Rare pennies worth checking

Lincoln pennies that are worth far more than one cent: the doubled dies, overdates, key dates and wartime errors to look for in your change.

• 1958 doubled die obverse

  Typical value: $300,000–1,100,000

  Look for: Clear doubling on LIBERTY and IN GOD WE TRUST.

  Extremely rare, only three known; any candidate needs an expert's look.

• 1943 copper (bronze) cent

  Typical value: $200,000–350,000

  Look for: A 1943 cent that is copper colored and does NOT stick to a magnet, weighing about 3.1 grams.

  One of the most famous U.S. errors; only about two dozen are known from all three mints. Most copper-looking 1943 cents are plated steel or altered dates, so a magnet test comes first.

• 1944 steel cent

  Typical value: $25,000–40,000

  Look for: A gray 1944 cent that sticks to a magnet.

  A rare error struck on a steel blank, probably one left over from 1943 (possibly a foreign-coin blank). Only a few dozen are known.

• 1969-S doubled die obverse

  Typical value: $15,000–40,000

  Look for: Very strong doubling on the date, LIBERTY and IN GOD WE TRUST, with an S below the date.

  A major rarity; many fakes exist, so authentication is needed.

• 1955 doubled die obverse

  Typical value: $1,500–3,000

  Look for: Strong, obvious doubling on the date, LIBERTY and IN GOD WE TRUST, visible without magnification.

  The most famous doubled die in U.S. coinage; worth well over a thousand dollars even worn.

• 1909-S VDB

  Typical value: $800–2,000

  Look for: An S below the date on the front and the letters VDB at the bottom of the back.

  The key date of the whole Lincoln cent series.

• 1917 doubled die obverse

  Typical value: $150–1,000

  Look for: Clear doubling on IN GOD WE TRUST and the date.

  A well-known doubled die worth far more than a normal 1917.

• 1972 doubled die obverse

  Typical value: $200–400

  Look for: Clear doubling on the date, LIBERTY and IN GOD WE TRUST.

  A famous doubled die worth hundreds of dollars.

• 1909-S, S over horizontal S

  Typical value: $90–300

  Look for: On a 1909-S without VDB: traces of a sideways S under the upright S mint mark (needs magnification).

  A recognized repunched mint mark variety.

• 1936 doubled die obverse

  Typical value: $75–300

  Look for: Doubling on LIBERTY, IN GOD WE TRUST and the date.

  A recognized doubled die with a strong premium.

• 1944-D, D over S

  Typical value: $60–250

  Look for: Parts of an S showing around the D mint mark, mostly above it (needs magnification).

  A recognized overmint mark worth a solid premium.

• 1909-S (no VDB)

  Typical value: $80–250

  Look for: An S below the date and no initials on the back.

  Low mintage; a semi-key date.

• 1943-D, D over D

  Typical value: $75–200

  Look for: A second D visible beside the D mint mark.

  A recognized repunched mint mark with a premium.

• 1971 doubled die obverse

  Typical value: $75–175

  Look for: Doubling on LIBERTY and IN GOD WE TRUST.

  A recognized doubled die with a premium.

• 1941 doubled die obverse

  Typical value: $40–150

  Look for: Doubling above LIBERTY and to the right of TRUST; weaker doubling on the 4 of the date.

  A recognized doubled die that sells well above a normal 1941.

• 1909 VDB doubled die obverse

  Typical value: $25–100

  Look for: Doubling on LIBERTY and the date of a 1909 VDB cent.

  A recognized doubled die with a premium over a normal 1909 VDB.

• 1946-S, S over D

  Typical value: $15–100

  Look for: Traces of a D under the S mint mark.

  A recognized overmint mark variety.

• 1910-S

  Typical value: $15–60

  Look for: S below the date.

  Lower mintage than the Philadelphia coin; worth more in all grades.

• 1960-D, D over D, small date over large date

  Typical value: $15–50

  Look for: A second D at the mint mark and traces of a large date under the small date.

  A recognized combined variety with a premium.

• 1909 VDB

  Typical value: $10–25

  Look for: VDB at the bottom of the back and no mint mark.

  Made only in the first weeks before the initials were removed; worth a premium over a plain 1909.

• 1951-D, D over S

  Typical value: $5–25

  Look for: Traces of an S under the D mint mark.

  A recognized overmint mark variety.

• 1960 small date

  Typical value: 50¢–$3

  Look for: A small date with the top of the 1 even with the top of the 9.

  Scarcer than the large date and worth more.

• 1960-D small date

  Typical value: 5–25¢

  Look for: Small date with a D below it.

  Worth a small premium over the large date.

Typical values are for examples that have seen some wear. Coins in top condition can sell for far more. Anything here worth more than a few hundred dollars should be checked by a grading service.