It may be time to dig out that old piggy bank and see if you’ve got a fortune stashed away. Cointrackers.com has compiled a list of the top 25 most valuable pennies ever minted in the United States.
According to data from Cointrackers.com , which covers coins from the 1880s to 2024, the top two most valuable pennies are from 1943 and 1944.
“These values reflect coins issued into circulation as is, not common errors like double dies,” explains Cointrackers.com , a site dedicated to coin values and silver markets.
Top 25 most valuable pennies
- 1944 Steel Wheat Penny - $408,000
- 1943 Copper Wheat Penny - $250,000
- 1856 Flying Eagle Penny - $25,000
- 1924 S Wheat Penny - $12,000
- 1873 Indian Head Penny - $10,000
- 1858 Flying Eagle Penny - $10,000
- 1857 Flying Eagle Penny - $7,000
- 1922 D Wheat Penny - $6,000
- 1914 D Wheat Penny - $5,600
- 1909 S VDB Wheat Penny - $4,150
- 1914 S Wheat Penny - $3,200
- 1877 Indian Head Penny - $3,200
- 1909 S Indian Head Penny - $2,250
- 1913 S Wheat Penny - $2,000
- 1918 S Wheat Penny - $2,000
- 1924 D Wheat Penny - $2,000
- 1925 S Wheat Penny - $1,800
- 1912 S Wheat Penny - $1,500
- 1913 D Wheat Penny - $1,500
- 1920 S Wheat Penny - $1,500
- 1872 Indian Head Penny - $1,350
- 1915 S Wheat Penny - $1,200
- 1916 S Wheat Penny - $1,200
- 1923 S Wheat Penny - $1,200
- 1926 S Wheat Penny - $1,200
Your $2 bill could also be worth thousands. How to check
Secured in a lock box or tucked away in a dresser drawer, your $2 bill might be worth much more than its face value. Depending on its year and condition, some $2 bills could now be worth thousands of dollars.
To determine the value of your $2 bill, check its year and seal color. Bills with red, brown, or blue seals from 1862 through 1917 can be worth up to $1,000 or more, according to the U.S. Currency Auctions website . This valuation is based on recent and past paper currency auctions.
For bills from 1995, a set of 12 notes in their original packaging can be worth $500 or more. To find out the value of your $2 bill, visit the U.S. Currency Auctions price guide at uscurrencyauctions.com .
The auction site estimates that uncirculated $2 bills from 1890 could sell for up to $4,500. Uncirculated bills from nearly every year between 1862 and 1917 could be worth at least $1,000, with collectors offering these or similar rates based on factors like printing method and location.
How about your $1 bills? Those could be worth a small fortune
Your $1 bill might be worth thousands due to a rare printing error. Some bills are now valued at up to $150,000 for a pair of misprinted notes with duplicate serial numbers, according to WealthyNickel.com . This error, caused by the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing, occurred with bills from 2014 and 2016. Thirty-seven complete pairs of these duplicate serial number bills have been identified so far.
What’s the printing error? The error involved two $1 bills with the same serial number. Each bill should have a unique number, but these bills were printed with duplicates.
How was the error discovered? A collector noticed the anomaly in public documents and filed a Freedom of Information Act request. The government confirmed the error and revealed 6.4 million pairs of duplicate serial numbers.
How many bills are still in circulation? Approximately 6.4 million pairs of these misprinted bills were issued in 2014 and 2016. After 10 and eight years, respectively, they could be found anywhere.
How to check your bill
- Look for the series date “Series 2013” on the far right of George Washington’s portrait.
- Check for a “B” Federal Reserve Seal above the serial number to the right of Washington’s photo.
- The serial number should end with a star (★) and fall between B00000001★ – B00250000★ or B03200001★–B09600000★.
If You find a duplicate: Submit your serial number to Project 2013B’s current database , which includes over 36,000 serial numbers, to verify its value.
Contributing: Democrat and Chronicle Reporter Victoria Freile, USA Today Network
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Your pennies might be worth thousands. The top 25 most valuable pennies revealed
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