh

      Reply

  17. Hi Josh,
    I have a 1989-D Penny my husband found it in pocket change. We did weight it an it is 2.5 so it is not copper. I does have many really interesting things to see. I am sending you a few photos. Hope you are safe, Nadine https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/5bfe4f90809b87ff32d374d8212ab25242919a8760a24e46bbf406f4d001afc6.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/92ae1b798f186ccea50632974752951f34abbcc2cb07d02cc928aaf21283ff67.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/6d8c51bdd7d2559ce2f5b5f18da4afeb824b3bab568d907b03d7d3aef99fa035.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/70a79397cb3d3ba9ee49481a4babfc1c92c6a8dd7ff0d0ff17ce00fb6ad298b8.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/59d5d4bc2da4a9eae4f3e8692ec483e20d49a07b904eafe96c42e0a46ebb9b44.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/a9dd0ffb877fc4ce16bc5084e2c0624d6cd380024cc5d3da01de76fdcedc2227.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/706b609356fb891fd2ed95db9cefbfc6e37f13cf07b38ecbb3a6a588ed1a26bd.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/074d695caf37095b2f25ab83fe049eff7c949cd561c69d983e9d3eb70ce38d56.jpg

    Reply

    • Hi, Nadine —

      While I don’t see any errors or other varieties on this piece it does have some nice highlights from a combination of wear and colorful toning.

      Nice find,
      Josh

      Reply

    • Hi, Eli —

      Congrats on making such a vintage find! Unfortunately due to the cleaning the coin is worth only 2-3 cents now, though thankfully it didn’t lose a lot of value since even original 1941 Lincoln cents in this grade (amount of wear) are worth around 5-10 cents. However, do beware that cleaning coins will virtually ALWAYS reduce their value by 50-60% and sometimes much more. The best collecting tip of the day I can kindly offer is to never clean your coins! 🙂

      All best wishes,
      Josh

      Reply

  19. Hi sir Joshua can you tell us whether it is a copper or has a zinc ? This is 1987 -d and 1990-d one centavo liberty and 1979 one centavo liberty coin and how much are they in the market today ? Pls. Notice me

    Reply

    • Hi, Gerry —

      Your 1979 bronze cent is worth about two cents and your 1987-D and 1990-D zinc-based cents are worth 1 cent each in this condition.

      Thank you for your questions,
      Josh

      Reply

      • Oh .. Alright .. Thanks for the quick response sir josh ! Sir can u give me an idea on how much , if I would sell my 1923-S peace one dollar in an auction house or in a buyer ?please need some tips or idea .. Hope you help me . thanks in advance sir .

        Reply

        • Hi, Gerry —

          It’s a little tough to tell the grade in the photo, but I’m going to put a conservative estimate of around $25 to $30 for value. It could be worth more if the grade is better than it appears to me in the photo. Hope this info helps!

          All the best to you,
          Josh

          Reply

  22. Thank you sir josh , sir final question? Can you suggest a legit auction house that I can sell my old coin ? Any suggestion sir ? I’m from the country Philippines . I’m searching for a buyer or a auction house in US , to sell my old coin .. Hope you can help me sir ? Thank u and may god bless you and your family

    Reply

  23. Hi josh
    I recently read your article on antique coins I live in the UK and were going through some old coins where I found a 1965 1966 and a 1975 dime and a 1989 one cent which weighs over 3 grammes just wondered if they are worth anything

    Best regards Rob

    Reply

    • Hi, Rob —

      Thank you for reaching out; on the U.S. collector scene these pieces are very common and worth face value. However, it’s typical that overseas they may be worth a tad more given their novelty status in regions where these coins are not as commonly encountered, even in circulated condition such as these are.

      I hope this info is helpful!
      Josh

      Reply

  24. Hi josh

    Here are some photos https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/46d159ff4c6056198f98dafa6ce3cbace1b68a30db7f10482eec85cc17f4dde2.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/e64d02b2421d3704edd396b91f43e5f135dae01e9441db1012cda304c1bb36a5.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/bad9e7ce5959ce48faeb2e6524718c637d63836ea659bd641272734c886a6b08.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/b431cec967c58a563c9c2913706f58b6d8c7fb9dec68f3bcd7c3dc13051fdd60.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/3fda4e7bc6ffc4e98b5082996f90d3e729d371fddebdb8f621205b4c81735307.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/18b0dee21665933efbdb3477c3b19dd3aa7794d34f367440c96db4f4692d8b97.jpg

    Reply

  26. hi josh i have a few coins id like your thoughts on thanks for yourr ttime https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/f269638ab1af307c8db79887d96b5540f706ddd27b06f7adbce3090ddc348079.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/217804ca90ebd9c906368258e518ac61e478102a9685a3155683b44ca87a71dc.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/73078d1e0d9600bedc80588656d56ad4eb2d9f5c4756f0666b6e897e6ed61d9e.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/1bd73bdc7ffb823aa8a9063e63bda65588080ca75aa99084de27b68b637b052d.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/41d9136494235600d3ad8ac00af03c20c15a762e95cd0842d93128075b837179.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/601f3e19ccf3daf926a828601ea5812bd0e8d1620b514fe66d77517204e47951.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/25759d1dcb60db265f29e7513b1c5aa8e2bb695b63ad716e174617c7ff8496fb.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/6b4e21bd74838cc7708a8b7d80a1799b913449531b6e4a01e0fa2afc1d39334e.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/f78671e229d7d7281f8a1aad4c92a94a4be0fe440cdd24276676387509afc87c.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/a5c91a62cb7eab3c32e0c4f7661fdc36a3b945834e4e3516025452358eedfce9.jpg

    Reply

  27. Hello,
    Yes I found in my pocket 6 Pennies. When I stacked them together I see one is bigger in diameter then the rest. Curious I looked at it and it’s a 1989 D penny. I’ve searched on the internet and I found that
    The valuable 1989-D copper penny weighs about 3.11 grams
    A normal zinc-based 1989-D penny weigh approximately 2.5 grams
    You can use a coin scale to see what your 1989 penny weighs, or you can try dropping it to listen for the difference:

    Zinc-based pennies will make a dull clicking sound when dropped on a hard surface, such as a table.
    Copper pennies let out a quiet, bell-like ring when hitting hard surfaces.
    So I tried dropping it on a hard surface. Long and behold it let out a quiet, bell-like ring and the other regular Pennie’s had the dull clicking sound. Did I found a $3000 penny?

    Reply

    • Hi, Taavili —

      It’s certainly possible you’ve found a copper 1989 penny, but to really be sure this is what you may have it’s best to weigh it on a properly calibrated scale that provides readouts down to AT LEAST a tenth of a gram.

      I urge you to weigh it on such a scale. If it checks back with a weight of 2.8 to 3.2 grams, please circle back with me here and post photos of the coin on the scale with the readout clearly visible in the image. I could recommend to you what to do next from there.

      Best wishes,
      Josh

      Reply

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