1. $2.3 million 1943-D Lincoln Bronze Wheat Penny This Victor D. Brenner-designed penny is one of the most valuable. Steel pennies were used during WWII to save copper. Some were inadvertently manufactured of bronze, making them unique and precious.
2. 1944-S Steel Wheat Penny—$1.1M Due to missing the 1944 switch from steel-coated zinc to copper, this penny is worth a lot. Only two San Francisco-minted copies remain. Typical circulating coins are worth $408,000 to $409,000, whereas uncirculated coins can fetch $1.1 million.
3. 1793 Strawberry Leaf Cent—$862,500 Strawberry Leaf cent sold for $862,000 at auction in 2009, breaking records. The Strawberry Leaf cent is unique because its tail has a four-leaf strawberry plant instead of a three-leaf trefoil.
4. 1943-S Bronze Lincoln Cent—$282,000 The US stopped making bronze pennies in 1943. A few bronze planchets, a blank coin without a design, may have been left behind, creating rare and expensive 1943-S bronze pennies.
5. $258,000 1909 VDB Matte Proof Lincoln Penny Older coins are worth more over time. Matte-proof coins are popular, and this 1909 VDB is the most desirable. The square, sharp-edged rims and features indicate authenticity.
6. 1958 Double Die Obverse Cent—$224,831 Because few were coined, this Doubled Die Lincoln cent sells for great sums at auction. This Philadelphia Mint mistake coin has “doubled” “In God We Trust” and “Liberty.”
7. 1856 Flying Eagle Cent -- $172,500 Though not as uncommon as 1943 Lincoln cents, Flying Eagle cents are worth over six figures. Over 600 coins were distributed to politicians and others during the original minting, but more were re-struck from the dies in 1858 and 1859.
8. 1864 Indian Head Penny “L” on Ribbon—$161,000 In 1864, the federal government switched to the Indian Head Penny from the Flying Eagle Cent. In late 1964, Indian Head designer James Longacre began adding a L for his last name to the ribbon, like VDB did with Lincoln pennies.
9. 1914-D Lincoln Penny—$159,000. Collectors like 1909–1958 Lincoln Cents. Limited to 1.2 million, the 1914-D coin is rare. These pennies sell for hundreds to thousands on eBay, but one mint-condition penny sold for $159,000.
10. 1926-S Lincoln Penny—$149,500 Lincoln wheat pennies, even in poor condition, sell for more than face value, so check your pockets. However, a red Lincoln cent from this era may be a sign to arrange a luxurious holiday.
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