Discover the 1900s coins selling for incredible prices online
YOU’VE likely come across plenty of pennies in your life – but rare ones from the 1900s and before are selling for a ton of cash online. Some of these rare pennies feature 16th President Abraham Lincoln.
That may seem like nothing unusual – but some of these have unique features about them that are attracting buyers. While others are drawing attention on the basis of how old and rare they are.
This is making them worth significantly more than their original value of one cent. But of course, you’ll want to keep in mind that the value of any coin could depend on the grade and condition.
💰 Collector’s Note:
As always, the value of any coin is only worth how much someone else is willing to pay for it.
Below we unveil the most valuable circulated pennies worth up to $11,128, based on recently completed eBay listings.
1. 1909 S VDB Lincoln Wheat Penny – $1,725
This popular coin has a controversial past
This is one of the most popular and controversial coins among collectors. The penny features the letters VDB on the bottom of the back of the coin, which are the initials of designer Victor David Brenner.
Up until the late 1950s, Mr. Brenner designed all the years of the coins featuring Lincoln. However, newspaper reporters had an issue with the placement of the initials, which were located on the bottom of the reverse side of the coin, according to Professional Coin Grading Service president Ron Gruth.
Key Fact: Only 484,000 of these coins were minted, compared with more than 72 million of the other version of the 1909 coin.
Fifteen bidders fought it out to get themselves this coin on eBay, with the winner shelling out $1,725.
2. 1877 Copper Indian Head Cent – $2,305
This coin is extremely popular among collectors
This is one of the most desirable coins in the Indian Head cent series as it has the second lowest mintage making it extremely rare.
Jaime Hernandez wrote on PCGS that one of the things making this coin so rare is the low amount of coins that were collected this year versus in 1909.
This coin sold on eBay on August 3, racking up 46 bids that quickly jumped in price. The most expensive coin on our list is also an Indian Head cent.
3. 1922 Lincoln No D Penny – $2,750
A mistake at the mint led to this being a very valuable coin
Rather than a special addition, this penny is valuable for something it lacks. Jaime Hernandez wrote of this coin that it’s the only Lincoln cent in the entire series which lacks its intended mint mark.
Mint Mystery: This coin should have had a “D” for its Denver mintage, but the space on this coin is blank due to production sloppiness at the Denver Mint in 1922.
A recent auction on eBay only lasted for three bids before the buyer offered $2,705, knocking out other bidders.
4. 1877 Indian Cent – $3,300
Just 850,000 of these pennies were minted in 1877
Another Indian cent sold for more than $3,000 online. Just as with the flying eagle cent, this coin was designed by James Barton Longacre.
Minted in Philadelphia, the coin features an Indian head with the United States of America on the sides, with the year 1877 below. The 1877 version has been said to be the rarest Indian head penny there is.
According to CoinTrackers, just 850,000 of these rare pennies were minted. This Indian cent had a total of six bids at the close of the auction on eBay.
5. 1799 Draped Bust Cent – $6,653
This is the Sheldon-189 version of the late 1700s coin
A coin from the late 1700s has also sold for more than $6,000. It’s important to note that there are two varieties of this coin: one has the normal date (Sheldon-189) and the other has an overdate (1799/8).
The coin sold in the listing is the Sheldon-189 version. “This is a genuine coin that was dug by a metal detectorist,” according to the listing.
But regardless, if you have one of these coins – it’s fair to expect them to be quite valuable – given the year it was minted. Just over 42,000 of the normal date versions of the coin were minted in 1799, according to USA Coin Book.
6. 1856 Flying Eagle Cent – $11,128
The flying eagle coin is made out of copper-nickel
Moving away from the Lincoln coins, a flying eagle cent from the 1850s sold for more than $11,000 recently.
Designed by portraitist James Barton Longacre in 1856, the circulated coin features an eagle on one side, with “one cent” shown on the other.
Historical Significance: “The 1856 Flying Eagle cents were initially struck as presentation pieces and given to members of congress and other dignitaries,” according to the eBay listing. It was also the first American coin to use nickel.
This Philadelphia-minted coin collected 66 bids online, ultimately selling for an impressive $11,128.
Check Your Change!
If you’re a coin collector or just someone who saves old change, it might be worth taking a closer look at your pennies. You never know – you might have a small fortune hiding in plain sight!
Remember: Coin values can fluctuate based on condition, grading, and market demand. Always consult with a professional coin appraiser or reputable dealer for accurate valuations.
