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We get a lot of questions about the following: 1943 wheat penny, 1943 steel penny, 1943 silver penny, 1943 Lincoln penny, 1943 copper penny, and 1943 penny value.
Geesh… I guess you all have a bunch of 1943 pennies in your possession!
I did a little research. What follows are a number of rare pennies you should hold onto if you ever come across them in loose change or coin collections.
Let’s start with the 1943 penny that everyone asks so much about…
1943 Penny
In recent years a “1943 S” (San Francisco Mint) copper coin has gone for about $60,000 dollars at auction. I remember the prices from the P (Philadelphia) mint ranging from around $10,000 many years ago to $73,000 in recent times. There are many counterfeits of this coin. Source
Use a magnet. If the coin sticks to your magnet, the penny is made of steel, so it’s not worth much. If it doesn’t stick, it may be a true copper penny. It may be valuable, depending on its condition and other factors.
Here’s how to tell if a penny is made of copper or zinc.
Did You Know?…
Only forty 1943 copper-alloy cents are known to remain in existence. Coin experts speculate that they were struck by accident when copper-alloy 1-cent blanks remained in the press hopper when production began on the new steel pennies.
– Source
1974 Penny
In 1974, as a test, there were 1,571,167 pennies made of pure aluminum struck (produced) by the U.S. Mint. These were never circulated and most were later destroyed.
– Source
1955 Penny
Sometimes a penny is worth more than a penny. If you think you’re seeing double, save that coin. A 1955 penny has a “double-die date.” In uncirculated condition — not a blemish on it — it’s worth about $27,000. Even in less than perfect condition, it’ll fatten your bank account to the tune of $570.
– Source
1936 Penny
The estimated value of 1936 Lincoln Wheat Penny is worth $0.18 in average condition and can be worth $5.11 to $10 or more in uncirculated (MS+) mint condition. Proof coins can be worth $204 or more.
– Source
1924-S Penny
The estimated value of 1924-S Lincoln Wheat Penny is worth $1.54 in average condition and can be worth $126 to $230 or more in uncirculated (MS+) mint condition.
– Source
1909 Penny
The first Lincoln Penny was struck by the U.S. Mint in 1909 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s birth. It was the first circulating coin to feature a real person instead of the allegorical Lady Liberty. Lincoln cents were minted from 1909 through the present time, and it was the first cent to have the motto “IN GOD WE TRUST”. The Lincoln cent was introduced to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Lincoln’s birthday, and the early pennies 1909 through 1958 were referred to a wheat pennies.
– Source
1877 Penny
The 1877 is considered the most crucial key date of the Indian Head cent series. The coin has demonstrated moderate to strong gains in just about every condition over time frames short and long. In recent years, color quality (B= BROWN, RB= RED-BROWN, R= RED) has become an important value modifier for Indian Head cents and other copper coins.
– Source
1856 Penny
The inaugural small cent, the 1856 Flying Eagle cent had a mintage of only about 2000 (more than half of them were proofs). The addition of an 1856 cent in any acceptable condition is a prudent buy. The coin has seen steady appreciation over the long term, being that an 1856 Flying Eagle cent is “necessary” to complete a small cent collection, but is available only in extremely small quantities. Buy only from reputable sources, as many 1858 Flying Eagles have been altered to appear as 1856.
– Source
1844 Penny
A “Braided Hair Large Cent” was just an everyday penny back in 1844. If it is circulated, it is probably worth between $7 and $80.
– Source
1793 Penny
The most expensive U.S. penny is the 1793 Sheldon NC-1 Chain cent. The chain’s 15 links surrounding the words ONE CENT represent the unity of the 15 colonies extant in the U.S. at the time. Fewer than 2,000 of these expensive pennies survive to this day. Five varieties of the Chain cent were minted before its discontinuation. After Dr. William H. Sheldon (author of Penny Whimsy), these varieties are referred to as Sheldon 1-4 and NC-1. Designated as non-collectible, NC-1 is the rarest of these varieties — only 4 are known to exist today. With an estimated value of $275,000, NC-1 is not only the rarest, but also the most expensive penny.
– Source
1792 Penny
The chocolate-colored penny, the 9th known example of its type, bears the date 1792, an inscription “Parent of Science & Industry: Liberty” and the likeness of a woman’s head representing Miss Liberty.
– Source
How To Find The Value Of Any Penny
Whether you think you have some rare pennies or not, here’s how to find the value of any U.S. penny:
#1 – Check online:
#2 – Check the coin price guide.
More About Rare Pennies
In addition to the links and information about rare pennies that I’ve included above, here are some other resources to help you learn more about your old pennies that might be rare and valuable:
- Wheat Pennies: 7 Rare Pennies That You Should Keep
- The Rare Lincoln-Kennedy Penny
- See What Old Indian Head Pennies Are Worth Today
- Steel Pennies That Are Valuable
- How To Authenticate Silver Pennies
- 43 Of The Most Valuable Pennies That You Should Hold Onto
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Dose any one know about 1972 double stamped penny jason from detroit mi please responed
Hi, Jason —
The 1972 doubled-die Lincoln cent is currently valued at $250-400 in typical uncirculated grades according to the Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS). https://www.pcgs.com/prices/PriceGuideDetail.aspx?MS=1&PR=1&SP=1&c=45&title=Lincoln+Cent
I have a 1978 penny that looks to be silver is there ones made that year I have looked at it with other pennies and they it looks to be real
La Donna,
While the U.S. Mint did strike (though never officially released) aluminum cents in 1974, there were none that I have ever heard of made in 1978. My inclination is to guess that your piece may have been coated in either mercury or perhaps coated in a “silver-colored” metal like pewter, aluminum, steel, silver, etc.
A regular Lincoln cent from 1978 should weigh 3.11 grams. If yours weighs more, than it had to have been coated. Aluminum cents weigh far less.
You might be interested in reading this brief piece on the 1974 Aluminum cent: https://www.bestcoin.com/aluminum-lincoln-cent-penny.htm
i have a 1955 lincoin head cent, i would just like to know how much that is worth.
Jackie,
Your 1955 cent is worth about 2 or 3 cents in circulated grades UNLESS it’s the rare 1955 doubled-die cent, which is actually worth closer to $1,000 and up.
Good luck!
hi i have a 1951 penny how much it is worth
Michael,
Your 1951 Lincoln cent is worth about 3 to 5 cents in circulated grades.
i have a 1928 $50 dollar bill with a green back i would like to know if i should hand onto it and how much it is worth.
Dave,I’m not much of an expert in paper currency, so I had to look this one up… 1928 $50 bills have the following values according to CoinSite https://www.coinsite.com/html/uspapermoneyprices%28sm%29.asp
Green seals: $75 to $100 if circulated, $400 to $500 if uncirculated
Gold seals: $60 to $200 and up if circulated, $250 and up if uncirculated.
HI I HAVE A 1943 PENNY WHAT IS IT WORTH
In typical grades, a 1943 cent is worth 25 cents to $1, Travis.
i have a 1991 penny that appears to have a lamination error, it is partially silver. How do I go about seeing if it is actually a mint error and not just removed with acid or something?
Beaner,
That’s a great question! Unfortunately, I am not well-skilled in the authentication process of error coins. There are many professional error coin experts that can help you with that, though.
If you want to go through the small expenditure, one of the best ways to get a coin authenticated is by a reputable 3rd-party coin grading company.
*Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS)
*Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC)
*American Numismatic Association Certification Service (ANACS)
…These are 3 of the best 3rd-party coin grading services in the field. Each has its own price for coin submission as well as its own set of submission rules.
While I wish I could’ve been able to tell you more, I do hope this helps point you in the right direction!
Good luck.
I have a 1982 silver/lead penny….is it something that was ever made? Can’t find any info on it. thanks
Hi Nancy,
The U.S. was making pennies with a zinc core in 1982 — the first year the Mint did that. It’s possible that the outer copper coating that should be on your coin is missing.
Now, if that was done by being dipped in acid (to remove the copper layer) or is an error (which does happen) is something I can’t unfortunately say. It’s also possible that your coin was dipped in or coated with mercury or another kind of metal. There also are school-type experiments that can be done to make a penny look silver…
In the best-case scenario, your coin is an unplated zinc cent error (that is missing the copper layer). That would be worth up to $100.
The “outside-chance” best-case scenario is that your Lincoln cent was struck on a piece of metal intended for a dime. That would be a coin worth around $300… but your coin would also be smaller than a typical one-cent coin (it would, in fact, be dime size).
However, it is most likely that your coin has been experimented on or has been otherwise altered. That would mean the coin is worth just face value.
The best way to find out for sure is to have your coin authenticated by a third-party coin grading company like the Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS), Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC), or the American Numismatic Association Certification Service (ANACS).
I hope I at least helped provide some possibilities as to what your coin is, though.
I have a year-appropriate penny stamped with the lunar landing. No one I have talked to has heard of one. Can you tell me if it is worth more than a penny?
Hello, Ann —
It sounds like you have a counterstamped coin. That means somebody (after the coin was made at the U.S. Mint) stamped an image on the coin. In your case a company probably took hundreds or thousands of 1969 Lincoln cents, stamped a commemorative image of Apollo 11 on them, and then sold them.
Your coin would be referred to as a “novelty” coin. While I don’t know the market for your specific coin, it may be worth a dollar (more or less) to a novelty coin collector who wants that type of coin.
I have a 1905 penny with a indian chief on the front of it.Can you tell me what it’s face value is in todays market?
Terry,
A 1905 Indian cent has a collector value of about $2 to $5 in usual circulated grades. However, it’s face value is still just one cent… So I think you’ll want to hang onto that one for your collection because you won’t be buying a whole lot with that Indian cent if you spend it shopping!
Hey,I have a 1917 pennie and a 1942 (S) there both copper because they dont stick to magnet im trying to figure out if there worth something pls answer thanks
Hi Jesus,
Your 1917 Lincoln cent is worth about 25 to 50 cents in average circulated grades. The 1942-S is worth about 5 cents.
I have two 1943 steel pennies, i would like to sell but don’t know where to go. Please help
Hello Karen,
The value for your 2 1943 pennies is about 25 cents to $1 each if they are in typical circulated grades. The value goes to about $1.50 each and up if they’re uncirculated.
You can go to a coin dealer to sell them. However, if a trip to a coin dealer is out of the way for you or costs too much in gas and time, you could try and sell them on eBay.
I HAVE A 1908 BARBER DIME AND HAVE NO IDEA OF VALUE.CAN YOU HELP?
Glad to help, Doug!
A 1908 Barber dime has a value of about $2 to $4 in typical worn grades. The value increases to $20 and up with only light amounts of wear.
I have a 1967penny with a small face of what appears to be kennedy stamped on the Lincoln side nose to nose with Lincoln…Would that be something an individual has done ???
Hi Gary,
Yes, a private individual (or company) put that John F. Kennedy profile stamp on your Lincoln cent. As a novelty coin, these pieces are rather common. Here’s some more information on your coin: https://coins.thefuntimesguide.com/lincoln_jfk_kennedy_penny/
I have a 1937 wheatie that looks like a B under the date. Can you tell me anything about this coin?
Hi Lisa,
While it’s perfectly possible somebody inscribed a B under the date (and this would have no value, as it would just be someone’s personal alteration on the coin in that case), it’s likely you may have a 1937-S cent with a blobby mint mark.
If you have a magnifying glass, take a close look at the area just below the date and see if it’s an S. If it is, you have a coin worth about 3 to 10 cents in the various worn grades. If it’s a B, this is, again, just somebody’s personal mark — your coin was not stamped at the U.S. Mint that way.
i have a 1922 wheat back penny it dosent have a mint stamp on it that i can tell and its in ok condition and i also have a 1944 that is the same way can u tell me what their worth?
Hello John,
Let me first reply to the 1944 cent, which is worth about 2 to 5 cents in typical circulated grades.
Now, as for that 1922 cent…
You may have either a 1922 weak-D Lincoln cent or the more elusive (and valuable) 1922 plain cent.
The problem with the 1922 plain cent is that many 1922 cents with a D mint mark (under the date) have been altered to look like the rare 1922 plain cent. This is done by simply removing the mintmark with a grinding tool.
If you can see any obvious traces of the d mint mark, you probably have the 1922 weak-D cent. This is worth around $25 to 50 in lower circulated grades and increases as the coin is in better grades.
A real 1922 plain cent (no d mintmark) is worth about $600 to $750 and up.
If you really can’t see any trace of the d mint mark, it might be worth sending it to a reputable coin certification service like the Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) or the Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC) to have it authenticated and graded.
Good luck!
thank u very much for that advice i also have a 1941 penny and i was wondering if u could answer a question that i had my brother in-law told me last year that the newer buffalo nicles would be worth a lot of money because of the picture of the buffalo showing certain parts and i was wondeing if that were true?
You’re welcome, John.
A 1941 cent, like the 1944 cent, is another common coin worth only about 2 to 5 cents in worn grades…
As for the 2005 Jefferson nickels with the bison design, yes, many people speculate that those coins may be worth something more in the future. As for if that actually happens or not is anyone’s guess, though.
You mention “certain parts”… There are some 2005 bison nickel errors that are worth some money, but I’m not sure if that’s what you’re referring to. Here’s some more info on the popular speared bison nickel error: https://www.coinresource.com/news/news2005/Speared_Buffalo_Nickel_2005.htm
It’s true that many people like the 2005 bison nickels because they hearken back to the beloved and popular Buffalo nickels with the Native American head on the obverse; these were made from 1913 to 1938 and haven’t been regularly seen in circulation for decades now.
While I don’t formally offer investment advice (and you should always enter into coin investment advice at your own risk anyway), I do suggest that if you’re going to save 2005 bison nickels that you hang onto uncirculated (mint condition) specimens. These are the coins that may give you the best return for your money in the future. You can buy uncirculated 2005 bison nickels in bags or rolls and are currently available from many coin dealers.
I hope this answers your question!
I have most of the 1940’s penny,,but not a 1943 s,,,I do have a 1944 s,,is it worth anything?
Smoothy,
A 1944-S is worth about 2 to 5 cents in typical circulated grades.
Good luck in getting that 1943-S cent — it’ll turn up for you sometime, somehow, I’m sure!
thanks for the info,,,if it wouldn’t be any trouble,,,could you give me a list of pennys to look out for? If not,,thanks for you time anyway sir…
I have a 1929 wheat back penny with no mint letter, just the date 1929. Worth anything?
