Believe it or not, a small, silvery penny once sold for $110,000 — and it wasn’t made of copper. It was the 1943-S Steel Wheat Penny, a rare error that has left collectors stunned. While most 1943 steel cents are common, certain mint marks, pristine conditions, and minting mistakes have made a few worth a fortune.
Let’s break down the story of the $110,000 penny and explore 7 other Lincoln Wheat pennies that could also be hiding in your pocket change, each potentially worth thousands to millions.
1. 1943-S Steel Penny (Sold for $110,000)
- Minted: San Francisco
- Metal: Zinc-coated steel (due to wartime copper shortage)
- Value: One pristine MS-68 example sold for $110,000 at auction
- Why It’s Valuable: While most 1943 steel cents are worth under $1, this particular coin’s near-perfect condition (MS-68 grade) made it one of the finest known specimens.
Look for: No rust or spotting, strong strike, and full mint luster — especially if it carries the “S” mint mark.
2. 1943 Copper Penny (Value: $100,000 to Over $1 Million)
- Minted: Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco
- Why It’s Valuable: A few pennies in 1943 were mistakenly struck in bronze (copper) instead of steel. Fewer than 20 are known to exist.
- Auction Record: One sold for $1.7 million in 2010.
Test Tip: Use a magnet — if the coin sticks, it’s steel. If not, it might be a million-dollar mistake.
3. 1944 Steel Penny (Value: Up to $75,000–$180,000+)
- Minted: Mostly 1944 pennies were copper again, but a few steel blanks were accidentally used.
- Why It’s Valuable: These 1944 steel cents are extremely rare transitional errors.
Key Test: A 1944 penny that sticks to a magnet is almost certainly one of these rare steel strikings.
4. 1922 No D Lincoln Wheat Penny (Value: Up to $30,000)
- Minted: Denver (the only mint that made pennies that year)
- Why It’s Valuable: Some 1922 cents show no visible “D” mintmark due to a heavily worn die.
- High-grade examples command serious money.
Look for: A clear 1922 date with no mint mark and a sharp, strong reverse design.
5. 1909-S VDB Lincoln Wheat Penny (Value: $700 to $85,000+)
- Minted: San Francisco
- Why It’s Valuable: Only 484,000 minted with designer Victor D. Brenner’s initials “VDB” on the reverse.
- Rarity + First-Year Issue = Major Collector Demand
Look for: Clear “S” mintmark below the date and “VDB” at the bottom of the reverse.
6. 1914-D Lincoln Wheat Penny (Value: Up to $13,000+)
- Minted: Denver
- Why It’s Valuable: A low mintage year — only 1.2 million minted, and even fewer survived in good condition.
Look for: A crisp “D” mintmark and little wear on Lincoln’s face.
7. 1931-S Lincoln Wheat Penny (Value: $100 to $5,000+)
- Minted: San Francisco
- Why It’s Valuable: One of the lowest mintage Wheat pennies of the 1930s — only 866,000 struck.
Look for: An “S” mintmark with even wear and clear details.
8. 1955 Doubled Die Lincoln Penny (Value: Up to $2,000 to $20,000+)
- Minted: Philadelphia
- Why It’s Valuable: A famous doubling error — the date and letters like “LIBERTY” and “IN GOD WE TRUST” appear clearly doubled.
How to Spot: The doubling is dramatic and visible without a magnifier.
Final Thoughts: Are These Still in Circulation?
While many of these Lincoln Wheat treasures are rare, a few have surfaced in:
- Pocket change
- Inherited coin jars
- Estate sales
- Antique shops
- Coin roll hunts
So yes — it’s possible one of these valuable pennies is still hiding in plain sight. The 1943-S steel penny may have stolen the headlines with its $110,000 price tag, but it’s just the tip of the iceberg for Wheat cent collectors.