· 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 a few cents each, Indian Head cents bring more than face, 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 | $14 | $40 | $40 | — |
| Indian Head Penny | 1864–1909 | $1.81 | $2.93 | $4.97 | $76 |
| Lincoln Wheat Penny | 1909–1958 | $0.06 | $0.22 | $0.28 | $2.67 |
| 1943 Steel Wheat Penny | 1943–1944 | $0.21 | $0.65 | $0.99 | $2.71 |
| Lincoln Memorial Cent (Bronze) | 1959–1982 | $0.02 | $0.11 | $0.11 | $0.51 |
| Lincoln Memorial Cent (Zinc) | 1982–2008 | $0.01 | $0.16 | $0.16 | $0.74 |
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+ even well worn — the famous key date, only 484,000 mintedSold: $793, PCGS G-6 BN — Stack's Bowers, May 6, 2026 Collectors Choice Auction, lot 93044, May 2026
- 1914-D Wheat Penny — $150+ even well worn — 1,193,000 mintedSold: $219.60, PCGS VG-8 BN — Stack's Bowers, May 6, 2026 Collectors Choice Auction, lot 93052, May 2026
- 1922 "No D" Wheat Penny — $250+ worn with a weak reverse, $450+ with a strong one — every 1922 cent came from Denver, and worn dies left some with no DSold: $504, PCGS G-6 BN, Strong Reverse FS-401 — Stack's Bowers, May 21, 2025 Collectors Choice Online Auction, lot 93096, May 2025
- 1943 Bronze Cent — Six figures — only a handful were struck on leftover bronze blanksSold: $317,250, PCGS AU-55 CAC — Stack's Bowers, January 2013 Americana Sale, lot 13257, Jan 2013
- 1955 Doubled Die Obverse — $1,000+ even worn — the best-known doubled die in US coinageSold: $2,040, PCGS EF-45, FS-101 — Stack's Bowers, November 19, 2025 Collectors Choice Online Auction, lot 94070, Nov 2025Record: $114,000, PCGS MS-65+ RD CAC — Stack's Bowers, March 2018 Baltimore Auction, lot 2140, Mar 2018
- 1877 Indian Head Penny — $450+ even well worn — 852,500 minted, the second-lowest mintage in the seriesSold: $528, PCGS G-4 BN — Stack's Bowers, January 28, 2026 Collectors Choice Online Auction, lot 97055, Jan 2026
· By year ·
Penny values for single dates
· Questions ·
Penny values FAQ
How much is a wheat penny worth?
Common circulated wheat pennies (1909–1958) trade for a few cents each. Scarcer 1910s–1920s dates, often from Denver or San Francisco, bring more, and the key dates run from about $150 for a worn 1914-D to $500–$800 for a worn 1922 no-D or 1909-S VDB, and into four figures in better grades. Check the date and the mint mark under it.
Which pennies are worth money in circulation today?
Any wheat-back penny, all pre-1983 copper cents (their copper alone is worth more than a cent), 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?
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