Mona,
Yes, it’s worth a little more than face value at about 5 to 10 cents in typical circulated grades.
hello, i have a 1920 penny with no stamp. worth anything?
hello i have a 1964 silver penney had it checked to if it is and it is what is it worth? I’ve been told it’s very rare and expensive ,how much is it worth for real
Warjuan,
If you have an authentic 1964 cent struck on the metal round (planchet) for a silver dime, the value of your coin may be as high as $1,000 or even more.
If you have a cent that was plated with silver or covered in mercury (or something else) to make it look silver in color, your coin would unfortunately be worthless.
If you think you may have a coin that appears to have the Lincoln cent design stamped onto the metal for a silver dime, I then strongly recommend you have your coin authenticated by a reputable coin grading firm like the Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) or the Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC) to verify that you really do have such an error and not simply a coin that was plated with mercury or silver.
Good luck!
You’re welcome, Smoothy! Always happy to help.
You will want to check out these two articles; one discusses the rarest Lincoln wheat cents, the other lists out the scarce (but not really rare) Lincoln cents.
7 Rare Lincoln Cents: https://coins.thefuntimesguide.com/rare_wheat_pennies/
Lincoln Semi-Key Coins: https://coins.thefuntimesguide.com/lincoln_semi_key_coins/
hI I HAVE A 1821 DIME AND CAN’T SEE A MINT MARK IS IT WORTH ANYTHING
My name is Jim, can somebody please tell me what a doubled sided wheat penny is worth.
Hi Jim,
Actually, such double-sided coins are virtually always intentionally made by private individuals as novelty coins. Assuming such is the case with your coin, it’s likely worth a couple dollars to people who collect such coins.
I have two wheat pennies with no mint stamp and I am unsure of the value. The dates are 1939 and 1945. What are the values?
Hi Augusta,
Your 1939 and 1945 Lincoln cents are made in Philadelphia (because they have no mint mark, and one-cent coins don’t have a P mint mark). Assuming usual wear and no damage, each of your coins is worth between 3 cents and 10 cents.
hi,
i have a 1941 penny that is silver, does anyone know how much it is?
Hi Wonderperson,
The U.S. Mint didn’t strike 1941 Lincoln cents in anything but the usual bronze format, so your coin was plated or coated in something.
Mercury is commonly used in coating pennies to look that way, and it’s quite possible zinc, pewter, or silver were also used to achieve that effect. In any respect, your coin unfortunately has no value to most collectors because it’s deemed as altered.
i have 1 to, wierd m wt 3.1 mag,, barely moves it jack
hi, I came across several rare coins and was wondering if they are of any value. The first one is a large penny dated 1819 copper with a man wearing a Liberty headband. The second is a regular size copper penny dated 1864 with an indian with feathers on his head. The third is regular size copper penny, very worn I think the date is 1868 looks like a flying eagle. The first dime is dated 1914, has a D on the back, on the head side the head has a ribbon coming off the nape of the neck and spikes at the top front of the head. The second dime is dated 1866 the back has III in Roman numerals. The third dime much smaller dated 1857 and has an O on the back and reads half dime. There is also a coin that I believe to be a quarter because of the larger size although it does not state a denomination anywhere on the coin, dated 1883 and has a Roman numeral V on the back. Thanks for your assistance.
Hi, Flkeyesgirl —
What a nice coin collection! Before I list out the approximate values of your coins, please know that the prices here are are averages for coins that are not damaged (cleaned, bent, corroded, holed, etc.) and in at least the collector grade known as Good — much wear but the most basic element of the design, like the design profile, maybe one or two major aspects of detail, and most and all the lettering and date are intact.
All these prices come from the 2010 Guide Book of United States Coins. These are retail prices. Coin dealers, however, tend to pay between 50% to 75% of these prices.
*1819 Matron Head Large Cent $20 and up.
*1858 Flying Eagle Cent (none were made in 1868) $28 and up
*1864 Indian Head Cent $20 and up for the 4.67-gram version and $12 and up for the 3.11-gram cent (weighs as much as virtually all 1909-1981 Lincoln cents)
*The coin dated 1866 with the Roman numeral III is actually a 3-cent piece! That’s worth $18 and up.
*1857 Seated Liberty Half Dime is worth $18 and up.
*1883 No-Cents Liberty Nickel is $6 and up.
*1914-D Barber Dime is worth $2.50 and up.
Here’s some more info on that 3-cent piece if you’re interested in learning more about what coin collectors call odd denomination coins: https://coins.thefuntimesguide.com/two_cent_three_cent_pennies/
hi i have a 1919 penny but iam unsure what marking it needs to have and how to find out if it worth anything could you please help me.
Hi Jane,
All 1919 Lincoln cents, regardless is they have the D mintmark (Denver), S mintmark (San Francisco), or no mintmark (Philadelphia) are very common and worth about 10 cents to $1 in typical circulated grades.
I have a 1919 wheat cent with no s in trust is that normal?
Catherine,
It’s the likely case that your 1919 cent was weakly struck and the S in IN GOD WE TRUST either wasn’t struck at all or is there but just so weak it really can’t be seen. I have come across many early Lincoln cents where the L in LIBERTY is barely visible because, again, of a weak strike.
The value of such a piece is often a bit lower than on a coin where all the lettering is visible. If someone for whatever reason scraped the S off your coin, that would make it worth even less.
The value of a typical 1919 Lincoln cent in typical circulated grades is between 10 cents and $1.
anyone know anything about democratic coins? I have one that says vote democrat 1956
Hi Suzy,
I am not well-heeled in political tokens, but I do know there IS quite a market for them. I do urge you to do a Google search on ‘political tokens’ and see if you can find a photo of your piece. Hopefully you can find your token online, a story about its origin, and maybe even some values.
Good luck!
I have a 1959D Wheat penny that was struck on one side and is blank on the other.You think it might be worth something?
Hi, Ernie —
I’ve heard of accounts of 1959-D wheat cents. They are extremely rare and, it’s suggested that no more than just one or two exist.
You’ll be interested in reading these two articles for more info on the coin:
https://www.coinfacts.com/small_cents/lincoln_cents/wheat_ear_cents/1959d_one_cent_wheat_ears.htm
https://www.scvhistory.com/scvhistory/signal/coins/sg020406-coins.htm
I have a penny that only 1/2/stamped on both sides. i don’t know what year it is but i think it’s a 2001. also have a penny that only the copper shell is left to it. just wondering if they were worth anything or should i just get rid of them.
George,
Be sure to hang on to your off-center penny! It’s worth something — in the case of yours, it should have a value of around $10 (more or less). By the way, off-center strikes tend to have more value if they show a date (like yours). Also, the more off-center the strike, the more value the coin has (generally speaking).
Hi, I have large coin that says 1893 half penny. I can not find anything refering to it can you tell me were to,look to find information on it.
Hello Debra,
Because the last U.S. half cent was made in 1857, I would believe your coin to be of British origin. Does it have a portrait of a woman with a drapery over the back of her head? If so, that’s Queen Victoria.
British half penny of this era in circulated grades are generally worth between $3 to about $10 or so. However, if yours is in only lightly worn grades or better, it can be worth $20 or more.
I hope this helps!
hi i am a young coin coltor and i have a 1941 nickel and a 1945 wheat penny i was wonder are the whorth anything? reply if you konw or kind of konw ok
Hi, Brucetom —
I was also a young kid when I started, too!
As for your 1941 nickel and 1945 Lincoln wheat cent, they are worth only about twice to three times their face value. Why? Because even though they are quite old, they are also very common coins, too.
I hope you’re enjoying coin collecting! It’s a fun hobby that I’ve enjoyed for a long time now. And don’t forget to always check your change!
If I were to find one of these pennies, the 1943 that sticks to a magnet,
Who do I let know and how can I turn it in in exchange for the money?
Thank you
Hi Michel,
A 1943 penny that sticks to a magnet (a regular 1943 steel cent) is worth about 15 to 50 cents in typical circulated grades. Because the face value of the coin is still 1 cent, you would get only that amount for it if you exchanged it as currency at a bank or store.
If you do want to try and make those few extra cents off it, you could sell it to a coin dealer or sell it online at eBay.
hey..
i have one of does 1943 silver pennies..
well actually i have 3 of them..
and they all stocked to the magnet…
how can i get all that amount of money..
but how come is only 15 to 50 cent of value…?
Hi, Jose —
Great job on finding the 1943 steel cents! I know, they really are unusual and quite difficult to find in circulation. However, the reason their value (if worn) is under $1 is that these coins are, in population, quite common. In fact, over 1 billion 1943 steel cents were made, when considering the P, D, and S mintmarks as a group.
Therefore, there are plenty of these coins to go around. The 15 to 50 cent value is what you might expect to get if you sold them to a coin dealer, though you’ll find it costs a bit more that that to buy them from a coin dealer.
1943 steel cents have to be in uncirculated (Mint State) grades to be valued at prices closer to $2 and up.
i heard taht it was worth only 12 to 15 cents is this true??????
Hi Tyler,
Yes, it’s true that a well-circulated 1943 steel cent can be worth as little as 10 to 15 cents. Many are worth 25 cents to $1, if only typical to light wear is present. Uncirculated examples are valued closer to $2 to $5.
IF, IF(!) you have an authentic 1943 copper cent (only about 40 exist), it could be worth over $80,000.
I have several coins that were given to me by my uncle on each birthday/Christmas as I was growing up. Who can I contact about their value? I live in Central Texas.
Hi, Primetimemom –
You could go to a local coin dealer (not a pawn shop or jeweler) to get your coins appraised.
Or, if you would like, I could give you a rough estimate on here provided I can have some descriptions of the coins (date, denomination, etc.) The values I can give though are sight-unseen, so I will be assuming typical grades (wear) and condition.
I have a “WORLD WAR II EMERGENCY COINAGE COLLECTION” in a frame w/a replica of the “IWO JIMA” memorial on it. There are 3-1943 steel pennies, w/the “BIGGER THREE” on them, 1 w/no mint, 1 w/ a D & 1- w/an S, 11-nickles ranging from 1942 to 1945, 3-1944, 3-1945 & 3-1946 “SHELLCASE COPPER CENT” pennies. Don’t know much about coins but don’t know where to take them afraid to not be told what the real value (if any!) is. can u help me? Thank u, JO
Hello, Jo —
Many companies have assembled sets like yours featuring the 1943 steel cents, the ‘wartime’ silver nickels, and such, but yours — while not worth very much money — is one of the nicest I have seen. Let me break down the value of your set.
The 1943 steel cents are worth around 25 cents to about $1 apiece. The D mintmark stands for Denver, the S for San Frnacisco, and the Lincoln cent without a letter is from Philadelphia. All 1943 steel cents have that large “3” — that was simply the style of the “3” for that year.
Your shellcase cents, made from 1944 through 1946 were actually made from spent cartridge cases that were collected and melted down to make new Lincoln cents. While these aren’t of any particular value more than other Lincoln cents, they do have that interesting backstory. In circulated grades, each is worth around 3 to 5 cents, though if in uncirculated grades they’re worth closer to 35 to 50 cents each.
The 1942 through 1945 nickels actually are each 35% silver and have bullion value just from that standpoint. If worn, they could each sell to a coin dealer for 75 cents to $1 each (with present the silver prices), though more if they are uncirculated.
Overall, I would put a low-end value on such a set at $10, though this is a sight-unseen quote. Clearly, if all those coins are uncirculated, or — better yet — in high-level uncirculated grades, the set could easily bring $50 or more.
Because I can’t see the coins, I can’t say for certain what you would get, but I hope my ballpark range here gives you a better idea as to a low-end and high-end value for your set should you sell it.
A little advice for you — please go to a coin dealer to sell your coins. They know more about coins and will give you a higher price for them than a pawn shop or jeweler.
Thank You So Much. I have alot of old coins, but don’t know much about them. I just don’t want to be taken advantage of. I have a half dime, three cent piece, a large penny & a whole lot more. Silver half dollars that have never been touched except w/gloves. I don’t know how to actually find a coin dealer. Any advice? I would really appreciate it.
Thank You Jo
Hi Jo,
You’re quite welcome — I understand. There are so many good coin dealers out there. If you’re not familiar with coin dealers, I recommend checking out the list of coin dealers available at the Professional Numismatists Guild — these are among the best coin dealers available and you should be fine with any of those on this list.
Here’s the link to the main coin dealer search page: https://www.pngdealers.com/dealersearch.php
All the best!
That was my question in the beginning.
How do I know my penny is or is not one of the authentic 1943 pennies that are worth $80 thousand dollars???
My penny does not have a mark on it where it was made (the P or S on the face)
It sticks to a magnet and is silver color if i wash it.
Michel,
If your 1943 penny sticks to a magnet, then it’s made of steel and is a common coin worth anywhere from about 25 cents up to about $1, more or less (based on grade).
Authentic copper 1943 Lincoln cents won’t stick to a magnet. Beyond that, there are several other indications of authenticity a collector will look for, including making sure the 1943 copper coin is not simply a 1948 penny (for example) that has been manipulated to look like a 1943 copper cent. There is also the concern of die-cast forgeries. But that’s all stuff you worry about only after finding a 1943 cent that doesn’t stick to a magnet(!)
Josh,
You said that coin experts will make sure the 1943 penny is not just a 1948 penny in disguise. But can this be reversed? Like if I have a 1948 penny and the number 8 looks funny, is there any possibility that it could have been made in 1943 but was later on changed to a 1948? Thanks.
Hi, Greg —
As far as a 1943 penny being made to look like a 1948 cent, that would be extremely difficult to do on an otherwise-genuine Lincoln cent and would have absolutely no incentive value for the forger because the 1948 is such a common coin — it’s worth only 2 to 5 cent in well-worn grades, up to about $1 in typical uncirculated grades.
In the counterfeiter’s mind, it would be well worth the effort to shave away the left part of the “8” to make what looks like a “3” and then pass it off to the unassuming as a rare 1943 copper cent worth tens of thousands. However, it would take considerably more effort to shore up enough metal out of the field of the coin to make an “8” out of the “3” and then try and pass it off as a common 1948 cent.
In that scenario, also, as one would need a 1943 copper cent to change it into a typical-looking bronze 1948 cent — that means defacing a valuable numismatic rarity to pass it off (illegally) as a coin worth 5 cents.
