5 Copper Coins Worth A Lot Of Money

The combination of “copper” and “penny” might not seem like the best formula for valuable coins considering that you can find higher denominations in gold and silver.

While most copper coins in the U.S. are one-cent pennies featuring Abraham Lincoln, there are a few exceptions that could make you a millionaire.

The value of copper coins, like all coins, is based on scarcity and condition. Rare coins with minting errors or other unique features tend to bring high prices, as do those in mint or near-mint condition.

Here’s a look at five copper coins worth a lot of money.

1943 Wheat Penny (Bronze Cent Strike)

This is the rarest and most valuable wheat penny with an error, according to CoinValue. It holds the record for the most expensive sale among wheat pennies at $1.7 million, though it is valued at $2.3 million in uncirculated mint condition. Most can be bought and sold for anywhere from $14,000 to $300,000.

1982-D Lincoln Penny (Copper Small Date)

This rare coin contains errors involving numbers and was not supposed to be minted with copper in 1982, CoinValue reports. However, there were leftover copper planchets that the U.S. Mint struck with zinc to create the error. Prices range from $10,000 to $30,000 and more.

1909-S VDB Lincoln Penny

In 1909, the U.S. Mint replaced the Indian Head penny with the Lincoln cent, according to The Spruce Crafts. Slightly less than 500,000 of these pennies were minted before the Treasury Department demanded that the initials be removed. The initials — those of designer Victor David Brenner — can be found between the two wheat stalks.

1872 Indian Head Penny

This coin is rare because of its exceptional condition, The Spruce Crafts reports. Some of the more valuable examples are so well preserved you can still see the original bright red-copper color. These coins are valued at $126,500 and in particularly excellent condition (the price listed is for an MS-67, or high mint state, for example).

1969-S Lincoln Penny-Doubled Die Obverse

Most of the value of this coin, which is also valued at $126,500 (at least in MS-64 condition), is due to doubling on the date and lettering on the obverse. The errors were first discovered in 1970.

The U.S. government at first believed these were counterfeit coins and began confiscating them, The Spruce Crafts noted. Five coins were confiscated and destroyed before they were acknowledged as genuine.

(This article was updated to reflect the 1982 penny is a Lincoln penny, not a wheat penny.)