Wheat pennies were minted from 1909 to 1958 and are named for the two ears of wheat on the reverse. While many are only worth a few cents, some rare error coins can be worth thousands—or even millions—of dollars.
Minting mistakes make coins rare and desirable among collectors. Here’s a look at the most valuable Wheat penny errors ever observed.
Table of Contents
- 1 1943 Double Die Obverse Wheat Penny
- 2 1943-D Repunched Mintmark (RPM)
- 3 1944 D/S Wheat Penny
- 4 1936 Double Die Obverse Wheat Penny
- 5 1909-S Over Horizontal S
- 6 1917 Double Die Obverse Wheat Penny
- 7 1922 No D Wheat Penny
- 8 1955 Double Die Obverse Wheat Penny
- 9 1958 Double Die Obverse Wheat Penny
- 10 1943 Bronze Cent
- 11 1943 Experimental Shell Case Cent
- 12 FAQs
1943 Double Die Obverse Wheat Penny
A doubled die occurs when the die shifts between strikes, creating a duplicate image.
- Mint Mark: None (Philadelphia)
- Error: Doubled die obverse (DDO)
- Grade: MS65
- Value: $30 (low grade) to $1,500 (MS65)
The doubling is most noticeable in the letters of “LIBERTY” and the numbers “9” and “3” in the date.
1943-D Repunched Mintmark (RPM)
Some 1943 Denver-minted pennies had their “D” mintmark punched multiple times, creating a repunched mintmark (RPM) error.
- Mint Mark: Denver (D)
- Error: Repunched mintmark
- Grade: MS65
- Value: $75 (F12) to $15,000 (MS65)
Lower-grade coins are worth $75, but mint-condition examples can fetch as much as $15,000.
1944 D/S Wheat Penny
Some 1944-D pennies were struck with an “S” mintmark underneath the “D.”
- Mint Mark: Denver (D over S)
- Error: Over-mintmark
- Grade: MS65
- Value: $75 (fine) to $20,000 (MS65)
A well-preserved coin can be worth up to $20,000.
1936 Double Die Obverse Wheat Penny
This error is seen in the phrase “IN GOD WE TRUST,” “LIBERTY,” and the date.
- Mint Mark: None (Philadelphia)
- Error: Doubled die obverse
- Grade: MS65
- Value: $100 (circulated) to $5,000 (MS65)
Circulated examples are worth about $100, while an MS65 coin can sell for $5,000.
1909-S Over Horizontal S
Some 1909-S pennies have a horizontal “S” underneath the upright “S.”
- Mint Mark: San Francisco (S)
- Error: Over-mintmark
- Grade: MS67
- Value: $100 (circulated) to $32,900 (MS67)
The last auctioned MS67 red penny sold for $32,900.
1917 Double Die Obverse Wheat Penny
This penny features strong doubling in “IN GOD WE TRUST” and the date.
- Mint Mark: None (Philadelphia)
- Error: Doubled die obverse
- Grade: MS67+
- Value: $200 (circulated) to $135,000 (MS67+)
The highest-graded example sold for $120,000 in 2019, and today it’s valued at $135,000.
1922 No D Wheat Penny
The Denver Mint was the only one producing pennies in 1922, but some coins lack the “D” mintmark.
- Mint Mark: None (error)
- Error: Missing mintmark
- Grade: MS64
- Value: $500 (circulated) to $275,000 (MS64 red)
Some fakes exist where the “D” has been removed, but authentic ones can be worth up to $275,000.
1955 Double Die Obverse Wheat Penny
One of the most famous Wheat penny errors, this coin has extreme doubling on the date and inscriptions.
- Mint Mark: None (Philadelphia)
- Error: Doubled die obverse
- Grade: MS65+
- Value: $1,200 (circulated) to $288,000 (MS65+)
A mint-condition red penny graded MS65+ is valued at $288,000.
1958 Double Die Obverse Wheat Penny
Only three 1958 pennies with a doubled die obverse are known.
- Mint Mark: None (Philadelphia)
- Error: Doubled die obverse
- Grade: MS65
- Value: $340,000 to $1.14 million
One MS65 red example sold for an incredible $1.14 million.
1943 Bronze Cent
Most 1943 pennies were struck on steel due to World War II metal shortages, but a few were mistakenly made of bronze.
- Mint Mark: Various
- Error: Struck on bronze planchet
- Grade: MS63
- Value: $215,000 (XF45) to $1 million (MS63)
Only one red example graded MS63 exists, worth $1 million.
1943 Experimental Shell Case Cent
Some 1943 pennies were struck on an experimental alloy of copper, zinc, and silver.
- Mint Mark: None (Philadelphia)
- Error: Experimental alloy
- Grade: MS63
- Value: $150,000
Many of these are in museum collections, but if you find one, it could be worth a fortune.
Wheat penny errors are among the most valuable coins in U.S. history. If you have an old penny with an unusual mintmark, missing details, or doubling, it could be worth a lot more than just one cent.
FAQs
What is the most valuable Wheat penny error?
The 1958 Double Die Obverse penny sold for $1.14 million.
How do I know if my Wheat penny is valuable?
Look for errors like doubled dies, missing mintmarks, and off-metal strikes.
Why are 1943 bronze pennies worth so much?
Most 1943 pennies were struck on steel, but a few bronze ones were accidentally made.
What is a doubled die Wheat penny?
A doubled die penny has a duplicate image caused by a misaligned die strike.
Where can I sell my rare Wheat pennies?
You can sell rare Wheat pennies at coin auctions, online marketplaces, and coin dealers.