SO, is it possible? Extremely unlikely for so many reasons, but yes — theoretically it’s possible(!)
As for a 1948 penny first being made in 1943, that wasn’t ever the case at the U.S. Mint, but have you ever heard of overdates? Those are coins which originally bore one date before the United States Mint literally stamped a new year on the die! The 1942/1 Mercury dime is an example of an overdate — such pieces are genuine U.S. Mint coins and rather sought-after by some coin collectors.
If it sticks to the magnet then its a common penny, and is only worth 25 cents. to $1
if however its a copper Penny that DOSENT stick to the magnet u have an authentic 1943 copper, which is worth $80,000+
The video on the page shows a silver (or steel) penny and it says it’s worth $85,000. I have three of the same penny. How do I tell if they’re worth anything? I have the S version, P version, and D versions.
Thank you.
Hi, Greg —
The steel cent actually is the common type of 1943 penny. Those are worth less than $1 if circulated. Yours are worth about the same — 25 cents to $1 on average if worn (a tad more if uncirculated).
The copper 1943 cent, of which only about 40 are known to exist, is the $80,000-plus 1943 cent.
Hello,
I found a silver looking 1944-P penny the other day. I know it’s not a steel, because it won’t stick to a magnet. However, it feels lighter than other 1944 pennies I have. Is there any value to this, or is it just a fake 1944 steel?
Thanks!
Matt
I need to know about 1929 pennyies
Hi, Duvaled —
Except for any errors which may be floating around, no 1929 Lincoln cents are particularly rare or scarce unless they are in well-preserved mint-state grades. Typical well-circulated 1929 cents from any of the three mints are worth under $1.
I think I might have a 1943 S Weat Penny what is it worth.
Hi, Elizabeth —
A typical 1943-S steel wheat cent is worth 25 cents to $1, depending on how much wear it has.
My boyfriend found a 1943 penny. Its silver but we have to check it with the magnent test hopefully its real. keep your fingers crossed
Good luck, Bianca! If it sticks to a magnet, it’s a real 1943 steel cent worth between 20 cents to $1.
is a 1982 -d penny rare??
Hi, spolly —
A 1982-D penny is a very common coin with over 6 billion made across the different varieties of that year!
i have a 1773 a rare coin well it a penny and i want to sell it what should i do?
Faith,
If you have any coins you want to sell, I recommend visiting a coin dealer. Most large cities have at least a few. You could also sell your coin on eBay, though you’ll have to deal with seller’s fees and making sure you ship the coin promptly after receiving payment.
Good luck!
I work at a Casino I see a lot of old coins I recently obtained two 1943-S minted steel zinc coated pennies they past the magnetic test & I would like to know how to sale them at Auction or anyone who would be of interest….!!!! Thank you…!!!!
Charlina,
Hello; great finds! 1943-S steel cents are the most common type of 1943 cent. It’s the rare copper variety that is worth so much money — and copper coins do not stick to magnets.
If you’re still interested in selling your 1943 cents, which have a value of about 20 cents to $1 each, you could always sell them to a coin dealer or try to list them on eBay.
I have many pennies that have different states on them. What are they worth?
Hi, KD —
These pennies date from around the 1970s (most I have heard about date from 1974 through 1981) and were made by some private company or entity. While the pennies are real, U.S. Mint-made coins, the state designs on them are not from the mint.
These coins are worth from around 25 cents to about $1 each. I have only heard of one person on here who has actually completed a set of 50. I don’t know the exact price of a complete set, but I imagine this would easily sell for $20 to $30 to an interested novelty coin collector of novelty coin dealer.
Where can I find a site that can give me prices on old coins without having to pay a fee? It would be nice for the site to have pictures of each coin.
KD,
One of the best (and free) coin price sites I like is from the Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS): https://www.pcgs.com/prices/default.aspx
hi a have a white penny 1943 that floats on water were can i learn more about the penny and if it is worth something?
Brenda,
Thanks for your question. Your 1943 steel cent is worth about 20 cents to $1, depending on how much wear it has. To find out more about 1943 steel cents, you can check out this article: https://coins.thefuntimesguide.com/1943_lincoln_cent/
I just found a 2006 Canadian penny that has a silver rim on it. Does anyone know anything about it or is it just a minting mistake?
Linda,
As Canadian cents are now mainly comprised of steel, you may be seeing some of the steel that has been exposed as a result of the outer copper plating having been worn off.
No, it is a definite steel ring on the outside and copper on the inside.
Must be a fluke or something.
Hi, Linda —
Oh, I thought maybe from the description it was the copper plating getting worn at the edges. It sounds like somebody had placed the penny into a coin jewelry ring. That wouldn’t add any value to your coin, per se.
Thanks for your question!
Hello, I have a GEORGIVS VI D:G:BR:OMN:REX FIDEI DEF. R penny from 1946. Do you have any idea how much it is worth?
Anne,
Such a piece is relatively common and worth about 10 to 20 cents in typical, circulated grades.
I have an 1884 dime with a “custom” reverse side. I cannot find it in any books. Any suggestions?
Try wikipedia. I looked onlline for you but didn’t see anything. sorry.
Hi Gary,
If you can’t seem to place the design on the reverse of your coin, it’s quite possible somebody altered the design on their own. In such cases, altered coins normally are regarded as novelty coins and tend to have a lower value than a coin without altered surfaces.
One of the few exceptions to such a case would be Hobo nickels, which are Buffalo nickels that have had portraits carved into the coin. Hobo nickels actually have a following of coin collectors who pay more for these coins than they would have for regular, unaltered Buffalo nickels: https://coins.thefuntimesguide.com/hobo_nickel/
I have a 1943 D uncirculated 2.70 grams 19mm Steel coated w/zink Galvinized penny that my Dad left to me. I was curious about the value of this coin. I did the magnet test and yes it does stick to the magnet. Can you give me any info on this? Thank you for any of your help.
Hi, James —
What you have sounds like a very nice example of a typical 1943-D steel cent. The fact that it sticks to a magnet is normal for a steel cent. The magnet test is mentioned with 1943 cents because those that DON’T stick to magnets (and don’t appear to be made of steel and/or have an apparent zinc outer coating) may be one of the rare 1943 copper cents worth tens of thousands of dollars!
i have a 1958 penny and it has metal every where on the front it is messed op by the shape and the metal pushing it too the side if you can help me and tell me if this is something i should keep please tell me.
Hi, Josh —
Without seeing the coin I can’t say for certain. There are some planchet and minting errors that would cause some misshapen appearances.
However, the metal distortion you seem to indicate would lead me to believe your coin is simply a victim of more than 50 years of heavy service and abuse in circulation.
I found a 1942 penny on the front it has a lincoln head and on the back insted of the hous it says one cent and wheat on both sides of the one cent.
Hi, Yuriy —
What you have is a 1942 Lincoln wheat cent. Though now old, these are still quite common and worth about 3 to 5 cents in worn grades.
i have a 1975 penny with the date 12/31/1974 stamped on top of the 1975 just wondering if it’s worth anything
Hi, Tony —
You’re now the second person I’ve heard of with this coin(!) It’s a real Lincoln cent, but because of the 12/31/1974 date, which is something somebody outside the U.S. Mint did, it would generally be considered a novelty coin. As for value, it may be worth 50 cents to a dollar or so to an interested individual.
I JUST FOUND A 1907 PENNY WITH AND INDIAN HEAD. IS THIS WORTH KEEPING??
Yes, Matthew — definitely keep your 1907 Indian Head cent. Indian Head pennies are very popular collectibles, and in well-preserved grades can be worth quite a bit.
If yours is typical, it’s well worn. As long as it’s not damaged, corroded, or cleaned, it’s worth at least $2 to $3!
what about a 1971 new penny with the numeral 1
Hi, Danny —
Without seeing the coin or knowing where he numeral seems to be appearing, I can’t say much. however, if the numeral is stamped anywhere on the coin and the date ‘1971’ looks normal, then somebody simply placed that numeral on the coin and it therefore has no special value.
I have a question. I work at a bank and I found a penny that is dated 1985 and there is a “B” engraved on the right side of face of the penny. Is this something that may have value or did someone just possibly engraved the B on it themselves?
Good call, Katie — yes, that’s something somebody added onto the coin after it was made. Unfortunately that has no extra collector value… but it may be special to somebody who has a ‘B’ for an initial!
Hi my name is JoAnn, I have a penny that does not stick to a magnet that has a picture of Lincoln dated 2009 and a picture of a log cabin with the date 1809 and has two lil numbers or letters on the left and the right side and says ONE CENT on the bottom…..
I also have a strange looking Nickel with 2005 on the front and a Buffalo on the back I am just curious to know what I have here…
Hi, JoAnn —
The 2009 Lincoln cent isn’t supposed to stick a magnet; your log cabin penny is part of a 4-design series of Lincoln cents honoring the 200th anniversary of his birth. The log cabin represents where Lincoln was born and spent the early years of his life.
The 2005 Jefferson nickel with the bison is part of a commemorative series honoring the 200th anniversary of the Lewis and Clark expedition.
Both your coins are common and worth just face value if worn, but they are neat coins to have and are quite popular with coin collectors!
Hi I have 1955 penny that has letter D under the date. and 1919 penny
Thanks for your question, Roxy —
Your 1955-D penny is worth 2 to 5 cents, and your 1919 cent is worth around 15 cents.
I have a 1943 pennies 5 of them how much are they i’ll sell to of them if any one wants to buy it!!
Hi, Braxton,
Each of your 1943 pennies is worth 25 cents to 75 cents each as long as they are not damaged and not rusting.
Hi,
My name is Jada. I have a 1961 penny and 1974 penny. The 1961 is pretty worn. But the other isn’t. I was wondering if they would be worth anything? They look pretty normal.
Hi, Jada —
Despite their ages, both your 1961 and 1974 penny aren’t worth more than face value simply because they are so common.
However, I do urge you to keep checking your pocket change for coins. If you can find any pennies made before 1959 or those of any date which have any part of the design doubled, be sure to hang onto them. They can be worth more than face value! Good luck.
Hi I have a1957D penny with a G stamped into the head
Hi, Jacob —
The ‘G’ was stamped by somebody outside the U.S. Mint. As such, your coin essentially has no monetary value to coin collectors. Even without the stamp, a 1957-D cent that is worn is worth 2 to 3 cents.
I have a 1943 steel penny. I am looking for a way to auction or sell this. Any information would be appreciated.
Hi, Elizabeth —
A typical 1943 steel cent is worth 25 cents to $1. If you’re interested in selling it, you might want to try selling it on eBay or selling it to a coin dealer.
I have two 1943 steel wheat pennies one has no mint mark the other has an S mint mark. I may be interested in selling.
Hi, Bobby —
Both of your 1943 steel cents are worth 25 cents to $1 each if they are in typical, worn grades and without damage. You’ll want to try eBay or a coin dealer if you’d like to sell your coins.
I have a 1974 Lincoln copper penny with John F. Kennedy facing Lincoln the folder it’s in
calls it the Lincoln-kennedy penny. is it worth anything?
Hi, WM —
Your 1974 Lincoln-Kennedy penny has value as a novelty coin. I’ve seen such pieces sell for $2 to $5 with the packaging intact. You can find out more about your coin here: https://coins.thefuntimesguide.com/lincoln_kennedy/
i have 3 1943 pennies two with d and one with s i will sell
I have a 1943 steel penny that sticks on magnet i want to see if anyone knows the value and it has an “S” on it also thanx
Hi, Miguel —
Yes, I can tell you the value — your 1943-S steel cent is worth 25 cents to $1.
i have a 1974 penny with out a series marking i would like to know if its worth anything.
Hi, Princess Dani Beach —
Any 1974 penny without a mintmark (the letter under the date) is a common Philadelphia issue and, if worn, it’s worth only face value.
I have a 1965 silver penny is it worth anything
Hi, Marted —
No, it sounds like your coin was chemically altered and thus has no extra value above face.
I have what appears to be a copper 1941 penny worth anything
Hi, Stephen —
Your 1941 cent is worth about 3 to 5 cents.
i have what appears to be a cooper 1917 and 1935 penny what it`s worth?
FXS,
Hello; both pieces are worth around 5 to 10 cents each in typical worn grades.
i have a 1943 copper alloy cent some guy gave me it for 5 dollars then i went to a coin place and he told me that i have a 1943 copper alloy cent but i wonder if its one of the 40 r if its the 41nown to man i want to know how much it is for sale 1500.00 us money
i have a 1943 SILVER PENNY!!!! I’M RICH (AT LEAST CLOSE ENOUGH)!! @_@
i have some wheatfive penny errors one is a stripped head
two is a pelled penny
three is a capped or rassed rim
four is a part of the head is doubled
five is a blank
I have a 1929 penny it worth anything?
Yes, John — your coin is worth about 5 to 10 cents.
i have a 1943 d wheat penny 1944 1919 an a 1951 s all wheat penny any good value
Hi, A –The wheat pennies you listed — except for the 1943-D — are each worth about 3 to 5 cents. The 1943-D steel cent has a value closer to 25 cents or so. Maybe not a lot of money but worth more than face value!
I have a 1955 penny, but it isn’t a “double die date”. How much money is it worth?
Hello, Peter –
Your regular 1955 Lincoln cent has a value of about 2 to 3 cents in worn grades… Still a nice example of a Lincoln wheat ear cent, though!
I have 1 1943 (steel) penny, 1 1943-S (steel) penny and 1 1943-D (steel) penny.
How much are they worth
Hi, Debbie —
Your coins are worth around 20 to 25 cents apiece. How nice that you have a complete set of 1943 steel cents!
i have a 1936 penny in real good shape. whats it worth?
Hi, Rooney —
Your 1936 penny is worth 5 to 10 cents.
i have a 1989 silver penny i think it was a misprint
Thugyangel,
Thanks for your question! Yours is likely a coin that was chemically altered in what has become a common science experiment often conducted by school kids. While these coins may look special, they’re actually worth only face value.
i have one of 1943 penny call if want 7064953732
Hi, Ven,
I have a 1959 abraham linkcoln silver penny could u tell anything about it and is it worth alot of money;
Hi, Arven —
Because the coin you have was likely chemically altered or plated (and not from by the U.S. Mint) your coin is worth at most face value. In fact, there’s a chance mercury was used to coat your coin. I really would be careful touching it…
dose a 1969 s penny worth anything
Hi, Robert —
A proof 1969 penny is worth about $1 to $2. However, despite being hard to find in circulation, worn 1969-S Lincoln cents are worth only face value.
