Coins

Are pennies worth anything?

Almost every penny is still worth one cent, even after the US Mint stopped making pennies for circulation in 2025. The ones worth $100 or more are specific dates, errors and varieties.

What most are worth

Billions of pennies are still out there, and they remain legal tender. Ending production does not make ordinary pennies scarce. Pennies dated 1982 and earlier are mostly copper and worth a little more than face for their metal, but melting pennies is restricted by law.

The ones worth $100 or more

Wheat penny key dates (1909 to 1958). 1909-S VDB, 1914-D, 1922 with no mint mark and others. See our wheat penny guide below.
1943 copper and 1944 steel. Famous wrong-metal errors worth thousands when genuine.
1969-S Doubled Die. A rare doubled-die Lincoln Memorial cent. Genuine examples are worth thousands and almost never come up for sale.
1972 Doubled Die. Clear doubling on the front lettering and date. Certified examples typically sold for about $100 to $600 on eBay in the past year.
1992 Close AM. On most 1992 pennies the A and M in AMERICA on the back are spaced apart. Certified close-AM examples have sold for $900 to $26,000, but most raw 'close AM' listings are mistaken and sell for under $100.
Major striking errors. Coins struck well off-center, struck twice or on the wrong metal can clear $100.

How to check yours

Sort out anything dated 1958 or earlier (wheat back) and check those dates first.
Look at the date and lettering with a magnifier for doubling.
On 1992 pennies, check the spacing between the A and M in AMERICA on the back.
If you can weigh 1982 pennies, copper ones weigh about 3.1 grams and zinc ones about 2.5 grams.
Never clean coins.

Questions people ask

Will pennies be worth more now that they've stopped making them?

Not ordinary ones; there are far too many. Last-year coins and true rarities may draw more collector interest.

Are 2025 pennies worth anything?

Normal 2025 pennies are worth one cent. Uncirculated ones have been selling for a few dollars. Watch for errors, but don't expect a big payout.

Can I still spend pennies?

Yes. They are still legal tender.

Price ranges on this page come from eBay sold listings over the past 12 months, checked October 2026. Our verdicts use real sold prices for the exact item. We don't buy or sell.

Think yours is one of them?

Send us photos. If it clears $100, it could be the next verdict on the show.

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