U.S. Coins Worth More Than Face Value: A List Of The Most Valuable Coins You Should Be Saving In All Denominations

You probably have coins that are worth more than face value in your pocket change or coin jar right now.

In fact, many old valuable coins are still in circulation today — so your chances of finding them in your everyday change are quite good.

If you’re wondering which ones are keepers and which ones are not, check here to see specifically which pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters, half dollars & dollar coins are worth more than face value and worth holding onto.

US Coins Worth More Than Face Value

Following is the ultimate guide to U.S. coins that you definitely want to save… not spend!

Most Valuable Pennies – A list of the most valuable pennies that you should be looking for in your pocket change. These 43 pennies commonly found in circulation are worth 100 times their face value: $1 or more… each!

Most Valuable Nickels – These silver nickels, Buffalo nickels, and other old nickels are the ones you want to save. Check out this list of the most valuable nickels, along with their current values. They’re worth at least 4 times face value: 20 cents each… and up!

Most Valuable Dimes – Old dimes can easily be found in circulation today. Here’s a list of silver dimes and other valuable old dimes to look for, along with their current values. These dimes are all worth at least 10 times face value: $1 each… and higher!

Most Valuable Quarters – Yes, you can find silver quarters and other rare quarters in your pocket change. These are the most valuable quarters you should be looking for. They’re worth at least 4 times face value: $1 or more apiece!

Most Valuable Half Dollars – Silver half dollars (1970 and earlier) are valuable for their silver content alone. See which Kennedy half dollars – and others – you should be looking for, along with their current values. These half dollars are worth at least 3-1/2 times face value ($3.50 each). Most are worth much more than that!

Most Valuable Silver Dollars – A list of the most valuable silver dollars – including Morgan dollars, Peace dollars, and Eisenhower dollars. These silver dollars are are worth at least 15 times face value: $15 or more apiece!

Find Out More About Your Coins…

About Lynnette

I like to help people find unique ways to do things in order to save time & money -- so I write about "outside the box" ideas that most wouldn't think of. As a lifelong dog owner, I often share my best tips for living with and training dogs. I worked in Higher Ed over 10 years before switching gears to pursue activities that I'm truly passionate about. I've worked at a vet, in a photo lab, and at a zoo -- to name a few. I enjoy the outdoors via bicycle, motorcycle, Jeep, or RV. You can always find me at the corner of Good News & Fun Times as publisher of The Fun Times Guide (32 fun & helpful websites).

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CollectotConnor123

Hi, I have a 1922 penny, and I think it is a plain cent. Could you tell me what you think this is, and what it is worth. Thanks.
- JoshuaTheFunTimesGuide
  
  Hi, Connor —
  
  There are several different die pairs for the 1922-D/1922 penny, and it looks like you MAY have Die Pair #4, though I can’t verify for sure without magnification, though your photos are very good and helped me rule out a few of the other die pairings.
  
  The value of a 1922 Weak D cent is about $30.
  
  Best,
  Josh
TUAL TIMOTHEE

Hi, I have a few coins of British india Rupee ( Victoria Queen 1840) some 1862 1903 1905 1907 1912 1913 and some are dirty can I clean with baking soda and how can I sell? Thanks
tielovou

Hi! I saw you actually respond and I was hoping for a little insight. I’m new to this entirely, but I find it very fascinating. I was going through my change and found a 1945 wheat back penny. It has no mint mark, but it had the initials “V.D.B.” on the FRONT of the coin, Lower Left edge of Lincolns coat. I read that it is the initials of the designer of the coin but I cannot find any information about the initials being on this year of coin or in this area of the coin in the front. Is it of any significance or just an error? Or am I just seeing shapes in scuff marks? I was looking for a mint mark under a magnifying lens when I saw it. Thanks! I’d appreciate any information.
- JoshuaTheFunTimesGuide
  
  Hi there, Tielovou —
  
  Yes, in fact the initials VDB have appeared under Lincoln’s shoulder since 1918 and still appear there to this day. As you referenced, they did appear for a short time in 1909 on the reverse of the coin under the wheat ears. These were removed due to public outcry during the fall of 1909 and did not appear on any pennies right through 1917.
  