There is the 1969-S doubled die penny that is quite rare and worth thousands. Check out more about it here: https://coins.thefuntimesguide.com/memorial_penny/
I recently went through my penny jar and came across a 1974 American one cent coin. I was shock to see what turned up after looking online for Rare coins and seeing the Aluminum Penny story on Wikipedia… My question is, was there an alternate Coin struck for 1974 that was Circulated or do i Posses one of the Coins that was never circulated and destroyed?
Hi, Work —
While it’s possible (but extremely unlikely) you have an aluminum 1974 cent, it’s quite probable you have a regular 1974 cent that was plated or chemically altered to look like the aluminum penny of 1974. If that’s the case, the coin is worth nothing more than face.
I have a pure silver 1920 half crown, what would that be worth? also i have a couple 1915 and 1916 pennies
Hi, Justin —
The half crown is actually 50% silver, and has a value of about $3 to $5 in typical worn grades.
Are the pennies British or from the U.S.? British pennies from 1915 and 1916 can sell for $5 in mid-level grades… 1915 and 1916 Lincoln cents are worth about 25 cents to $1 in low-to-mid level worn grades.
Hello, I have a large copper 1931 Penny
It’s really differnt looking. Not sure if it’s from America.
Carla Elliott
832-588-4302
carlapearland@aol.com
Carla,
It may be a British penny — they can be nearly as large as a U.S. half dollar coin! If that’s what you have, its value is somewhere around $2 to $5 in worn grades.
what is the value of a 1936 wheat penny and 1955 wheat penny?
i have about 5 1943 steel pennies, are they worth anything at all? and is a 1945 wheat copper penny worth anything?
Hi, Jon —
Yes, your 1943 steel pennies and 1945 wheat cent are worth more than face value; the only thing is that neither type of coin is rare or highly valuable.
Each of your 1943 cents is worth at least 20 to 25 cents each if they’re in typical worn grades without any damage or corrosion. Your 1945 wheat cent is worth 3 to 5 cents.
oh really so they aren’t worth that much? so why does it say then that the 1943-S steel penny ranges about $60,000
Because that price quote is referring to the copper 1943-S penny, which is a highly rare piece. Regular 1943-S steel cents are worth less than $1 if circulated.
I have an american penny that is a mystery to say the least… It is minted in the 70’s and has the Liberty bell stamped in it above the word liberty and a outline of the United States above the date. I have shown this coin to a jeweller and he stated there is no other way then it was minted like this, as a prank by someone in the mint or a professional. He stated it may have some other meaning to it. I found this penny when I was a teenager in 1986 and something told me always to hang onto it.
Hi, Jason —
Though I haven’t seen any myself, I know many Lincoln pennies have been stamped with the Liberty Bell image. A company or private mint likely placed the image on these coins as a promotion of some sort. Your coin is therefore a novelty coin and likely has some value (maybe 50 cents to $1) to coin collectors who specialize in novelty coins.
Hello there, I have one penny dated 1974… it’s in good shape worth anything?
Hi, Manny —
Your 1974 penny has extra collector value if it’s either a proof version (with mirror-like surfaces) or is uncirculated (has no wear whatsoever). Otherwise, it’s worth face value.
Hello…I have just found a 1883 Indian Head penny in my garden…How much would you say it is worth ?
Wow, Tom —
That’s an amazing discovery! 1883 Indian Head cents are usually worth around $2 to $5 in the typical worn grades. One issue with yours may be corrosion or discoloration from being outdoors, but it would still be worth 50 cents to $1 or so even with the corrosion.
Keep gardening… maybe you’ll find more!!
i have a 1945 one cent pennyand a 1955 should i hang onto them
Yes, John — while your 1945 and 1955 one-cent coins aren’t worth much money (only 3 to 5 cents each) they are older coins that are getting very difficult to find in circulation.
Question Has anyone ever seen a 1963 penny that appears as if Lincoln is smoking a pipe?
Hi, Cindy —
I’ve never seen one myself, but I can tell you the coin you have was altered after it left the U.S. Mint!
While your smoking Lincoln penny may have no numismatic value, it may be of interest to novelty coin collectors. And, indeed, when was the last time you saw a person on a coin smoking?!
I was going through some boxes today and found an old pill bottle filled with pennies from the 40’s and 50’s. There was a 1925 coin as well. I believe I have found a 1912 coin. There are many different coins in this collection. I would say there are around a 100 or so of these coins.
Hi, Chris —
Pill bottles were among the more common ways of storing large amounts of coins decades ago.
Personally, I would double check all the coins for dates and hang onto them. As long as they’re all from before 1959, each is worth more than face value.
For example:
*Your 1925 is worth 10 cents or more.
*A 1912 Lincoln cent is easily worth 25 to 50 cents or more.
I found a box of about 1,000 pennys and it has every date going back to 1909
Hi, Bob —
You’ll want to check out these posts to find out which, if any, of your pennies are scarce and valuable:
7 Rare Wheat Cents: https://coins.thefuntimesguide.com/rare_wheat_pennies/
Semi-Key Lincoln Cents: https://coins.thefuntimesguide.com/lincoln_semi_key_coins/
Valuable Lincoln Memorial Cents: https://coins.thefuntimesguide.com/lincoln_penny/
Good luck!
I have a question about a quarter. the reason i am asking on this wesite is because i found a jar of about 100 of my dads wheat pennnies that he has collected throught the years ,and i used this site. I went throught them all and sure enough none of them were worth anything big really. But after i was done with the pennies i started looking through 150 dollars worth of quarters and came across a few interesting quarters that i have a few questions about the value of them.
I found a few bicentenial quarters and although they are common i was still wondering if they were worth more than their face value more than the face value. the second coin i found was a 1992 quarter that had a noticibley fatter outer rim than other quarters. I was wondering if this was rare or not or if you know of any design flaws of that year. hope u can help.
Hi, Matt —
Rim-width variations are generally a common thing — many times, coins will also exhibit very arrow rims, too. As far as value, I double checked this against numerous websites and there is no indication that there is any special value for your quarter because of the rim being noticeably wider than those on other quarters.
‘S’ mint mark Bicentennial quarters are either proof or 40% silver (or both) and have a value of $2 or so. Otherwise, P or D mint mark Bicentennial quarters with any wear are worth only face value.
While you may not have found any big-money coins this time around, do keep checking each and every coin that goes through your hands. You could still hit it big in the future!
All the best to you…
ihave a1943 half penny in good shape what would it be worth if i sold it today
Hi, Sandra —
Do you know what nation it’s from? Values are usually based on the condition of your coin, but assuming it’s well worn and is in an average-circulated grade, it would be worth 50 cents to $1.
it has aship on the back and is in good shape its a big coin for half a penny
Thanks for the reply, Sandra —
You have a British half penny. The 50 cents-to-$1 estimate on its value sounds about right then, especially assuming that it’s in worn condition.
i have coin 1943 copper penny magnet original my msn is juanpi1581@hotmail.com
i have around 100 dollars in wheat pennies rolled up in my closet, should i go through them or take them to be appraised
Hi, Watson —
While it could take some time, I would go through all of the rolls of Lincoln wheat cents and see if you find anything of value. Most wheat cents made before 1934 are worth more than those struck from 1934 on. First divide them up that way.
Then, once they’re all divided by pre-’34 and ’34-on, I would check out the dates and see if you have any of the coins listed in these posts:
*Rare Lincoln Cents: https://coins.thefuntimesguide.com/rare_wheat_pennies/
*Semi-Key Lincoln Cents: https://coins.thefuntimesguide.com/lincoln_semi_key_coins/
hello i have over 100 wheat penny’s and two buffalo penny’s and their dates are 1904 and 1906 are the worth anything
Hi, Jensen —
Trying to figure out exactly what you have. If you’re talking about Indian pennies, then yes — a 1904 and 1906 both carry a value of around $2 to $3 in typical worn grades.
As for your wheat pennies, I don’t know what dates you have. Most are worth 3 to 5 cents in worn grades. However, I encourage you to take a look at these two posts, because if you have certain dates, your pennies may be worth much more.
Rare Lincoln cents: https://coins.thefuntimesguide.com/rare_wheat_pennies/
Semi-key Lincoln cents: https://coins.thefuntimesguide.com/lincoln_semi_key_coins/
Hi Joshua,
Several years ago I came across a Lincoln penny with an obliterated date. The date appears to have been covered over by an excess drop of copper at the time that it was minted. I have never heard of this before and I would think that quality control at the mint would prevent such coins from ever being circulated. But this one made it through. Are you aware of such defects and what value the market place puts on such coins?
Thanks for your question, Abel —
Without seeing the coin I can’t say exactly what it is, but there is a type of coin error called a die cud — they look like blobs of metal and occur because of damage to the die (the stamp that impresses an image on a coin). They are relatively common and aren’t normally of any significant value over the regular value of said coin.
I have a link to an image of a die cud… maybe you can determine through the image if it looks like the type of blob on your coin: https://coins.about.com/od/coinsglossary/g/cud_defined.htm
I have a question: I have a year 2000 penny that appears miss-struck, or stamped off-center. I picked it up out of amusement and didn’t care if it was real or worth anything at the time as I collect mutilated coins.
But I’m curious, what would the value on such a defect be?
The following is a link to a photo of it’s front:
https://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w48/ladymulti/newuploadzzzz/IMG_20100915_125556.jpg
That’s a cool off-center penny, SB! It’s worth around $2 to $3… If you ask me I’d simply hang onto it. Off-center coins are always eye catching and certainly are fun to show friends and family!
i got a 1998 penny, its got lincoln on it, and its kind of worn but not too badly, well i mean the ridges on the side are pretty much worn down, oh and one side is crushed a little, i think someone may have crushed it in a vice? or maybe a car ran over it? and well its hard to read the date because of the wear on it, and its not shiny anymore because i accidently left it outside overnight a few times. well i hope it is worth atleast like 200 to 300 dollars? i mean even though its 1998, thats like pretty old because it was another century!
Hey, Markolous —
True, 1998 WAS in the last century (I can’t believe it!), but unfortunately age doesn’t always make a coin valuable — it’s relative scarcity and grade that determines a coin’s value.
1998 was a big year for the U.S. Mint in terms of numbers of coins made — and BILLIONS of Lincoln cents were made that year. So a 1998 cent is not at all scarce. Also, the damage you describe would be another detracting factor as to its grade… so that wouldn’t render it to valuable either.
In fact, a 1998 cent with any wear on it whatsoever is actually worth only face value. But why not hang onto that Lincoln cent anyway? The damage on it tells a story of a rough life — that has now spanned two centuries!
I have a bunch of interesting coins. mainly an 1890 circulated indian head penny that on the wheat side there is a strait line through 20% of the coin that leaves that 20 percent thinner then the rest of the penny. i can’t tell if i’m seeing a date or a deformed portion of what was supposed to be there. the other side was not affected and you can tell this was done in the mint. I can’t find any examples of it anywhere or approxamate value. on the indian head side you can almost make out the liberty letters in the headrest. any ideas about this penny? I have many other coins to ask you about too. 1864 cir. 2 cents
Hi, Power —
Without seeing the Indian cent, it’s hard to say for certain. It’s possible the coin may have suffered a die issue and that’s why it’s thinner on that side, but it also sounds very much like blunt force damage done after the mint.
Your 1864 2-cent coins is worth about $15 to $20 if it’s well worn bust has no damage (like porosity, corrosion, any signs of being cleaned, etc.).
If there’s a way I can see a photo of your Indian cent I may be able to provide a little more substantive response. You can post the photo on The Fun Times Guide to Coins Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/#!/TheFunTimesGuideToCoins?ref=ts
thank you for your time with this. im going to post the pics. but its been my experience being a machinest that this type of damage could not been done by a blunt force due to the fact the coin is not deformed. but yet its easily 20 percent thinner on the strike area? your the expert so we will see. i just wish it was less circulated and in better shape.
You’re so welcome. I have some comments on the 1890 cent above; the amount of wear concerns me…
ok i think i posted the picture correctly? i did it in the notes section?
Yes, they posted! Please see my comments above…
another coin that i can’t be for sure about is a 1925 quarter that appears to be deformed from the left of the liberty. it looks like a circular hit actually. other coins are all circulated two victory nickles 1901, 3 barber dimes 1928 d, 1935 d, 1938 s, 4 more indian head pennies 1891, 1895 very nice shape, 1897, 1902. and last for now is a 1935 brittish half crown. thanks so much for any help.
Power,
Like the case with your 1890 Indian cent, I believe your 1925 quarter probably has post-mint damage, but even still it’s a beautiful coin to have. With damage, your 1925 quarter is worth a little more than its silver value, so around $3 to $4 if the coin is pretty well worn.
The ‘V’ nickels are each worth around $1 to $2.
The 1928-D, 1935-D, and 1938-S Mercury dimes are worth around $2 each.
Your 1891, 1895, 1897, and 1902 Indian cents are worth around $3 each (though depending on how ‘nice’ the 1895 is, it may be worth $5 or more).
Your 1935 British half crown is partly made from silver and is worth around $5.
ok just in case my photo fails to go through. I started a photo-bucket folder i’m going to slowly fill up with all the coins and tokens i have. including an old chicken ranch brothel token from texas. https://s209.photobucket.com/albums/bb193/powerzap69/rare%20coins/
Hi, Power–
First things first — great photos. It always makes it easier for me to see well-photographed coins, and you did a wonderful job. Thanks for taking time to do that.
So, before I go on, let me say that the values I gave above look pretty much on target, but I think I’m going to revise the value of the 2 cent piece downward to about $10, because that piece looks closer to About Good, instead of the Good price I mentioned in an earlier posting.
Now, as for that 1890 Indian cent…. As I look at that, it reminds me of the beginnings of a clipped planchet. The machine that stamps out the blanks from the big sheet of metal can create straight clips. What’s odd to me is that the clip didn’t go through the coin — just part of it. There are a lot of rim nicks on that coin, and because that coin has clearly seen a lot of use after it left the mint, I’m still left to wonder if that cut came from the mint or not… A typical cut planchet Indian cent is worth around $20 to $30, but this unlike any clipped planchets I’ve personally seen and, again, the fact the coin has already seen so much wear leaves me suspicious that the coin didn’t come across a multi-tons source of damage.
