A Survey of Top Prices Paid for Lincoln Cents 2020–2024

With a little effort, a young collector can probably pluck 20 or 30 different year and mintmark combinations out of circulation even still today. An intermediate collector can assemble a pleasant, mid-grade set of Wheat Reverse Lincolns within a reasonable budget. Yet, there are Lincoln Cents that appeal to even the most well-heeled of collectors. All share the same enjoyment of collecting this iconic coin. The purpose of this brief analysis is to review the most expensive Lincoln Cents sold over the past five calendar years.

When it comes to “most valuable” in terms of Lincoln Cents, the conversation starts and ends with the 1943 “Copper” cents. Generations of treasure-seekers, whether they be coin collectors or not, have thumbed through endless numbers of pennies in hopes of discovering one of these rarities. The reality, however, is that most examples of the 1943 Lincoln Cent struck on a Bronze planchet have been accounted for since shortly after they legally or illegally departed their birthplace—Philadelphia, Denver, or San Francisco. Of these three Mints, the Denver specimen of the 1943 Bronze Lincoln is the only one that is unique. It first came to light in 1979 and was first sold in 1996 by Superior Galleries where it sold for $82,500. It was then sold in 2003 as part of the famous Benson Collection for $212,750, a healthy return in just seven years. It then became part of the even more famous Simpson Collection, and when it sold in January 2021 for $840,000 it became the most expensive “1943 Copper” ever sold. The 918% price appreciation from when this coin was first sold in 1996 to 2021 highlights the popularity of these rarities. As can be seen in the chart, there was a surge of appearances of the 1943 Bronze planchet cents in 2021 and 2022. A 1943-S, of which there are six confirmed examples, also sold as part of the Simpson Collection and brought $504,000 in 2020. Closely related, but not nearly as popular in the mainstream, are the 1944 cents struck on a Zinc-Coated Steel planchet. Essentially the opposite of the 1943 Bronze coins, a 1944-S specimen appeared on the market in 2021, and it sold for $408,000. Another from the Philadelphia mint sold also in 2021 for $180,000.

The other Lincoln cents that bring tremendous prices are die varieties. The most well-known die variety to the general collecting public is the 1955 Doubled Die. Often given the misnomer of being “double stamped” by the non-collector treasure hunters, it may be the most popular but is not the most valuable. In 2023 the firm GreatCollections sold the Stewart Blay Collection of Lincoln Cents, and any enthusiast of the series should take the time to view every coin if they haven’t already. The top lot was his 1958 Doubled Die Obverse cent, PCGS/CAC MS65RD, which sold for a staggering $1,136,250. Blay’s 1955 Doubled Die, graded PCGS/CAC MS65+RD sold for $287,156, easily a record for the date. The 1969-S Doubled Die Obverse is another valuable die variety, and Stack’s Bowers sold a newly discovered example in 2023 for $72,000. According to the auction catalog, the coin was discovered in an Uncirculated roll, proving that hunting can pay off!

When it comes to regular circulation strikes, the 1909-S VDB is what immediately comes to mind. Like the 1943 Bronze, this coin has been eagerly searched for by young and old for decades. While it is very popular, it remains attainable for many collectors, but the finest known examples can bring serious money. Unsurprisingly, the Stewart Blay example holds the record. When this PCGS/CAC MS67RD coin sold in 2023 it brought $345,375, setting a record that will not be touched in a very long time. In 2022, Stack’s Bowers sold a PCGS MS67 for $168,000 that would otherwise be the price record. Other dates that can appear available can also achieve extremely strong prices when they are the absolute finest known, and nowhere was this more evident when the Blay 1919 Lincoln cent was sold. Grading a stunning PCGS MS69, this coin with a mintage of 392 million sold for $421,875! Nothing beats quality and eye-appeal.

Observing these humble copper coins achieve such prices is exciting and hopefully it inspires another generation of collectors to reach for such special coins.