Coin Worth Checker· US coin values ·
Penny Coin Value
Most circulated pennies are worth face value to a few cents, but the right ones are worth thousands: wheat pennies bring 3–10 cents each, Indian Head cents start around $1, and key dates like the 1909-S VDB run $700 and up.
· Identify yours ·
Identify penny coin value by photos
Upload a photo of each side of your penny — the inscriptions are read right in your browser, nothing is uploaded to any server, and the coin is matched against the worldwide catalogue.
· Live catalogue prices ·
How much is a penny worth?
Estimates below are drawn from a worldwide numismatic catalogue for each series' most common issue and refresh weekly. Scarcer dates and mint marks price far higher — see the key dates further down.
| Coin | Years | Good (G-4) | Very Fine (VF-20) | Extremely Fine (EF-40) | Uncirculated (MS-60+) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flying Eagle Cent | 1856–1858 | $15 | $36 | $36 | — |
| Indian Head Penny | 1864–1909 | $1.83 | $2.97 | $5.03 | $55 |
| Lincoln Wheat Penny | 1909–1958 | $0.06 | $0.23 | $0.28 | $2.71 |
| 1943 Steel Wheat Penny | 1943–1944 | $0.22 | $0.66 | $1.01 | $2.75 |
| Lincoln Memorial Cent (Bronze) | 1959–1982 | $0.02 | $0.11 | $0.11 | $0.51 |
| Lincoln Memorial Cent (Zinc) | 1982–2008 | $0.01 | $0.17 | $0.17 | $0.75 |
Prices are catalogue estimates for each type's most common issue, in USD, for reference only. The exact value of your coin depends on its date, mint mark and condition — check it by name or photograph it in the app.
· Worth real money ·
Penny key dates to look for
- 1909-S VDB Wheat Penny — $700+ — the famous key date, only 484,000 minted
- 1914-D Wheat Penny — $200+ in any collectible grade
- 1922 "No D" Wheat Penny — $500+ — die error, Denver's only missing mint mark
- 1943 Bronze Cent — Six figures — a handful struck on leftover bronze planchets
- 1955 Doubled Die Obverse — $1,000+ — the best-known doubling error in US coinage
- 1877 Indian Head Penny — $500+ — lowest-mintage year of the series
· Questions ·
Penny values FAQ
How much is a wheat penny worth?
Common circulated wheat pennies (1909–1958) trade for 3 to 10 cents. Better dates from the 1910s–1920s reach a few dollars, and the key dates — 1909-S VDB, 1914-D, 1922 no-D, 1931-S — run from $100 into four figures. Check the date and the mint mark under it.
Which pennies are worth money in circulation today?
Any wheat-back penny, all pre-1983 bronze cents (worth about 2 cents in copper alone), and error coins: doubled dies, off-center strikes and the 1943 bronze / 1944 steel transitional rarities. Everything else is face value.
How can I check my penny's exact value?
Identify the date, mint mark and condition, then look the combination up — or photograph the coin in the Coin Value Checker app and get the identification and a grade-aware estimate in seconds.
Got a penny in hand?
Photograph it and get the exact variety, date and a condition-aware value estimate in seconds.
Coin Value Checker
US coin values by denomination:
Nickel Coin Value · Dime Coin Value · Quarter Coin Value · Half Dollar Coin Value · Dollar Coin Value · Coin value guide