As fro your old brothel tokens, I don’t have much knowledge on such pieces, but I do have a link for you that you might find interesting… it has many photos and prices of brothel tokens (most are under $3); perhaps yours is worth about the same: https://www.lathamtrading.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=51_65
I looked at your other coins in the photos… nice collection of both U.S. and foreign coins. I think I already gave you the values for most of the U.S. pieces, but I do see the dateless Buffalo nickels which I didn’t quote you on yet: those are typically worth around 25 to 50 cents each.
From what I can tell of the foreign coins, I see what appears to be mainly coins from Germany, France, and British pieces with a Mexican coin and then what looks like a few Asian coins.
While I did provide the approximate value on the 1935 half crown, I haven’t yet on the other coins in that pic. Most of those coins are very common copper, brass, and copper-nickel pieces from the 1950s and later; values in general would fall between 5 cents to 25 cents each.
I hope this gives you some more direction on the value of your collection…
wow you went way over the call of duty here. I do the same thing for people when it comes to automotive or hydrogen energy. so i’ll tell you what. send me a msg through facebook with a mailing address. and i will give you that error penny. just a little thank you for your extra mile you went.
While I can’t possibly accept the coin (but I truly appreciate the gesture), I want you to know that your question provided me a fun journey in trying to find out more about that interesting piece… and all your other coins, too!
Please always feel free to stop by and post questions you may have in the future — it’s a joy to try and help readers find out more about their coins.
Have a great weekend!
you are a good man, when i sold professionally on ebay i wrote guides for people. everything from air conditioning charging tricks, to buying houses to selling items on ebay. I spent hours responding to questions from people all over the world. I loved the fact that it help me learn to teach others. If you change your mind just send me a msg, it would be an honor to give back to someone that took the time to help me like you did. especially since you said you have never seen one like that. I’m not a coin person, but i appreciate those that master there desire like you have
You’re truly very kind — your appreciation means so much. As you can relate to from your own background, researching and helping others can be a labor of love! Hopefully others were just as appreciative to you for your dedication and work as you have been here. Thank you so much.
…And thank you for the tip on how you scanned your coins — those are terrifically clear photos!
hey man i have over a hundred 1944-1912 wheaty pennies,how can i tell if they are a d or an s and what ar they worht and how can i sell them,my number is 1-251-428-0058
Hi, Darian —
The ‘D’ and ‘S’ mintmarks are under the date. They’re fairly easy to tell apart with a common magnifying glass. Values are based on both the year and the condition.
You can sell Lincoln cents either to a brick-and-mortar coin dealer (check your local phone directory), to an online coin dealer (there are plenty of major, reputable dealers buying coins online), or on eBay.
While most wheat cents are worth 3 to 10 cents each, there are several that are worth 10s and even 100s of dollars. Check out these posts to see which dates are worth the most money:
Semi-key Lincoln pennies: https://coins.thefuntimesguide.com/lincoln_semi_key_coins/
Rare Lincoln cents: https://coins.thefuntimesguide.com/rare_wheat_pennies/
one last thing, recomend to your readers to use a flat bed scanner for taking pictures of there coins. It is the best way i know of to capture every detail on a coin.
I have a, what I believe is a 1949 penny. Everything is clear on the coin except for the year. The “49” (?) seems to be almost non-existent but the surrounding areas have not been marred by blunt force or wear. The “19” in the date seems to be in good condition. Is this a common condition? I have a scan of the penny if that would help.
Hi, Writer —
From your description, it sounds like your coin has been weakly struck. This results in faint areas that ordinarily should be bold. This is a common condition on coins and, in nearly every situation, actually makes the coin worth slightly less than its regular value.
i have a bunch of old coins i dont know how much there worth but ive tried to figure them out on the web cant find nothing on a few.i have a 1944 penny but dont know if it worth anything
Hi, Parker —
Feel free to list a few of the coins you’re curious about here, and we’ll see if we can figure out some approximate values for you.
A typical 1944 Lincoln cent with lots of wear but no damage is worth around 3 to 5 cents.
How do you tell if a 1974 penny is aluminum?
The fastest way, Sawyer, is by checking its weight. A regular copper Lincoln cent from 1974 weighs 3.11 grams. Aluminum, being much lighter than bronze, would also make a penny weigh less — about .94 grams in total weight, or over 3 times less than a bronze penny.
what is my 1953 silver penny that is so shiney worth..Also have a 3 rolls od mistake Wheats..especially the 1953-s with little blotched on the 9..anyone know what they are worth? thks Dave
Dave,
Since 1953 pennies weren’t struck in silver (or anything else resembling the metal), it’s likely your coin was either silver plated or, more likely, covered in mercury. Coating pennies in mercury was very common during the middle 20th century (done for effect only). Such pieces aren’t worth anything over face. On top of that, if your coin is coated in mercury, it’s dangerous to touch…
As for the 1953-S with the blotch, I can’t say exactly what’s going on without seeing the coin, but it’s likely a die chip. Those result when a coin is struck by a die (which impresses the design onto a blank coin) that’s damaged. Such pieces usually have nominal value (maybe $1 to $2 to an interested coin collector).
If you want to post a photo of your 1953-S cent with the blotch, simply post a photo on The Fun Times Guide to Coins Facebook wall: https://www.facebook.com/#!/TheFunTimesGuideToCoins
I have a what looks like a silver pennie it has a bell on the left side and a map and the inside of the map is marked USA on the right side the year is 1976 back of the pennie has the lincoln monument, is it possible that this coin is worth anything. I have been holding on to it since 1977.
Ana,
It sounds like you have a novelty penny — basically a real Lincoln cent that was stamped with the Liberty Bell to commemorate the Bicentennial in 1976. The silver color is probably pewter or silver plating (both safe to touch), but if it’s mercury plated, I recommend not touching the coin. Such pieces are worth about a dollar or so.
i have a 1945 nickel with the letter s in the middle top of the moticello building just wanted to know if it is rare or not
Great find, Lynn!
While a 1945-S nickel isn’t rare, it is partially made of silver!
The U.S. Mint was allowed to remove nickel from the five-cent coin during 1942 to 1945 to save the metal for the war effort. Therefore, silver was used for that time to replace the missing nickel.
Right now, a ‘wartime’ nickel is worth around $1 to $2.
I have a 1943 silver penny on the back side it has a definite misprint. On the word ‘cent’ the ‘T’ is actually a one turned upside. I’ve never heard of it before but it is an obvious misprint. Does anyone have any information on this?
Mark,I’ve never heard of this error before. If you’d like, you can upload a photo to The Fun Times Guide to Coins Facebook wall and perhaps I’ll be of more help after I can look at it there. Here’s a link to the Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/#!/TheFunTimesGuideToCoins
I’m looking for a good camera to take a proper picture then I’ll post it.
Thank you for your time
I now have the picture on the wall. It’s not the greatest, but please tell me what you think
Thanks
Thanks for getting the photo up, Mark! Please find my reply comments on the Facebook wall. Here’s the link: https://www.facebook.com/#!/TheFunTimesGuideToCoins
I have had a 1976 Aluminum or nickel or sliver “D” Lincoln head penny now for three years. Its been passed around at parties to family and even mixed in with my pocket change at times by mistake. It is not mercury, as in High school some forty years back, yes we played and it never stayed on that long. Everybody I show it to is mystified. Any ideas would be helpful…
what is the value of a 1955 us penny, no vdb or mint mark?
Lisa,
Does your penny have any signs of doubling at the date? If it does (and these are very rare), it may be the valuable ($1,000 and up) 1955 doubled-die penny; check out a photo here: https://coins.thefuntimesguide.com/rare_wheat_pennies/
If there’s no doubling, it’s worth around 3 to 5 cents.
Greeting, I am new and know very littly 🙁 I found penny with missing date it’s like 19.. and in liberty missing li..rty. is any value for this penny? Thank you NL2552
Hi, Natasha —
If you would like to post a photo at The Fun Times Guide to Coins Facebook page, I bet I’ll be able to give you an answer; it might be a weak strike, but I need to see the coin to really give you a better idea as to what you might have. Here’s the link: https://www.facebook.com/#!/TheFunTimesGuideToCoins
Hello, I found a 1980 penny that has diagonal lines through the face side of the penny like the dye ran out… I can send you a picture if you like, but I was just wondering what would cause this? and since I don’t seem to have any other 1980 pennies to match it up to I was wondering if this was normal for that year. anyhoo, thanks for your time.
Md,
By the 1950s, Lincoln cents were being struck very well on a consistent basis. Your 1980 cent has a partly missing design for another reason, likely either a die filled with grease or debris. I really can’t say without seeing a photo. If you’d like, feel free to post one at The Fun Times Guide to Coins and we’ll see if we can figure out what’s going on.
Here’s the link: https://www.facebook.com/#!/TheFunTimesGuideToCoins
I have a 1943 steel wheat penny obviously because a magnet sticks to it.But, on the pictures i have seen of them there is a letter under the date and the one i have does not have a letter.I was just trying to find out if it is worth anything?
Hi Miki,
What you have is a 1943 steel cent that was made at the Philadelphia mint, which doesn’t place mintmarks on its coins. Your coin is worth around 10 to 25 cents if in typical, worn condition.
Maxx,
The ‘D’ on the 1928 penny (is that the marking you’re referring to?) is mintmade; that’s called a mintmark and reveals which mint made the coin. In your case, it was Denver. Given the condition of the coin overall, that coin is worth 3 to 5 cents.
I’m having a hard time seeing the 1955 penny photo well. Do you see any doubling in the date also? Or just on the motto?
can someone please help me i have been passed down a small box full of coins mostly pennies from 1909 to 1947 some have s or d on the front i believe most are wheat pennies from what i can see how do i know if these have any value? and where can i take them?
Fran,
There’s quite a range of dates there, and there are many, many dates in that range that are quite valuable. I recommend you check out these two articles — they will hopefully be very helpful in letting you know which pennies among that date range are valuable.
7 Rare Wheat Pennies: https://coins.thefuntimesguide.com/rare_wheat_pennies/
Semi-Key Lincoln Cents: https://coins.thefuntimesguide.com/lincoln_semi_key_coins/
Once you know how much value your coins may have, your best bet is to to find a local coin dealer to whom you can sell the coins. Here’s a link that should help you locate a reputable dealer in your area: https://www.pngdealers.com/dealersearch.php
How exactly would someone be able to know for certain the condition of their coins? I have several coins but no idea of condition or value at all. 1848 penny, 1943 steel penny with a “B” stamped on it,1889 silver one dollar with no mint print, and a whole lot more.- Barekat276@yahoo.com
Great question, Barekat. Here’s a look at coin grading: https://coins.thefuntimesguide.com/how_to_grade_a_coin_grades/
Once you get a better idea as to what condition your coins are in, you can start perusing other articles here and get a clearer concept about their values.
i found a 1942 silver penny but i only see that they made them in1943.what are the odds its real.
I found a 1943 penny with lincoln and one cent on the back it looks like silver how much is the value
Hi Cain,
The 1943 penny you have is actually made of zinc-coated steel. Because over a billion, they are common in absolute terms but popular collectibles and therefore only rarely ever seen in circulation. Each is worth around 10 to 25 cents in typical worn grades.
I found 5 1955 pennys with lincoln and one cent on the back how much is the value
Pedro,
By far, most 1955 pennies with wear are worth 3 to 5 cents. However, if you see signs of doubling in the date and lettering on the front of any of your 1955 pennies, they may be the 1955 doubled die cent. These are worth around $1,000 and up. Check out more about the 1955 penny here: https://coins.thefuntimesguide.com/rare_wheat_pennies/
hi i am connor,
i am 11 years old and i have two copper pennys one is from 1935 and the other is from 1944
Hi Connor,
Thanks for stopping by! Wheat pennies like your 1935 and 1944 are getting very hard to find in pocket change and are therefore worth more than more common, recent cents.
Each of those that you’re asking about is worth between 3 and 10 cents. It’s a good idea to hang onto those coins because they may be worth more someday and would be a great way to start building a complete collection of Lincoln pennies.
Here’s some more info that hopefully will help:
https://coins.thefuntimesguide.com/lincoln_cents/
I have found a 1963 gold penny Is it worth anything
Casey,
That 1963 cent is really not worth anything more than whatever tiny amount of gold plating may be on the coin (probably a few cents’ worth). The coin isn’t worth anything numismatically because it would be viewed as altered due to the gold plating. Still, a neat find though!
i have a roll of 1909 vdb mint condition pennies, what would they sell for?
Hi, Noah —
With each 1909 VDB penny in Mint State worth at least $20 to $25, even in brown, you’re looking at a roll worth $1,000 easily, though each of the 50 coins will have to be completely free from any wear for it to truly comprise a mint state roll.
i was goin threw some change the other day and found a 1973 penny that is the same as a dime. is it worth anything besides the normal .1 cent
Hi Carjunke,
What do you mean the penny is “the same as a dime”?
I found a penny that is a 1958 but with a L on top of the date
Hi Josh,
It sounds like your coin has been counterstamped — somebody placed the ‘L’ on the coin. Perhaps its somebody’s initial, or maybe it stands for something else. At any rate, this is not a mint-made error and does not add any value to the coin.
is a 1946 S wheat penny with a double reverse image worth anything?
i came across a 1974 silver penny it was in a little zip lock bag written on the bag said one of 2 known to existe know anything about it
Well, DL, what I can tell you is that in 1974 the United States Mint struck a limited number of aluminum cents as a prototype when a proposition to change the metal composition of the coin from copper to aluminum was made in an effort to reduce the cost of minting the coin.
The idea was eventually rejected. The 1974 aluminum penny was never actually an official minting and, thus, many were revoked and melted — though some have been known to exist. Because 1974 pennies are considered to belong to the government, the Secret Service is prepared to handle any case of suspected 1974 aluminum cents.
If yours is an aluminum penny, it will weigh only about 1 gram. It’s possible you have a mercury, silver, or pewter-coated bronze 1974 penny intended to resemble one of the rare (and, essentially, illegal) 1974 aluminum cents. A regular bronze penny weighs 3.11 grams.
it is an aluminum penny and was recalled buy the mint some were passed out to congress and a few other people and was supposed to be returned to the mint if they decided against using aluminum which they decided against it.but they say there are about 14 total floating around one is in the Smithsonian and one other a capitol police officer has that was gave to him buy a congressman but it is illegal to own plus you can not get it graded either secret service are still looking for them so there are about 12 floating around
i,ve been coin collecting sense i was a liitle girl. and i managed to save one 1943 penny till now,i wasnt really that smart, i just grabbed it, because of the color difference grabbed my attention!! The coin does stick to a magnet. What should i do with the coin now???
