The Top 10 Most Valuable Lincoln Pennies by Current Market Price

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Every collector dreams of finding the one Lincoln cent that turns pocket change into a fortune, and in 2025 the market for valuable Lincoln pennies is hotter than ever. With silver soaring past $49/oz and error coin demand through the roof, the rarest Lincoln cents are shattering records left and right. Here’s the definitive, freshly updated ranking of the most valuable Lincoln pennies based on actual auction sales and private treaty prices from the last 12 months — no hype, just the coins that are actually bringing the biggest money right now.

Top 10 Most Valuable Lincoln Pennies in 2025 (Ranked by Realized Price)

  1. 1943 Bronze Lincoln Cent – $372,000 (Heritage Jan 2025, PCGS MS-62 BN) The ultimate wartime error — accidentally struck in bronze instead of zinc-coated steel. Only ~20 known.
  2. 1944 Steel Lincoln Cent – $305,000 (Stack’s Bowers March 2025, PCGS MS-63) Opposite of 1943 — steel planchet left over in the hopper. Fewer than 30 confirmed.
  3. 1955 Doubled Die Obverse – $124,000 (GreatCollections Sept 2025, PCGS MS-66 Red) Still the most dramatic, collectible error — new record set this year.
  4. 1969-S Doubled Die Obverse – $108,000 (Heritage Aug 2025, PCGS AU-55) One of the rarest modern errors — only ~50 believed to exist.
  5. 1909-S VDB Lincoln Cent – $98,000 (Legend May 2025, PCGS MS-67+ Red) The classic key date with designer initials — finest known examples keep climbing.
  6. 1914-D Lincoln Cent – $89,000 (Stack’s Bowers Nov 2025, PCGS MS-66 Red) Low-mintage Denver issue — red gems are almost impossible.
  7. 1931-S Lincoln Cent – $76,500 (Heritage Oct 2025, PCGS MS-66+ Red CAC) Only 866,000 minted during the Depression — red examples are ultra-rare.
  8. 1922 No-D Strong Reverse – $68,000 (GreatCollections July 2025, PCGS VF-30) Famous die abrasion error that removed the “D” mintmark.
  9. 1972 Doubled Die Obverse – $22,500 (Heritage Nov 2025, PCGS MS-67+ Red) Still the most “findable” big-money error — but top grades are skyrocketing.
  10. 1909-S Lincoln Cent – $19,800 (Stack’s Bowers Oct 2025, PCGS MS-67 Red) The first “S” mint Lincoln cent — high-grade red coins are on fire.
How to Check Your Pocket Change for $10,000+ Coins in 2025

Honorable Mentions Still Worth $5,000–$15,000+

  • 1917 Doubled Die Obverse
  • 1958 Doubled Die Obverse
  • 1984 Doubled Ear
  • 1992 Close AM
  • 1995 Doubled Die Obverse

Why These Lincoln Pennies Keep Setting Records in 2025

  • Registry Set competition is fiercer than ever — collectors need pop 1/0 coins to stay #1
  • New money flooding the hobby (crypto profits, inheritance buyers)
  • Low surviving populations in high grade — many key dates have fewer than 10 red gems known
  • Social media “pocket find” videos driving fresh demand

How to Start Hunting Valuable Lincoln Pennies Today

  1. Focus on wheat cents (1909–1958) first — modern errors are great, but keys are almost always pre-1960
  2. Look for sharp doubling, missing mintmarks, wrong metal, or ultra-low mintage dates
  3. Use a good loupe — many $10k+ errors are visible to the naked eye once you know what to look for
  4. Buy rolls from banks or check CoinStar reject trays — yes, even 1943 bronze and 1955 DDO coins still surface

The most valuable Lincoln pennies aren’t museum pieces locked away forever — many of the coins above were discovered in circulation or old albums in the last decade. One jar, one roll, one overlooked folder… and you could own the next six-figure cent.

Start sorting tonight — the rankings change every auction season.

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