50 Wheat Pennies You Will Not Believe Are Worth This Much

Wheat pennies are special for coin collectors. They were produced from 1909 to 1958 and feature a simple yet striking design: a portrait of Abraham Lincoln on the obverse and two ears of wheat on the reverse. While most wheat pennies are worth only a few cents, there are rare wheat pennies and highly valuable wheat pennies that can fetch thousands—or even millions—at auction.

Today, we will explore the 50 most valuable pennies, offer wheat pennies that are worth money, help you identify the coins and understand what wheat pennies are worth the most. We will also tell you about the rarest wheat pennies and their potential prices so that you can know which wheat pennies to look for in your collection. 

The List of Wheat Pennies Worth Money

The 10 Most Valuable Wheat Pennies List

Now, we are going to tell you in detail about what are the most valuable wheat pennies from the table above. Today, we will describe just 10 out of them, although there even exists a list of 100 most valuable wheat pennies. 

Note: If you would like to know more about the rest from this list of valuable wheat pennies, just write to us, and we will help you. 

Here is an article about the 1999 penny with high value.

1. 1943 Die Crack Wheat Penny – $575,000

The first most expensive wheat penny is the 1943 one. It was minted during World War II, a period when copper was being conserved for military use. As a result, the U.S. Mint struck pennies with steel planchets in 1943. However, some steel planchets were not properly prepared, and the die crack error appeared as a crack in the die used to strike the coins. This error resulted in cracks that were visible on the coin's surface, especially on the obverse side.

• Obverse: Features the profile of President Abraham Lincoln, designed by Victor David Brenner. The inscription "LIBERTY" and the date "1943" are prominently displayed.

• Reverse: Shows two stalks of wheat, symbolizing the country’s agricultural roots. The words "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" and "E PLURIBUS UNUM" surround the wheat stalks.

The die crack on a 1943 steel penny is incredibly rare and sought after due to its historical significance, being struck in the middle of World War II. Its rare wheat penny value comes from both its origin and the condition of the coin. Even the most valuable 1944 wheat penny value is lower than this one (for now). 

2. 1909 RPM (S Over S Mint Mark) Wheat Penny – $32,900

Another most valuable wheat penny is the 1909 S over S RPM one. It is one of the earliest examples of a minting error. This coin features a re-punched mintmark where the “S” mintmark was struck over an earlier “S”. This creates a noticeable overlap. This wheat penny mint mark S was produced in San Francisco, where the mint was known for occasional minting mistakes.

• Obverse: The famous image of Abraham Lincoln, designed by Brenner, is paired with the year "1909" and the word "LIBERTY."

• Reverse: The reverse design by George T. Morgan shows two stalks of wheat and the motto "E PLURIBUS UNUM," along with "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" and "ONE CENT."

The RPM (S over S) mintmark is from the valuable wheat penny value chart, as it is extremely rare. By the way, the 1909 date itself is significant because it is the first year the wheat penny design was released.

3. 1910 S/S Re-Punched Mint Mark, FS-502 Wheat Penny – $20,000

What wheat pennies are worth money else? The 1910 S/S wheat penny with a re-punched mint mark (FS-502) was another minting error that occurred when the mint mark was accidentally struck multiple times. The overlap of a mint mark on wheat penny is easily visible. Minted in San Francisco, it is considered one of the rarest wheat penny list, especially in good condition.

• Obverse: The 1910 wheat penny features the classic Lincoln portrait designed by Brenner, surrounded by the words "LIBERTY" and the date "1910."

• Reverse: The reverse design features the wheat stalks with the inscription "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" and "E PLURIBUS UNUM."

The value of wheat pennies by year 1910 stems from its distinctive mint mark error. The S/S re-punched mintmark was only produced in a very small number of coins.

4. 1942 Struck on a Dime Planchet Wheat Penny – $14,000

We are going on: which wheat pennies are worth money? The 1942 struck on a dime planchet wheat penny is one of the most unusual error coins in the wheat penny series. This error occurred when a penny planchet was replaced with a dime-sized planchet, which caused the penny to be struck on a much smaller, thinner piece of metal. These are extremely rare wheat pennies worth money.

• Obverse: Features the classic Lincoln portrait, but due to the smaller planchet, some details may appear slightly compressed.

• Reverse: The reverse design shows the two wheat stalks, but due to the smaller size, some of the details of the wheat stalks may be less pronounced.

The struck on a dime planchet error makes this penny one of the rarest and most expensive wheat pennies. The misfit of the planchet is what makes it an oddity, which, in turn, attracts collectors.