Hi Catlover,
1943 steel cents like yours are common, but they’re also historic in that they were made of zinc-coated steel to ration copper for the war effort.
Because your coin isn’t really valuable (worth perhaps 25 to 50 cents if worn), I’d suggest hanging onto it; it’s a neat story that you found it as a young girl and, because it looked different from all the other pennies you decided to keep it!
Sell it!!!
i have a 1943 pennie.think its the one.by the way,my name is Noah too.
I have a 1943 penny it sticks to a magnet but it’s copper coated is it fake?? And if it is not whats it’s value?
Hi Elena,
Unfortunately, it’s an altered 1943 steel cent that has more value as a curiosity than as a coin. Unaltered, a 1943 steel cent is usually worth around 25 to 50 cents. The copper coating strips away most of the collector value.
I have a 1935 and 1941 wheat penny and neither have a mint mark on them. Worth holding onto?
Ron,
Both are worth around 3 to 5 cents. If I were you, I’d simply hang onto them, as they are worth ore than face value but not enough (at this time) to sell. They’re great collectibles and there’s always the chance they may increase in value down the road.
Rcdreamcatcher.
I have a 1864 indian head penny. Is it worth anything
RC,
Your coin is worth around $5 to $10 in worn grades.
i have a 1897 indian penny
Hi, Rdy —
A typically worn 1897 Indian Head penny is worth around $2 to $5.
What type of penny can be gold in color and magnetic. Is there a type of plating that could be gold in color and magnetic?
Penny,
Going out on a limb here, but perhaps the coin was first coated in steel then gold plated… It may also be that your penny was coated in a gold-nickel alloy.
The Penny is not 1943
Is there any way to tell if it is plated? What should a pre 1982 penny weigh exactly. Would a plating ad enough weight that it would be detectable?
Yes, Penny —
A copper Lincoln cent from before 1982 should weigh 3.11 grams, and plating can certainly add to that weight.
I Have a 1973 Silver Penny
I Have a 1973 Silver Penny
Hello i have some old pennys where should i go to see if they are good with out some one lieing and riping me off?marygirlmoney@yahoo.com
Hello i have some old pennys where should i go to see if they are good with out some one lieing and riping me off?marygirlmoney@yahoo.com
Hi, Mary —
Before you take the time to visit a reputable coin dealer (which you can locate near your home town by visiting https://www.pngdealers.com/dealersearch.php ), did you want to post some of the info on the coins here to see what they’re approximately worth?
Hi, Mary —
Before you take the time to visit a reputable coin dealer (which you can locate near your home town by visiting https://www.pngdealers.com/dealersearch.php ), did you want to post some of the info on the coins here to see what they’re approximately worth?
have a 1943s penny missing the 4 any value
have a 1943s penny missing the 4 any value
Hi Barry,
Unfortunately it probably has not much if any extra value. An issue like a missing digit is usually either a filled die (which is a common problem) or a coin that was altered after striking.
Hi Barry,
Unfortunately it probably has not much if any extra value. An issue like a missing digit is usually either a filled die (which is a common problem) or a coin that was altered after striking.
How about one that is magnetic? Kind of confused, lol.
How about one that is magnetic? Kind of confused, lol.
So it just so happens that I found a coin like this today. 1943 Penny, Silver color, and is magnetic. Is this saying it’s authentic or a fake?
Hi Robert,
A magnetic 1943 penny that’s silver in color is an authentic steel cent worth between 10 cents and $1 in typical circulated condition.
Hi Robert,
A magnetic 1943 penny that’s silver in color is an authentic steel cent worth between 10 cents and $1 in typical circulated condition.
So it just so happens that I found a coin like this today. 1943 Penny, Silver color, and is magnetic. Is this saying it’s authentic or a fake?
i have a 1957-d wheat pennie that has no back…its plain…is it real does it have a known value/
Jerry,
It’s most likely that your coin has been altered — perhaps it is formerly an illusionist’s coin; such pieces unfortunately have no numismatic value.
Jerry,
It’s most likely that your coin has been altered — perhaps it is formerly an illusionist’s coin; such pieces unfortunately have no numismatic value.
i have a 1957-d wheat pennie that has no back…its plain…is it real does it have a known value/
hello , I have a 1971 penny looks brand new an its magnetic any idea of its worth ?? thanx
Doug,
If you’d like to, please feel free to post a pic at The Fun Times Guide to Coins: https://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/TheFunTimesGuideToCoins . However, without seeing your coin, my only logical conclusion is that it has been plated with a magnetic metal — probably steel.
Such a piece would be considered altered by numismatists and, unfortunately, not worth anything more than face value.
I have a 1955 penny can u tell me how much its worth it looks in good condition
Jlongenecker,
Unless the date appears to have been doubled, a 1955 Lincoln wheat cent is worth 3 to 5 cents.
Yea.. I Have A 1918 Penny. For A 93 Year Old Penny.. It Looks Too Be In Really Good Condition.! Any Value.?
Well, Nocturner, I’m not to sure on how nice your 1918 penny looks, but it may be worth about anywhere from 25 cents if it’s well worn up to a few dollars if it’s worn but only lightly. These values apply only for a 1918 penny that’s not corroded, cleaned, or otherwise damaged.
were do i get coins graded
Here’s some info on where to go if you want your coins professionally graded: https://coins.thefuntimesguide.com/slabbed_coins/
ya $60 – $2500
It’s more like $15 to $50 to get each coin graded…. Based on the coin and individual service.
i have a flying eagle penny 1858… on the back of this penny the words ONE CENT is spelled ONE CFNT.the E is an F.could you please give me your comment on this coin,are there any more like this.not in any book.khallhoppedup@gmail,com
Hi, John —
It sounds like your penny has suffered either uneven wear or was struck weakly. Either way, the “E” looking like an “F” wouldn’t give the coin any extra value in this case.
my father has a 1943 silver penny and sombody told us it was worth $2.50 is it true??
May Baby,
Well, a 1943 steel cent would be worth around $2.50 if it doesn’t have any wear and has no damage (like corrosion, porosity, or any signs of cleaning). A typical, worn 1943 steel cent is worth between 10 cents and $1.
I have a 1988 D penny that looks like a nickel (as far as it’s silver in color). Is it possible? Does it have any value other than 1 cent?
IAGO,
Yes, because pennies made since 1982 have a zinc core (which looks silver in color), it’s possible your coin wasn’t coated with a copper plating.
However, it’s also possible your coin was chemically altered in a common science experiment.
The best way to tell if you have a worthless chemically altered penny or a $100 mint error is to bring your coin to a local coin dealer for closer inspection or to send it to a grading service, which can cost between $10 to $30.
Here’s some info on grading services: https://coins.thefuntimesguide.com/slabbed_coins/
i have a 1919 copper penny with no D or P on it and the wheat has no details in it how rare is it
Robert,
A 1919 penny without a mintmark was made in Philadelphia. The lack of detail in the wheat stalks is due to heavy wear. Such a piece is worth around 10 cents. However, at over 90 years old, it’s the kind of coin to hang onto.
Hello I have a 1943 s Steel penny with the 4 in 1943 and the mint mark s are barely visible. Overall the coin is in good shape not too much wear but it is discolored. Was wondering what a general value for a coin like this might be. thank you
marshall pifer
Hi, Marshall —
The 4 being weak on your 1943 cent isn’t a particularly scarce occurrence; your coin has either suffered significant wear in that area or was weakly struck. Still, your coin is worth somewhere between 10 cents and $1.
Thank you for the info….greatly appreciated
I have some of the pennies printed in 2009 in celebration of Abraham Lincoln. I have the cabin, him on the log, one with the building without him in front of it. Do these have any value? Should I hold on to them? What are your thoughts?
Hunnie,
Right now, the 2009 Lincoln pennies with the special designs have no extra value if worn, so they’re each worth one cent. Quite frankly, with hundreds of millions made of each design, I really can’t see them ever becoming rare, though they may be worth hanging onto to add to a Lincoln cent collection or for novelty.
I Have Got A 1918 Wheat Penny With No Mint Stamp. But My Concern Is, There Is No ‘ L ‘ In Liberty Next To His Neck. Is It Worth More Than The Face Value?
Hi, Shane —
Your 1918 penny is real and was made in Philadelphia, hence the lack of a P mintmark. There actually isn’t an ‘L’ next to Lincoln’s neck, but rather, a tiny VDB under his shoulder (you’ll need a magnifying glass to see it)
Your coin is worth around 10 to 20 cents.
i have a penny dated 1831…it is very large and has the united states of america and one cent on the back,,on the front it has a womans head with liberty on it…only problem is it has a hole in it where someone probably wore it around their neck as a necklace..would this coin be worth anything today even with the hole in it?
Hi, Judy —
Nice old large cents from the 1830s are historic pieces of Americana. Even with the hole, a piece like yours is still worth around $5.
.When I was a child I received 4 rolls of 1955 S lincoln pennies. The rolls are still in the mint wrapped rolls and have never been open. Does anyone have idea if they have any collection value
Randy,
Yes, those absolutely do have value. 1955-S penny rolls in mint state grades tend to sell for $10 to $20 each, though with these original rolls, I’d definitely say the value is higher. However, the exact value is based somewhat on the condition of the roll and the buyer. What a neat momento from your childhood!
I have a 1938-D penny. It’s not wore but does need cleaning. Have found it’s value from $96 to $0.06. Could u plz shed a little light on this. Thanx
Shane,
Well, you DON’T want to clean it, no matter how it looks, because cleaning will only damage the coin and make it less attractive to coin collectors, because you’ll remove the natural toning (also called patina) that the coin has formed over the years.
The 6-cent value is for a piece in well-worn, circulated grades. The $96 value you quote is for a piece that is completely unworn, in mint condition, and with nice, original mint-orange color.
Given the description of your coin, I believe it’s worth under 25 cents.
i have a 1922 no date wheat penny. people tell me that there are fake 1922. how can i tell if mine is fake or the real mccoy?
Tom,
It’s pretty easy to be fooled by fake 1922 ‘plain’ pennies. There are too many counterfeits out there, and not enough of the real ones to go around.
Pretty much, real 1922 plain pennies have these diagnostics:
*The second ‘2’ in the date looking a little stronger than the first
*The lettering and design looking weaker on the front than on the back; in fact, the design on the tails (reverse) side is much stronger, relatively, than on the heads side (obverse)
*There should be no trace of a ‘D’ under the date
*The coin should weigh 3.11 grams, give or take a couple hundreths of a gram for wear
If you see any signs that metal has been rubbed away under the date, than you may have a 1922-D that’s been altered. Also, it’s fairly common to come across 1927 and 1932 pennies that have had the third digit in the date altered to look like a ‘2.’
I’d always recommend getting any rare coins (or those you think might be) certified and authenticated by a third-party coin grading service. Here’s some info on those companies: https://coins.thefuntimesguide.com/slabbed_coins/
i found a 2003 U.S. penny. i don’t know if Americans collect defected coins. the one i have has the building on both sides but its pressed over Lincolns side…. so u get both images on the one side… dont know in canada
Sauble,
Thanks for your question. Without seeing your coin, it’s hard to say exactly, but it sounds like you may have a type of error coin (yes, they’re HIGHLY collectible) called a die brockage. Values vary, but yours may be worth $50 or more…
I found a 1953 & 1960 silver Pennie. There in great condition. I put a magnet to them & it picked up the 1953 & then dropped it. It just lifted the 1960 on one side and then dropped it. I know that the only steel pennies were the 1943’s. How did this happen?
Linda,
While there actually are some rare 1944 steel cents and 1974 aluminum pennies, it sounds like your 1953 and 1960 pennies have been plated in another metal, probably pewter, silver, or (likely) mercury. Mercury, as you may know, is a highly dangerous, oily material. In any case, plated coins are viewed as altered and, thus, really have no collector value.
Thanks Joshua for your help. I posted one other question that has me puzzled. About a mercury dime. Hope you can help me out on that one also. Thanks again.
I have been looking at my Aunts coins and I found a Mercury dime dated 1944 with no mint mark. this dime is the size of a wheat Pennie. As weird as it sounds, could someone have tried to press it to be bigger? The outer edge bottom of the coin is smaller and the top is the same size as other mercury’s. The roundness of the coin looks perfectly round and the size is same size as pennie. Any comment would be appreciated.
Linda,
That scenario is possible, but it’s unfortunately hard to say without looking at the coin. It’s also possible the coin was struck without the collar that creates the ridges (reeding) on the side of the coin. If your coin still has the ridges, it’s probably been damaged by someone trying to flatten the coin…
Thanks for getting back to me. The ridges are on the edges, but the face of the liberty is not distorted at all, and the back of the coin is not also. Wouldn’t it look distorted if someone tried to make it bigger? There is a small area of the ridge where is not reeder. it’s about 1/8 of an inch long. There is a marking of some kind on the bottom half of the coin. It’s about a 1/4 inch partial circle like it was hit. But still, no distortion of any kind and the face or back of the coin, and no feeling of any kind of indentation. Thanks again for getting back to me. Hope to hear your comments soon.
I really appreciate your thorough description of the coin. Unfortunately, as hard as I’m trying to envision it, it’s difficult to say what may be going on without seeing it. If you could, would you mind posting a photo on The Fun Times Guide to Coins Facebook wall? Here’s the link: https://www2.tbo.com/content/2011/apr/02/021550/man-arrested-for-stealing-doughnut-truck/news-breaking/
Can’t promise I’ll be able to figure it out with the photo, but it may be helpful in trying to discern exactly what’s going on.
I have a 1950 S Washington Quarter that is gold plated, I believe. I looked this coin up and found that there are a few of these around. Are they for real?
Linda, the coin is a real Washington quarter, but it wasn’t gold plated by the U.S. Mint. The amount of gold on the coin has nominal value, and the quarter really is therefore worth more for the silver contained within (about $5 to $6, based on the current fluctuating bullion price).
OK, thanks again Joshua, I really appreciate the time you have given to help me out.