  Here’s some more info on the VDB “controversy”: http://coins.thefuntimesguide.com/2009/03/1909_vdb_penny.php
edgar vasquez

Hey Joshua I have a 1990 Lincoln penny with no mint mark is that the penny that supposed to have the s mint mark.
- JoshuaTheFunTimesGuide
  
  Hi, Edgar —
  
  I will need to please see a photo to help answer this question, but generally if your coin doesn’t have exceptionally well-struck, brilliant surfaces, such pieces are 99.9 times out of 100 a regular 1990 Philadelphia Mint (no mintmark) penny.
  
  I hope this helps answer your question!
  Josh
  - Angel Neault
    
    Hi Josh can you tell me if this is worth anything please. It is a 1967 quarter it has an extra circle in it the exact same size as a nickel https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/81a5854f38b42ef8b672c669022b21d9e6e060c54cfa773f4b88a5e72299f851.jpg
    - Hammond Ecks
      
      My semi-expert opinion is that it was damaged after it was made. The fact that the circle is the size of a nickel means someone probably put a nickel on top of the quarter and hit it with a hammer or other weight. It’s doubtful that a nickel accidentally got caught in the coin press at the Mint. They use very high pressure which would strike the nickel’s image into the quarter as a mirror image.
  - Angel Neault
    
    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/08ed05768ad60ca01e3211bb31bb9bdb05d905aab373ae4335142a6a8842b134.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/ee513c3f9dc86e7a881eaacd64df8fe8486dcbce4e0bf2958c8aa2bc03f372e9.jpg
JoshuaTheFunTimesGuide

Hi, Angel —

The circular groove is post-mint damage caused, perhaps, by another coin (possibly a nickel as you keenly stated) being forced upon this coin. There are a number of ways such damage could have occurred, but at any rate this piece is worth face value.

Thank you for your question!
Josh
Holly Barker

Hey Joshua I have one silver Elizabeth 2 1972 Canada coin, then 2 bronze Elizabeth 2 Canada coins one 1962 the other 1968. I also have 2 bronze wheat pennies one 1956 the other 1934 I was wondering the worth?
- JoshuaTheFunTimesGuide
  
  Hello, Holly!
  
  Would you mind providing a little more info on the Canadian coins, please? What are their denominations? Photos help, too, if that’s easier for you!
  
  Meanwhile, the 1934 Lincoln wheat cent is worth 10 cents and the 1956 is valued at 5 cents, assuming both have typical amounts of wear for their ages.
  
  Best,
  Josh
  - Holly Barker
    
    Did you get the pictures?
JoshuaTheFunTimesGuide

Hi, Holly!

Thank you for these great images. The 1968 and 1969 Canadian one-cent coins are technically worth less than one-cent USD here, but US collectors often pay 5 to 10 cents each for common, worn Canadian pennies for their novelty.

The 1972 Canadian dime, meanwhile, is similarly worth barely face value here in the US but would trade for 15 to 20 cents in the foreign coin market.

Best,
Josh
- GonZalo
  
  Hey I was wondering were to sell my 1969s penny?
  - JoshuaTheFunTimesGuide
    
    Hello, GonZalo —
    
    Unless you have a 1969-S doubled die cent, your piece, if circulated is generally worth 2 cents for its copper value. I’d be glad to double-check your coin for any apparent errors or varieties if you kindly upload an image of that coin here to the comments forum!
    
    Thank you,
    Josh
GonZalo

1969s
- JoshuaTheFunTimesGuide
  
  Hi, GonZalo —
  
  This 1969-S Lincoln cent doesn’t appear to be a doubled die. It’s therefore worth two cents, or the coin’s metal value.
  
  Thanks for your question and coin photos!
  -Josh
  - GonZalo
    
    any value?
    - JoshuaTheFunTimesGuide
      
      Hello, GonZalo —
      
      Judging the coin based on the photos of the obverse, I don’t see anything unusual about this piece. It does have a bit of post-mint damage and the surface has attained a darker appearance due to circulation wear and exposure to a variety of substances. The edge appears well worn. At this photo resolution, I don’t see any signs of die doubling, etc. This piece, as it appears in the photo, is worth face value.
      