5. 1955 Doubled Die Obverse Wheat Penny – $288,000

What is the most expensive wheat penny? Well, eventually it is not the most expensive one but we would like to tell you about it. The 1955 doubled die obverse wheat penny is one of the most famous wheat back pennies worth money in U.S. numismatics. The doubling of the date and lettering is visible to the naked eye, and it is considered one of the most dramatic error coins ever produced. The error occurred when the die was misaligned during the minting process.

• Obverse: The Lincoln portrait is paired with the doubled "LIBERTY" and "IN GOD WE TRUST" inscriptions, which make this coin immediately identifiable.

• Reverse: The reverse features the iconic wheat stalks, with "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" and "E PLURIBUS UNUM" surrounding the coin.

Why is it one of the most valuable Lincoln wheat pennies? Its high visibility and rarity, particularly in uncirculated condition, make it an expensive rare wheat penny.

6. 1948 Double Denomination Wheat Penny – $14,100

So, which wheat pennies are valuable else? The 1948 double denomination wheat penny is a rare error coin in which a penny was struck with two different denominations. In this case, the coin was mistakenly struck as both a penny and a nickel. The result is a double denomination error that made a rare wheat penny years 1948.

• Obverse: The obverse features Lincoln’s portrait, but the coin’s unique double denomination error may cause some distortions in the design due to the minting process.

• Reverse: The reverse features the wheat stalks, with the error becoming evident through unusual overlapping details.

Double denomination errors are very rare, and this coin’s unusual strike pattern makes it one of the best wheat pennies that are rather expensive.

7. 1917 DDO (Doubled Die Obverse) Wheat Penny – $10,500

What is the most valuable wheat penny in 1917? The DDO one was struck with a doubled die obverse error, where the design elements, e.g., the date and lettering, appear to be doubled. This type of error is the result of a die that was not properly aligned during the minting process.

• Obverse: The doubling is visible in "LIBERTY" and "IN GOD WE TRUST," making the coin highly recognizable.

• Reverse: The reverse shows the familiar wheat stalks, with minor doubling seen in some of the lettering.

Why is this wheat penny worth money? The 1917 DDO is highly collectible because of the distinct doubling and its relatively high historical value.

8. 1922 No D, Uncirculated Wheat Penny – $18,500

The 1922 no D wheat penny is one of the most famous error coins in the wheat penny series. The “D” mintmark was missing from some of the coins struck at the Denver Mint, making these coins extremely rare. In uncirculated condition, this 1922 wheat penny no mint mark value (when mistakenly missing) may be up to $18,500.

• Obverse: The obverse shows Abraham Lincoln’s profile, with the missing “D” mintmark being the focal point of the error.

• Reverse: The reverse design is standard for wheat pennies, showing two stalks of wheat, with “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” and “E PLURIBUS UNUM.”

So, are wheat pennies valuable if they have a missing mint mark? This is a significant error, and this coin’s uncirculated condition further boosts its value.

Related article: 1964 Pennies Worth Money.

9. 1936 P Double Die Obverse, FS-101 Wheat Penny – $8,000

We are continuing our most expensive wheat pennies list. The 1936 P double die obverse wheat penny (FS-101) features doubling on the obverse, particularly in the letters of "LIBERTY" and "IN GOD WE TRUST." This error is the result of a misalignment during the minting process.

• Obverse: The doubled letters are the defining feature, making this penny easy to identify.

• Reverse: The reverse design shows two stalks of wheat, with the typical details for the wheat penny series.

The double die obverse error makes this penny one of the wheat pennies worth a lot of money from the 1930s, especially if they are well-struck error coins.

10. 1925 S RPM (Re-Punched Mint Mark) Wheat Penny – $43,000

What year wheat pennies are valuable as the last one for today? 1925. The 1925 S RPM wheat penny is a rare example of a re-punched mint mark. This error occurred when the “S” mintmark was struck multiple times. 

• Obverse: The obverse features the well-known Lincoln portrait, along with the mint date and the word "LIBERTY."

• Reverse: The reverse shows the wheat stalks, with the re-punched mintmark visible under magnification.

The RPM (S over S) mintmark error, especially on a 1925 penny, is incredibly rare. So, this is one of the wheat pennies worth the most on the market. 

So, What Wheat Pennies Are Valuable?

Wheat pennies are among the most collectible and valuable coins in U.S. history, with certain errors that push their prices into the thousands and even hundreds of thousands of dollars. These most valuable wheat pennies prove that small errors can lead to huge rewards. 

We recommend that you follow the wheat penny value chart by year to always know which coins are expensive because one day you may find one that is, for example, a rare red wheat penny or one of the top 50 most valuable pennies that will make you rich. 

Sources:

1. https://www.coinvaluechecker.com/rare-wheat-penny-list/

2. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/10-most-valuable-pennies-120044568.html