You’re quite welcome, Linda!
josh i am stumped! i came across a 1941 wheat penny but it is not steel due to that was produced in 1943 and i cann ot find any info on it! its either silver or nickel. any idea on value or rarity
Hi, Repair —
You say you have a 1941 penny that’s not steel? That’s actually normal, so your coin is worth around 10 cents.
I think you misunderstood, Joshua. from how I understand the post, they’re saying it’s it’s either silver or nickel, not steel. A copper penny would be normal. Correct?
Correct, Jill –
That’s my mistake indeed. Yes, a copper 1941 penny is normal, though to determine as to whether the coin was coated in silver, nickel, or perhaps even mercury or pewter would require a weight test. Any copper cent weighing more than 3.11 grams has likely been coated.
Hello Joshua, Im James. I found a wheat penny in the change I got back from, who knows where? anyways I usually give a quick glance at pennies cuz u never know, might get lucky and find a a rare one. so when I looked at the date I was suprised to see 1909. Now my question is… Are the VDB initials printed on the wheat side at the bottomof the penny? Am I seeing correctly or am I trippin? The penny is in good condition still, do you think it could be valuble? Like good Valuble? Did I get lucky or what? Oh and I dont have a facebook account so is there another way I can send a pic of it? Thanks for the time.
Hi, James —
Only SOME of the 1909 pennies have the VDB on the bottom. Long story short, the most valuable 1909 Lincoln pennies have the VDB on the back under the wheat and an ‘s’ under the date.
If yours has the VDB on under the wheat ears but NO s on the front, it’s worth around $10.
If you don’t see the VDB or the S, it’s worth around $3 to $5.
At any rate, you still made a terrific find. It’s getting very hard to find early wheat pennies in circulation these days.
JOSH HAVE 1943S WITH 4 MISSING, NOT LIGHT JUST NOT THERE .VERY VERY CLOSE LOOK ,ANY VALUE
Staats,
It may bring a couple dollars from somebody interested in filled-die error coins…
thanks for the bad news JOSH,
i have an 1858 penny was wondering approximate value
Sunshine,
Your 1858 penny is worth $15 to $30.
I have a 1792 penny that I got from my great grandpa in really great condition. Is it worth anything?
Ktr,
Would you mind posting a photo on The Fun Times Guide to Coins Facebook wall? https://www.facebook.com/#!/TheFunTimesGuideToCoins
does anyone know anything about a 1968d with a bible or some type of open book next to Lincoln’s face?
I have a 1946 Lincoln penny that is only 1/2 the thickness of the normal one. Someone told me that it was a planchette striking error. Can anyone tell me the value of this?
Thanks, Sharon
Hi, Sharon —
It could be a planchet striking error, or it might be that the coin was rolled too thin, or it might even have been caused by acid damage after the U.S. Mint. If you can, would you please post a photo on The Fun Times Guide to Coins Facebook wall? Here’s the link: https://www.facebook.com/#!/TheFunTimesGuideToCoins
I have a 1902 penny in pretty good shape red/brown. what would the value be?
Jim,
This is a sight-unseen estimation, but if it’s a red/brown uncirculated (has absolutely no wear) 1902 penny, it’s worth around $20 to $30 or more. If’ it’s in a lightly worn piece that still has some of the mint red luster, it’s worth around $10 to $15.
if you can see the feathers or diamonds on the headdress then it it is worth like 10$-15$. less if it is cleaned
hey ivan if ya still ther il give ya some monies 4 ya 1943
I have a 1970 penny that is aluminum on the “heads” side and bronze on the “tales” side. I don’t know where to take it or if it is worth anything. Can you let me know?
Joni,
Unfortunately, it would be virtually impossible for a U.S. Mint error to have caused a penny of that year to look that way because pennies made up to 1982 were struck from a solid bronze coin blank; there was no use of a part-aluminum (or zinc or other light-colored metal), part-copper coin blank at that time. So, I’d suggest that what happened to your coin is that the heads side was plated in aluminum (or perhaps pewter or silver) for novelty effect. Such a piece really has no numismatic value, though it definitely is a neat piece to hang onto.
1970 its ab out 10.ooo$
ok i have a 1955-D penny idk if its worth anything tho
Ttsokatos,
Yes, a 1955-D penny is worth around 3 cents.
i have a 1937s penny what’s it worth
Gust,
Your 1937-S penny is worth around 5 cents.
i have the complete set of pennies from1941 to 1975 i have the s and d the 1943 are steel a dealer just told me over the phone they are only worth $20 please tell me this is not true
Baxleya,
Unfortunately that is true; in fact, $20 is a very good offer for a set like yours because all the pennies made from 1941 to 1975, except for certain errors, are very common. While values may potentially rise in the future for a set like yours, that is no guarantee. As for selling the set, that is up to you, but I feel you got a fair offer.
I have a 1936 penny is it worth anything joshua
It is Steven,
The 1936 penny is a relatively common coin, but at 5 to 15 cents it’s still worth more than face value.
i have a 1948 penny with the d letter on it nut i dont know what it is worth
Hi, Hayes — a 1948-D Lincoln cent in typical circulated grades is worth around 10 cents.
what about a 1944 S mercury dime?
A 1944-S is worth around $3.
I found a 1977 penny with a martini glass above liberty and the state of Ohio above the date. Do you have any idea if this is worth anything?
Karrijo —
What you have is a 1977 penny that was counterstamped by a private company with a commemorative design. Such pieces are considered novelty coins and are worth anywhere from 50 cents to around $1 to $2. Here’s some more info on novelty coins, if you’re interested: https://coins.thefuntimesguide.com/novelty_coins/
ALOHA, MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE A 1974 PENNY THAT HAS LINCOLN’S FACE ON BOTH SIDES OF PENNY. CAN YOU PLEASE TELL US WHAT ITS WERTH OR IF IT IS WERTH ANYTHING?
Amiee,
Sounds like you have a novelty two-headed coin. These really aren’t worth anything in numismatic terms, but they do make eye-popping conversation pieces!
Maybe you could win some money betting on coin flips!
have 1957 penny with fill in 5 like uc any value?????????? Thank You
i have a 1901 penny would like to know what it is worth
Alexander,
Your 1901 penny is worth between $1 and $3 if it’s in typical worn grades.
hello my name is henry i live in la paz baja california mexico i have 3 1943 pennys dont stick on a magnet how much i can sale sorry my english is not so good
Henry,
They DON’T stick to magnets? Since 1943 steel pennies DO stick to magnets, it’s possible that you have replicas or pieces altered to look like the rare 1943 bronze penny, which also wouldn’t stick to a magnet.
Here’s some more info on the 1943 penny: https://coins.thefuntimesguide.com/rare_wheat_pennies/
i have a question some i know is selling a 1940 wheat right and in the bottom of the back of the coin there seems to be an outline of a v like with the vdb pennies hes selling it for 100 bucks do u think i should buy it
Tank,
This really doesn’t sound like a genuine variety to me (for a 1940 penny, though I’ve heard of some VDB shadows on much earlier pieces — mainly those from 1910). I personally wouldn’t buy it without such a piece being slabbed by a third-party grader and attributed as a special variety.
i have a 1913 quarter with some guy that looks like ceasar on it haha
and a silver 1932 quarter
also a 1943 “lead” penny that sticks to a magnet
how much do you think all this is worth?
Hi, William —
Ha ha, in 20 years, you’re the first person I’ve ever heard refer to the Liberty Head quarter as the Caesar quarter! I suppose the profile does look a bit like Caesar now that you mention it… A 1913 Liberty Head quarter — also called the “Barber” quarter (for the coin’s designer — Charles E. Barber) is worth around $10 to $15 in typical worn condition. However, it’s value is could be more than $1,500 IF (that’s IF, William) it has a small, raised “S” under the eagle and above the words “QUARTER DOLLAR” on the back side; the “S” stands for San Francisco, where the coin would have been minted.
A 1932 Washington quarter is worth around $5 to $8 in worn grades. But if it has a raised “D” or “S” on the back under the eagle on the back of the coin, it’s worth more than $150.
Your 1943 steel penny has a value of around 10 cents to $1 if worn.
my daughter found a penny that is smooth with no image or print or anything on it. We were wondering if it was worth anything
I have a penny that is silver 1970, is it worth 1cent or more? I also have a nickel 1940 that seems to have been struck deeply on both sides, any idea on the value of that.1906 Indian cent and a 1901 nickel?
Josh,
Since only copper pennies were struck by the U.S. Mint in 1970, it sounds like you have a coin that was plated or coated by somebody outside of the Mint, and — thus — as an altered coin, is only worth face value.
However, your other coins are worth more:
*1906 Indian cent: $2 to $5
*1901 Liberty Head nickel: $1 to $5
*1940 Jefferson nickel: 10 to 20 cents
These values are for coins in typical worn grades.
My aunt has a penny with a big P on the front instead the head of Lincoln. Does anyone know anything about this coin?
Hi,
Sounds like your aunt has a Philadelphia token from a United States mint set. Mint sets are packages of uncirculated coins that the U.S. Mint has sold nearly every year since 1947.
A “P” mint token is worth between around 50 cents to $1.
Here’s some more info about mint sets: https://coins.thefuntimesguide.com/1980_mint_set/
i found a penny that has no date about 75% is all smooth the rest u can see liberty and the back of his head ? is it worth any thing ?
I have a 1942D wheat penny that has 1943 engraved/stamped vertically down Lincoln’s bust. Any ideas what’s up with that?
Girliegirl,
I don’t know WHY that was done, but I can tell you that was certainly not something done at the U.S. Mint. That’s definitely something that was done outside of the mint by a private individual or perhaps a company trying to promote something. If the origin could be determined, perhaps it could have nominal value as a novelty coin.
I have a coin that is half dollar Kennedy on one side and a penny from United Kingdom on the other side. is this worth anything?
Winterfairy,You actually have a magician’s coin; the illusion involves making it look as though a Kennedy half dollar is being “turned into” a British penny. This “coin” has no value to most coin collectors but may be worth a buck or two to a magician looking for a “trick coin.”
hello i have a 1944 wheat back penny there are two things that i have questions about on the back under america there is the letter A or the letter V directly under the A in america. also there is the letter V on the front of the coin above liberty. is this normal and where do i find the mint mark
Reese,
You actually have a magician’s coin; the illusion involves making it look as though a Kennedy half dollar is being “turned into” a British penny. This “coin” has no value to most coin collectors but may be worth a buck or two to a magician looking for a “trick coin.”
I have a 1941 wheat penny and the 1 is bent in towards the 4, I have 4 of these pennys and only one is like that. It looks to be stamped this way, would this increase the value?
HI MY NAME RICKEY I HAVE A 1936 WHEAT PENNIES BUT IT IS STEEL OR TIN I USE A MAGNET TO PICK THE PENNIES UP? THANK YOU
Rickey,
There were no steel or tin U.S. pennies made in 1936, so if you have some from that year that look like they’re made of anything but the usual copper composition, then they were plated by a private individual or company. Such pieces are considered altered and worth no more than face value.
My name is Donyale and I have a gold 1972 double dated penny
It has the date 1972 on it and right above that date there is the
Date 12 31 74. I have been trying to look it up with no luck. Does
Anyone know what it’s worth?
Hi, Donyale,
What you have is a regular 1972 penny that someone later stamped with the 12/31/1974 date. You aren’t the first person to report this piece; as for value, I don’t have an exact figure, but such pieces are usually worth not more than about a dollar, and their collector base is usually those who collect novelty coins.
Hello there, my name is luis, living in bellflower ca. and i want to know anything about a coins that i have, is a 1994 faded penny, looks like it is a dye error, not scrubbed against anything, i compared some marks it has with another regular (normal) coin, and looks the same just the ifference is that the face of it barely can be seen, i cannot find any information about any other coin like this…please somebody help me with any information of this kind of coin, could be one of a kind!!! thanks…
Diablo, would you mind posting a photo in the comments section here? Thanks!
here are some pics of the coin, sorry about saying that was from 1994…it is a 1996 penny and i am sure that it was not rubbed or scratched against anything, just notice the rim, it is intact…
Thanks! Great photos. It looks to me like your 1996 penny was very weakly struck. Such pieces are usually worth $25 to $50 or more. Nice find!
I have a coin that is the tail side of a penny and the opposite side is
the tail side of a dime there is not date or mint mark its very thin .
Is this a real coin or faked and what is the value please and thank you
Kim,
It sounds like you have a coin that has been altered to become a magician’s piece. There are worth a anywhere from $1 to $5 in the illusionists’ market.
Hello my name is Ed and I have 2 unique pennies. One is a 1958 penny that has a worn look to it (the lincoln face side has a “rubbed smooth” look, like a silohuette) which the mint mark (D) is under the 9 (almost touching it) and a 1942 penny that has the name Sandra horizontally (in cursive and starting from the top of the 9 to the s in TRUST) with Eve right below the Sandra) it looks etched BUT it is actually raised. I also have a 1955 penny (but I can not determine if it is double die).
Also the 1958 penny has the “heads side” edge smooth all around (the l in liberty is missing, the 8 in 1958 is half missing-horizontally and the “in god we trust” is half missing vertically starting from the “in god we” and the “trust” portion is almost gone except for the VERY bottom. The “tails side” also has a smooth edge, the “e plurbius unum” portion is half missing vertically and the wheat leaves are also smooth where only the leaf inner edges are viable.
Hi, Ed —
Would you mind posting a photo of your 1958 penny here in the comments forum?
As for the 1942 penny, such pieces really don’t have any extra monetary value in the mainstream coin market, though it’s an interesting piece that has, I’m sure, a neat story to it – if only that coin could talk. Perhaps some guy had a sweetheart named Sandra, for whom he had the coin etched by a metal smith. Who knows, though…
Here’s a link to a Lincoln penny article with a photo of a 1955 double die, they have a really distinctive look, and you’ll see doubling around the date and lettering if you have one: https://coins.thefuntimesguide.com/rare_wheat_pennies/
i have a 1941 s mint wheat back penny is it worth anything?
Bobby,
Your 1941-S penny is worth around 5 to 10 cents.
how much is for a 1943 silver penny worth in good condition ?
Worn 1943 steel cents are worth between 10 cents and $1.
I have a worn steel penny dated 1975 D with the reverse the same as a 1975 copper penny. Is it real?
