Take a closer look before you dump that handful of pennies and nickels into the tip jar — you don't need to find a Revolutionary War-era coin to make a fortune from your change.
- Most Valuable Pennies
- 11 Rarest And Most Valuable Coins In The World
- Expensive Coins To Look For
- Expensive Coins With Misspelled Words
This is the same coin that is listed as the #10 Most Valuable Coins in the World above that sold for $3,737,500 in April of 2008. Unlike the Hawaii Five-O 1913 Liberty Head Nickel that lost almost $500,000 when it sold a second time, this owner made a $140,000 profit when he sold it. Collecting Old Coins for Value and Enjoyment The history of old rare coins and currency is vast and important. Monetary and currency changes have taken place during major world events.
They're harder to find each year, but there are several valuable coins floating around that aren't all that old. They're often valuable for vastly different reasons — like the World War II-era coins minted from atypical metals, or double-printed pennies — but each one is easy to miss if you're not paying attention.
See also: Californian Couple Finds $10 Million Worth of Gold Coins in Tin Can
Check out these eight coins that are worth a lot more than their intended value.
1. 2004 Wisconsin state quarter with extra leaf
Value: Up to $300
Find an average Wisconsin state quarter from 2004, and that will get you one-fourth of a bag of chips. Find one with either the high or low leaf error, and you can get a whole lot more.
The 50 State Quarters series ran from 1999 until 2008, with special designs representing each state. Wisconsin's quarter came out in 2004; the reverse design features a cow, a wheel of cheese and a partially husked ear of corn lurking in the back.
However, some the coins have an extra line below the front left leaf, which looks like another leaf entirely. There are two varieties you should be looking out for: the high leaf and low leaf.
2. 1995 double die penny
Value: $20 - $50
This penny has a double-printed obverse (heads side) that makes the 'LIBERTY' and 'IN GOD WE TRUST' look blurry. The error has happened before, in 1969 and 1972, and those versions of the coins are much more valuable.
3. 1942-1945 silver nickel
Value: 56 cents - $12.25
Most Valuable Pennies
During World War II, the United States needed to save as much nickel as possible for military uses. Consequently, it started minting nickels made of 35% silver. Melting down pennies and nickels is a federal offense, but the coin might still fetch you enough for a decent lunch, if it's in good condition.
4. 1943 steel penny
Value: 45 cents - $10
Pennies were made from steel during wartime, for the same reasons nickels were made partially from silver — steel pennies helped preserve copper for World War II. However, the switch only lasted one year.
5. Ben Franklin half-dollar
Value: $12 - $125
In 1948, the U.S. mint began circulating half-dollar coins with images of Ben Franklin and an eagle — which is funny, considering Franklin opposed the bald eagle's nomination as the nation's bird, in favor of a wild turkey.
Franklin's portrait on the coin was replaced by John F. Kennedy in 1964, following the president's 1963 assassination.
6. 1932-1964 silver quarter
Value: $7 - $65
Between 1932 and 1964, quarters were 90% silver and 10% copper. These silver quarters look like any pre-state quarter 25-cent piece, but are worth a lot more if they're in the right condition.
7. 'In God We Rust' 2005 Kansas state quarter
Value: Up to $100
While it might seem like a mint employee's rogue political statement, these coins are actually just the result of grease preventing a clean pressing.
8. Presidential dollar coin with lettering errors
Value: $20 - $45
In 2007, the U.S. Mint began printing a series of dollar coins featuring presidents. Many of the early coins, especially those with George Washington, have errant or missing lettering along the edge of the coin.
11 Rarest And Most Valuable Coins In The World
Here is a cool list that details the top 25 most valuable pennies ever minted in the United States of America (updated: 2021). These coin values / worth's are not based off common errors like double dies, but rather coins that were issued into circulation as is. Check out the list below, some of these old coins are worth a ton of money.
Expensive Coins To Look For
- 1.) 1944 Steel Wheat Penny - Worth $110,334
- 2.) 1943 Copper Wheat Penny - Worth $85,782
- 3.) 1856 Flying Eagle Penny - Worth $25,000
- 4.) 1873 Indian Head Penny - Worth $10,000
- 5.) 1858 Flying Eagle Penny - Worth $10,000
- 6.) 1857 Flying Eagle Penny - Worth $7,000
- 7.) 1914 D Wheat Penny - Worth $5,500
- 8.) 1922 D Wheat Penny - Worth $5,000
- 9.) 1877 Indian Head Penny - Worth $3,200
- 10.) 1926 Wheat Penny - Worth $3,000
- 11.) 1909 S Indian Head Penny - Worth $2,250
- 12.) 1909 S Vdb Wheat Penny - Worth $2,200
- 13.) 1925 S Wheat Penny - Worth $1,800
- 14.) 1914 S Wheat Penny - Worth $1,500
- 15.) 1924 S Wheat Penny - Worth $1,500
- 16.) 1872 Indian Head Penny - Worth $1,350
- 17.) 1915 S Wheat Penny - Worth $1,200
- 18.) 1924 D Wheat Penny - Worth $1,200
- 19.) 1923 Wheat Penny - Worth $1,000
- 20.) 1927 Wheat Penny - Worth $1,000
- 21.) 1870 Indian Head Penny - Worth $1,000
- 22.) 1918 D Wheat Penny - Worth $900
- 23.) 1920 S Wheat Penny - Worth $900
- 24.) 1871 Indian Head Penny - Worth $875
- 25.) 1921 S Wheat Penny - Worth $850