      Best,
      Josh
  - GonZalo
    
    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/dac40d4f352068be67dcb7fd1eac8cc76317b5c5046e70f72e4d99dd32d4f52f.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/ca5dbed946d466c78782f18675793a34732cc0cef5024e7c6448da3ea0fd4c23.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/2852d4d6b4e8287ea7e7afd4163cd71d9725cf3f528d9b0ec31e06cbd0981f1a.jpg
Mr X

https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/101ec0c9a2871b60e5e4c8f1ee5b7aa263ba76aea25afae2de6ecb2a8edf7cc2.jpg Why is this coin selling for between $400 to $600, what makes it so special and valuable?
- JoshuaTheFunTimesGuide
  
  Hi, Mr. X —
  
  It’s selling for such a high price because it is one of the finest examples of its date (1971) and mint (San Francisco — denoted by the coin’s “S” mintmark). While it may look just like any other shiny penny, under magnification one would fine very few marks and abrasions, which are common to virtually all coins intended for circulation, such as this coin.
  
  Coins are graded on a numerical scale ranging from 1 (poor) to 70 (numismatically perfect). Note this coin is a 67 — extremely high for a business-strike Lincoln cent. In fact, the Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC), which graded this coin, has certified only 30 1971-S Lincoln cents in Mint State 67, with none grading higher. The Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) — the other major coin grading firm, has graded only 25 1971-S Lincoln cents MS-67, with none grading higher. In other words, of the 525.1 million 1971-S Lincoln cents in existence, less than 60 have been graded by the two major coin grading firms in MS-67. Surely there are others out there, but we can assume this number to be a mere fraction of the entire population.
  
  So, as you might now realize, this perhaps ordinary-looking 1971-S Lincoln cent is actually rare – – it’s what we’d call a conditional rarity; the date is common, yes, but it’s rare in such a high grade.
  
  Here are some links you might find interesting:
  
  43 Most Valuable Pennies To Look For: https://coins.thefuntimesguide.com/valuable-pennies/
  Facts on Certified Coins: https://coins.thefuntimesguide.com/slabbed_coins/
  What Are Supergrade Coins? https://coins.thefuntimesguide.com/super-grade-coins/
  
  Thank you for your question,
  Josh
David Neilson

Hi Joshua. My question is there other way to tell the difference between small dates an large dates .there is high 7, low 7, s . I know you had said about the numbers slinging, on this they seem to be in line on top. My book only has a couple pic. Of what to look for is there a link or something you can suggest to help me in this . .. Thanks Till next time ..
- JoshuaTheFunTimesGuide
  
  Hello, David —
  
  Let’s see if the images on this page help: http://www.lincolncentresource.com/smalldates/1970Ssmalldate.html
  
  There are few distinguishing diagnostics as telling as the relative position of the “7” to the other digits in the 1970-S Lincoln cent, and it can take time to figure them out and recognize them at a glance.
  
  Please let me know if you need any further assistance with this…
  
  Good luck!
  Josh
David Neilson

https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/0b6a7fd0d221364f1eb7153f6e3ae010f0087b61a3e8a3e991f2f6e343beff8e.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/2bf02ecdf3de58ed0442ae4ed576313cefd69e0fcff4e04b5778dabdf64772e8.jpg
- JoshuaTheFunTimesGuide
  
  Hi, David —
  
  The image on top is a bit blurry, but from what I see these are both large dates.
  
  Best,
  Josh
Dres Thoj

https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/945543b40a36efecece54de2dbdc5b82f2b073828c3f8449ad9453b7380a90d0.jpg Joshua-can you look at this 1970 penny and see what’s it worth? Thanks
- JoshuaTheFunTimesGuide
  
  Hi, Dres —
  
  This appears to be a 1970-S large date cent, which is worth 2 cents in a worn state such as this.
  
  Thank you for your question and photo!
  Josh
Caden Sanderson

Hi josh my name is caden and I am 13. I am very interested in coins I would like to know more about coins that could be sitting in your pocket change.
- JoshuaTheFunTimesGuide
  
  Hello, Caden!
  
  It’s good to meet you. Articles like this one that explain which coins are worth more than face value can definitely help you in building a base of knowledge so you can become a better coin collector. I was about your age when I first got involved in coin collecting and have loved the hobby ever since.
  
  I wish you all the best in your coin collecting pursuits! If you have any more questions about coins, please feel free to check out more of the coin articles here at TheFunTimesGuide.com or ask questions here. I’ll be glad to assist the best I can!
  
  Happy collecting!
  Josh
  - Caden Sanderson
    
    thanks josh