Ron,
Unless your penny weighs less than 3 grams (standard weight for a copper penny is 3.11 grams; steel or aluminum cents weigh about 2.5 grams and 1 gram, respectively) it sounds like somebody simply plated your Lincoln cent with steel, silver, pewter, or perhaps even mercury (which is quite dangerous; mercury feels greasy). Such plated pennies really aren’t worth anything more than the metal they’re covered in.
i have found a 1944 steel penny, untouched. tested it with a magnet and it caught, is there any other way to see if it is authentic
Jim,
There are other diagnostics you could check for. Namely, you’ll want to weigh the coin on a sensitive scale, perhaps a postage scale, and see how many grams it weighs. If it’s 3 grams or more, it’s simply a copper penny (3.11 grams) that was coated in steel.
If it weighs 2.7 grams, it is likely a steel penny, BUT – it may simply be a 1943 steel penny that was altered to look like a 1944 steel cent. You’ll want to compare the date on your coin to that of a common 1944 copper penny. They should look the same. If not, your coin was altered. If they look similar AND your coin weighs 2.7 grams, you MAY have the real McCoy.
You would still want to get the coin authenticated by a third-party coin grading and authentication company. That could run you $25 or more, but could be worth the cost if you think your penny checks out.
Here’s some more info on third-party coin grading companies: https://coins.thefuntimesguide.com/slabbed_coins/
Good luck!
Have 1951d mint mark is filled ,i’m i rich???????????
Hi, Barry –
Would you mind posting a photo here in the comments forum? We’ll need to see it to figure out what’s going on with your coin. Thanks!
1951d filled & raised mint mark thank’s
Hi, Barry –
After taking a look at you 1951-D penny, it actually has a normal mintmark for that date. Sometimes they look and were struck with a blobby appearance, as is the case there.
what would make a 51d worth value? sherry
Sherry,
In the most basic sense, any additional value that a coin has over face value comes from its relative scarcity or state of preservation. In the case of a 1951-D penny, they’re relatively common, so for one to be worth a significant amount of money (let’s say, for example, more than a few dollars), it would have to be in a superior level of mint condition.
Here’s some more info on what Lincoln pennies are the most valuable: https://coins.thefuntimesguide.com/rare_wheat_pennies/
Hey Joshua; here’s that 1958 worn-like penny I posted the question about 6 days ago.
Hi, Ed —
VERY clear photos! Nice work. What I’m seeing on that coin is that it looks like there are deep scratches all going the same direction on both sides of the coin. Without holding it in hand with a magnifying glass, it looks like somebody wore that coin down with a machine or perhaps even by rubbing it on a something abrasive like a concrete sidewalk or perhaps sandpaper. Unfortunately, that pretty much eliminates any collector value from the coin.
I have 2 1943 white pennies. They stick to magnet. Any idea if they have any value?
Dlezcano,
1943 steel pennies are common and in worn grades worth between 10 cents and $1 each.
Hi Joshua,
I didnt know if you might be able to help me. I have come across two 1943 Silver Wheat Pennies. I was wondering if you could tell me a little about them.
Hi, Frochetta –
Be glad to – 1943 pennies are made of zinc-coated steel because the United States was trying to save copper for use in ammunition during World War II. Over 1 billion 1943 steel pennies were made, and most of them today that are in worn grades are worth between 10 cents and $1.
Can you possibly tell me the value of an 1853 liberty head penny that is a possible misprint?
I have a box of wheat pennies dated from 1910-1958 all circulated and some in really nice condition an some very worn.So thinking may not be worth all that much from reading here.Dang my 43 stuck to magnet.If I sell the box,wondering what I should get for them all?
Hi, Maureen —
Before you sell that box of wheat cents, check out these articles:
Lincoln semi-key cents: https://coins.thefuntimesguide.com/lincoln_semi_key_coins/
7 rare Lincoln cents: https://coins.thefuntimesguide.com/rare_wheat_pennies/
Without seeing each coin, it’s date, and overall condition, I would say that you should aim for getting at least 2 to 3 cents per coin IF they’re all common and well worn. 4 to 5 cents for common dates that aren’t very worn.
I found a 1971 penny with a mason emblem punched into it. Is it worth anything more than a cent? It is not copper but looks silverish in color. Its not a steel penny.
Joann –
What you have is a real Lincoln penny, but one that was altered after it was made. There are many Mason pennies out there, and it sounds like yours may have been coated in pewter or silver. As for value, it may be worth a couple dollars as a novelty coin.
when did they make a penny in 2009 with a house on the back.and words underneath of if that say e .pluribus unium 1809
Danny,
That penny was struck in early 2009 to commemorate President Lincoln’s 200th birthday and early upbringing in a log cabin. This was one of four penny designs that year to commemorate his birth and life. Here’s some more info if you’re interested: https://coins.thefuntimesguide.com/2009_lincoln_cent/
how does someone get a 1955 wheat penny checked out for authenticity?
I have a 1919 d penny. It’s really thin (see picture) is it rare?
Those are some good photos. My best guess is that it may have been dipped in acid, which tore away most of the metal. I have seen several coins like this and each one had corrosion, suggesting they were eaten away by a powerful agent.
Does this look like a 1955 d over d? If it is, what would it be worth?
From the photo I am having a hard time seeing any evidence or trace of the second D… I can tell you that a 1955 D over D penny is presently worth around $10 in uncirculated grades.
I have a wheat penny that is dated 194 no other numbers are visible…..
it has not been scratched off or buffed off what can you tell me about it
Rbrewer,
Without seeing the coin, my best guess may be that the die – the device which imprints images on a blank coin – was either weak or partially filled with debris. For the most part, these types of coins aren’t usually worth much more than regular coins of the same date.
Hi there, this is a 2007 penny with a ring on both sides. You can see the lettering in the groves of the rings. I don’t know much about coin errors. Just wondering if I could get some information on rarity and value.
thanks a bunch
I want to send you a better image of the 1955 d/d again… can you see it now, or is it nothing? What would it be worth?
Eric,
It looks like there may be a second “D” there; I especially seem to see evidence of a second D inside the loop of the primary D. In my experience, I have seen many similar “D” over “D” or “S” over “S” Lincoln cents sell for between $5 and $10.
What would a 1909 v.d.b. be worth? I got this in change at a McDonalds.
clipped planchet… how rare?
Torn planchet… how common, and what would this be worth?
I might need some clarity.. but i have a 1943 penny that looks silver, like steel, and it does not seem to stick to any magnets, can i get some help what this means, the video and original discription does not seem to match up. thanks!
Can someone please tell me what this mark is under the date? It is a 1935-D Lincoln Wheat Cent…is it valuable?
Could someone please tell me what the mark is under the date on this 1935-D Lincoln Wheat cent? Is this a valuable coin? Thanks !
Chad,
Some coin collectors might call that small bump a cud, which is basically the result of a defect in the die (the device which stamps the image on a blank coin). A common date wheat cent with a small cud like that may be worth a couple dollars.
This is a closer image of it…
a whole lot like thousands
Neat find, Eric! A 1909 VDB Lincoln cent like yours is worth around $12.
I have found a 1974 penny but it looks gold. i looks brand new not a scratch on it but it looks like a gold coin not copper…. is it worth anything?
Pschnichels,
It may be gold plated; even then, it’s value would still be nominal because the amount of gold is tiny. If gold plated, it may have a value of $1 to $2 in the novelty coin market.
I have a 1992D close AM penny but I am not sure where to take it to be graded! I took it to a few coin shops and the most reputable shop told me it seemed to be the real deal, but the PSCG doesn’t recognize that error yet and it would just come back marked “authentic” but without an actual grade. any suggestions?
I know that NGC certifies close “AM” cents; you may want to try ANACS, too. As for the “authentic” designation, it may be that the coin has been cleaned or as some other type of damage (deep gouges, a bend, etc.) I don’t know without seeing the coin, but that is my speculation, because PCGS reserves the “Genuine” designation for coins that have some type of damage to them. Good luck!
is there a one dollar kannedy.? if so what is it estimated value today
Art,
As of yet, no official $1 Kennedy coin has been produced (though there will be one in a few years thanks to the Presidential $1 coins series).
Has anyone heard of a 1955 “steel” penny?
Hippy,
No such coin was made, so it’s likely your coin was plated by a private individual with, most likely, pewter or mercury.
I have a penny collection dates are from 1934 to 2000 and it is a complete collection…. all three different mints. Is this worth anything?
Ok I have a 1955 d penny but its odd in coloring its not green due to water mixing with air. Instead its swirled with light and dark coloring even on the rim. Its kinda swirled I have seen worn penny but I have never seen them change from dark to light any thoughts
i have a 1943 copper penny. how rare is it?
I doubt you have a 1943 copper penny.
Could an off center penny be evidence of a double die? I have a 1982, and on the right side, the outer edge looks doubled. What are your thoughts?
Let me re-describe it, because I have been reading on off-centers, and mine appears to be different. The doubled edge looks alot like the quarter on:
https://conecaonline.org/content/recentfinds.htm
(its about halfway down the page. if you control+f and type in off-center, you will find it pretty quickly)
Hi, Brad –
Great question. Doubled rims are pretty common on a lot of off-centers and really only have minimal value extra. Evidence of doubled dies is usually seen in the design elements or in lettering itself. Doubled die coins are created when the die itself is made, so it’s possible for thousands of coins (like the 1955 doubled die cent, for example) to be struck with the exact same doubled design.
i have a 1943 s copper penny i would like to sell it looks new without the shine does anyone know the best way to sell it if so email me bigdee4u2@yahoo.com
i have a 1943 s copper penny i would like to sell it looks new without
the shine does anyone know the best way to sell it if so email me ayalajordy33@yahoo.com
it is probobly a reproduction because a cooper 1943 penny in 1943 were only a hand full of them because of the war they made them out of steel if you got the real deal than you got a lot of money in your hand if you want to sell it and if it the real deal i will buy it because 2010 two guy privetly made a sale for one at 1.7 million
I HAV A 194 PENNY WITHOUT THE FORTH NUMBER ON IT I HAVE HAD IT UNDER MY MICOSCOPE THAT COST MORE THAN SOME RARE COIN AND I LOOK AT IT FOR HOURS MY WIFE LOOKED TO AND A GOOD COLLECTOR FRIEND HE KNOWS HIS STUFF AND HE WAS AMAZED.THERE IS NO WEAR ON THIS COIN IT WOULD PROBABLIE BE A F TO VF HE SAID AND EVEN THE 4 ON IT IS NOT LIKE A NORMAL 4 YOU SEE ON WHEAT PENNYS IT GOT A LONG POINT ON IT .HE SAID IT HAS TO BE AN ERROR COIN OVER LOOK .THE GOOD THING ABOUT MY FREIND IS THAT HE WORKS FOR NGC NO NAMES.I SHOULD OF NOT SAID THAT MUCH.
i don’t know if this is the rite place to ask this but, can someone tell me please what happened to this penny? please send me an e-mail if you know. myownwindow@live.com
looks to me like it was in the tumbler of a comercial dryer ,ive ran acroos quite a few of them
I have a 1946 steel penny but someone scraped the outer edges and it does not look like copper to me it is a little to yellow .Any suggestions?
This 1951d penny has filled half loop on the nine, rare ???????????
i have a 1974 pennie with the old 13 state flag staped above the year it was made
WHERE 1943 WHEAT PENNIES MADE FROM LEAD
No they were made out of zinc plated steel a hand full were made of copper
I found what looks like a 1990 Steel Penny.
Do you have any idea what its worth.The coin is very dirty but in fair condtion
I have a copper penny that is pretty old. The date reads 1914 and it looks like an S under the date. The “1”, “9”, and the “4” aren’t as difficult to read as the “1” that comes before the “4” is. Looking at it thru a strong lense, it looks like there are craters on the coin, the coin shows it’s age. I looked at it closely several times and had 3 of pairs of eyes examine it. They too said 1914. I would like to know what the value of this penny would be in it’s non mint condition. I also have older pennies from 1882 -1957 some with a mint print others without. Could someone give me an idea of their value? Thank you.
Hi, Tina –
A 1914-S penny is a fairly scarce penny and is likely worth between $8 and $15 if it is in typical, worn condition. In general, the 1882-1909 Indian pennies are worth between $1 and $3 each in typical, worn grades, and the later ones worth between 3 and 20 cents. Though, if you have scarcer years,they can be worth much more.
Here are two posts that may help you a bit more:
7 Rare Lincoln Pennies: https://coins.thefuntimesguide.com/rare_wheat_pennies/
Semi-Key Lincoln Pennies: https://coins.thefuntimesguide.com/lincoln_semi_key_coins/
i have a 1943 wheat penny and i look at a couple of sites and some of them say its worh 50 cents and some say up to 80,000 dallor so can any boty help me find out what its realy worth
see if its magnetic if not an the 3 has a tail i seen on here it has went for over 100,000
I have two silver pennies 1943 and they do have the tail. I would like to know where can i sell them or ever find out how much they are worth.
Zulema,
The tail on the 3 of “1943” is typical, and a Lincoln steel cent in worn condition is worth between 10 and 25 cents. They can be sold at any coin dealer. Here’s some more info:
5 Surefire Tips tips to Finding a Coin Dealer: https://coins.thefuntimesguide.com/coin_dealer/
i have a1936 pennies whit a dot,i would like to sell it what do i do i have no experience with this i am not a collecter
Hi, i have a 1969 s double die penny uncirculated & 1968s double die very good condition & was wondering were in san diego i can sell it, i hurd there were collectors looking for these, and they pay any were up to 80,000.00.
I also have quarters,{ie 1938}: dimes {ie 1942} ,1909- 11, 37 to 1959 wheat pennys, buffelo/indian nickle, and 1922 emergency german paper money 20, 40, & 60 hellers from diffrent citys uncirculated in a book
,foreign coins from 1940 to 1980, etc
where can i sell these, my email, michelelionelsilva @ gmail.com
thank you michele silva , san diego,ca 92107
Michele,
Sounds like you have an interesting coin collection. Be sure it is placed in legitimate hands and that you get fair market value for them assuming all pieces are authentic. You will want to check out this link for a list of reputable coin dealers in the San Diego area: https://www.pngdealers.com/dealersearch.php
For more info on selling coins, check out this informative link: https://coins.thefuntimesguide.com/sell-old-coins/
Good luck!
I have a 1943 penny that DOESN’T stick to a magnet…how do I find its true value..? thanks…