Lincoln coins are special to the coin collector and history lover alike. Having one of these scarce coins can be attractive not just because it is valuable but because of the rich historical context that surrounds it.
Some of the rare Lincoln coins sold at auction because of their scarcity, good condition, and unique minting defects for almost $1 million. Everyone collecting Lincoln dollars should read this.
1909-S VDB Lincoln Penny
One of the most famous and hard to find Lincoln cents is the 1909-S VDB penny. This penny is very valuable to fans because it was only made in small numbers (484,000) in San Francisco.
The initials “VDB” (for designer Victor David Brenner) were on the back, which made it famous. Later versions got rid of them because they caused trouble. This coin is a rare find because it was only made in small numbers.
1943 Bronze Lincoln Penny
Copper wasn’t used for anything during WWII, so most 1943 pennies were made from steel that had been zinc-coated. But in 1943, a few metal pennies were struck by mistake, making one of the rarest Lincoln pennies.
1955 Double Die Lincoln Penny
The 1955 Double Die penny is another Lincoln cent that is very sought after. This coin is famous for having a double-die mistake on the date and writing on the front, which makes it look like the text is repeated.
Because the mistake was found only halfway through production, there aren’t many of these coins in circulation, which makes them very valuable to collectors.
1969-S Double Die Lincoln Penny
Inscriptions on the obverse of the 1969-S Double Die penny are doubled; it resembles the 1955 version. They might have produced only a few and issued; this makes them valuable because they are not common.
High-grade specimens of this penny have realized very high prices at auction, both because they are elusive and because people are fascinated by minting errors.
1972 Double Die Lincoln Penny
The 1972 Double Die Lincoln penny is one of a kind because you can see that “In God We Trust,” “Liberty,” and the date have been doubled.
High-grade 1972 Double Die pennies are still very expensive, even though they are more common than the 1955 and 1969-S versions.
People who collect coins like these because the doubling effect is clear and can be seen even without a magnifying glass.
| Coin Name | Year | Mint Location | Notable Feature | Estimated Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1909-S VDB Penny | 1909 | San Francisco | Designer initials “VDB” | Up to $100,000 |
| 1943 Bronze Penny | 1943 | Various | Struck in bronze by mistake | Near $1 million |
| 1955 Double Die | 1955 | Philadelphia | Double-die obverse error | Up to $125,000 |
| 1969-S Double Die | 1969 | San Francisco | Double-die obverse error | Up to $700,000 |
| 1972 Double Die | 1972 | Philadelphia | Double-die obverse | Up to $14,000 |
These Lincoln coins are unique pieces of American numismatic history. They show times of change and the occasional mistake in minting that turns a regular penny into a collector’s dream. These rare Lincoln coins are worth the money, whether you’re an experienced collector or just starting out. Some of them are worth close to or more than $1 million.
FAQs On List of Lincoln coins sold for $1 Million
Q. What makes a Lincoln coin valuable?
A. Lincoln coins are expensive due to rarity, minting faults, limited manufacture, and historical relevance.
Q. Are all Lincoln double-die pennies valuable?
A. Collectors prize Lincoln pennies with conspicuous and unambiguous doubling, especially from certain years.
Q. Why is the 1943 bronze Lincoln penny rare?
A. The 1943 bronze Lincoln penny is unusual because it was mistakenly struck on bronze instead of steel to conserve copper for the war.