The Lincoln Wheat Penny: A Rare and Valuable Coin Still in Circulation

The Lincoln Wheat Penny, valued at staggering prices from $870,000 to $1.7 million, is still in circulation, and a few fortunate Americans could be in for a hefty payout if they stumble upon one.

The Lincoln Wheat Penny, still in circulation today, could be worth a staggering $870,000 to $1.7 million, making a few lucky Americans eligible for a hefty payout.

One of the rarest and most valuable coins ever minted in the U.S., this coin is still out there, so it's time to rummage through your couch cushions and coin jars.

First minted over a hundred years ago, the Lincoln Wheat Penny has become a sought-after item in the coin-collecting world. In 2019, a collector shelled out $870,000 at an auction for one of these rare bronze 1943 Lincoln Wheat Pennies, making it one of the priciest pennies ever sold.

There's been talk of a $300 million Lincoln Wheat Penny still in circulation, but no verified evidence backs this claim. The same goes for the rumored Lincoln Wheat Penny worth a jaw-dropping $5 million.

There are some who say there are pennies with "errors" on them that make them more valuable, but no one has actually ever seen one, according to professional coin grading companies.

The most expensive Lincoln Penny ever sold was the 1943 Bronze Wheat Penny, which went for a whopping $1.7 million at auction in 2010. Coin values fluctuate. Only a few ultra-valuable coins remain like this one, which is made with actual bronze, unlike the usual zinc-plated mint. This coin has a specific minting error that makes it one of the rarer versions of the Wheat Penny.

This penny, first minted in 1909 to commemorate the centennial of Abraham Lincoln's birth, was a game-changer. Victor David Brenner designed it, and it was the first coin to feature a president's portrait.

On the flip side of Lincoln's portrait are two stalks of wheat, symbolizing prosperity and abundance. The coin continued to be minted until 1958 when the reverse side was replaced with the Lincoln Memorial.

However, that amount pales compared to the value of the double eagle quarter, which could fetch a staggering $18.9 million. This unique coin, minted in 1933, features an unusual design on the reverse side that seems to give the eagle two tails.

The majority of these coins were recalled and melted down after the treasury department recognized their error. Currently, only 12 are known to exist, with the sole privately owned one being sold for $18.8 million in 2021 to an anonymous collector.

The Flowing Hair Silver Dollar from 1794, considered the world's rarest coin, holds the record for being the second-rarest minted U.S. coin. It fetched a whopping $10 million in 2010 and was the first silver coin minted in the U.S. post-revolution.

While most of the world's rarest coins have long since disappeared from circulation, there's still a chance to stumble upon some rare U.S. coins in everyday life.

These include the 1972 Doubled Die Lincoln, 2005-D 5C Speared Bison Jefferson Nickel, and 1982 No Mint Mark Roosevelt Dime, which can fetch anywhere from $100 to a staggering $10,000.