3 rarest Wheat Pennies Collectors wanting the earliest and most sought after wheat pennies from 1909to 1958 still circle the coin, which was minted in wheat, a symbol of harvest and plenty. However, some of these coins are not simply collectibles, but are really rare and priceless.
In fact, Wheat pennies have sold for jaw-dropping prices, and their value has skyrocketed attributable to rarity, minting errors and historical significance. Below are three ultra rare Wheat pennies, each one alone worth over $99 million, and each one’s value increasing as time goes on.
1943 Copper Wheat Penny
There is a famous error coin that is one of the very few set in U.S. history. The U.S. Mint had made a switch to using steel in producing the penny during World War II to free up the use of copper for the war effort. But some were actually struck in copper, which made them extremely rare.
Less than a handful of the pennies exist, and now this rarity is turning them into millions. A 1943 copper penny brought almost $1.7 million at auction, and is one of the world’s most valuable coins.
1909-S VDB Wheat Penny
Another rare and valuable coin topped by collectors is the 1909-S VDB Wheat Penny. This Wheat penny was the first in the series, made at San Francisco, with the initials of the designer, VDB, prominently featured on the reverse.
Early production was halted over controversy surrounding the size of the initials—leading to the 1909-S VDB Wheat penny being one of the rarest to date. Some mint state examples command prices right up to $1 million and these coins will sell for tens of thousands of dollars in high grade condition.
1955 Doubled Die Wheat Penny
Shimpo issued a Wheat Penny with a striking error in 1955, this was the 1955 Doubled Die Wheat Penny. With the design elements doubled on the front of the coin, the date and inscriptions, it’s instantly recognizable. In this case, the minting occurred during this error, and only a small amount of these coins were released into circulation.
High grade examples of this rare coin will bring buyers paying substantial sums of money for the coin. There is nothing that would make this wheat penny more valuable than because of it’s minting flaw and historical value it is one of the most valuable wheat pennies ever.
| Coin Name | Year | Mint Mark | Auction Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1943 Copper | 1943 | None | $1.7 million |
| 1909-S VDB | 1909 | S | $1 million |
| 1955 Doubled Die | 1955 | None | $100,000 |
| 1944 Steel | 1944 | None | $400,000 |
| 1922 No D | 1922 | None | $80,000 |
These are not just coins; these are the pennies that prove that an error, a rarity, and a historical value can make anything into a multimillion dollar treasure. These are rare finds, sought after by collectors and prized by the rare few who have valuable collections to fill; as the discipline of numismatics grows in popularity so does the value of these extraordinary coins.
FAQs
Q. So why is the 1943 Copper Wheat Penny so valuable?
A. A copper minting error in 1943 Copper Wheat Penny makes it valuable. Pennies were supposed to be made of steel during World War II, but some got struck accidentally in copper, so they’re very rare and therefore very valuable.
Q. I want to know how to tell if I have a 1955 Doubled Die Wheat Penny.
A. Note the 1955 Doubled Die Wheat Penny, which is obvious because the doubling effect is on the date and inscriptions. If you find the condition doubled, well… you might have a valuable rare coin.
Q. Why is the 1909-S VDB Wheat Penny special?
A. The 1909-S VDB Wheat Penny is important because it is the first Wheat series coins and so controversial over the large initials of the designer, Victor David Brenner a little production was recommended.
Q. Are all of the 1944 Steel Pennies a valuable coin?
A. Absolutely 1944 Steel Pennies are very rare because pennies that year were supposed to be made of copper. It’s only a few of them that were struck in steel, and so they are highly valued.
Q. What rare Wheat pennies can I sell?
A.Auctions houses, coin dealers and numismatic websites can be used to sell rare Wheat pennies. But, the best results will be if you have your coin graded and authenticated.