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Want to know how much your 1927 penny is worth?I found my first 1927 Lincoln cent in pocket change many years ago — and, since it was such an old penny, I immediately wanted to know its value, whether it was rare or not, and if it was worth keeping.Sure enough, I soon discovered that some 1927 wheat pennies are worth several thousand dollars.Was mine?… Nope.But is yours worth the big bucks? Maybe. Let’s find out…There are lots of factors that go into determining the value of old coins, including:
- The mintmark
- The condition of the coin
- Whether or not it contains any errors
Today I’m going to tell you how to find the value of your 1927 wheat penny.
Current 1927 Penny Value
I know why you’re reading this article — you want to find out how much your 1927 wheat penny is worth! And not just the value for a “perfect” version of the 1927 Lincoln cent, but what YOUR coin is really worth.I’ve got it!Here’s a rundown on the different types of 1927 pennies and what they’re worth in varying conditions:
#1) 1927 No Mintmark Penny
Pennies that were made at the Philadelphia Mint in 1927 have no mintmark under the date. Not finding a mintmark under the date of 1927 Philadelphia Lincoln cents is normal — because the Philadelphia Mint didn’t place “P” mintmarks on any of its coin in 1927.1927 wheat pennies are pretty common, as 144,440,000 were minted. Even though you may not find old pennies from 1927 in your pocket change very often, plenty of them have been saved by coin collectors — so they generally aren’t rare coins.However, even the most well-worn examples of the no mintmark 1927 wheat penny are worth more than face value:
- In heavily worn condition, they’re worth about 15 to 25 cents.
- Nicer examples with only a little wear are worth $1 to $2.
- If you find an uncirculated 1927 Lincoln cent in an old collection or estate, the value is $10 to $20 or more.
#2) 1927-D Penny
The Denver Mint struck 27,170,000 pennies in 1927 — each with the “D” mintmark indicating their origin at mint in the Mile-High City.While the mintage of 1927-D Lincoln pennies is significantly lower than the total production of Philly-minted 1927 pennies, a 1927-D penny isn’t all that scarce and isn’t incredibly valuable in the lower, more common grades:
- A heavily worn 1927-D penny is worth between $1 and $3.
- A lightly worn example is worth $5 to $15 — with the higher value for those showing only a whiff of wear on high points, such as Lincoln’s cheek and beard.
- An uncirculated specimen is worth $50 to $75… and up.
#3) 1927-S Penny
The 1927-S penny is the scarcest of the 3 different penny issues the United States Mint struck that year. (The “S” indicates that it was made at the San Francisco Mint.)Only 14,276,000 were struck — though it’s not necessarily considered a scarce date.High-end specimens are significantly scarcer than the more common lower-end specimens of the 1927-S penny:
- A heavily worn 1927-S penny is worth $1.25 to $4.
- A specimen with only minor touches of wear is worth between $15 and $30.
- An uncirculated 1927-S penny is worth $80 or more.
What Is The Most Valuable 1927 Penny?
Would you believe at least one 1927 wheat penny took more than $10,000 in an auction transaction?Yep!It was a 1927-S penny slabbed by the Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) as an MS-65 “Red” specimen awarded a seal of approval by the Certified Acceptance Corporation (CAC).It sold for $10,200 in a 2018 auction.
IMPORTANT: Do You Know The Grade Of Your Penny?
To determine the true value of your penny, you first need to know what condition (or grade) your coin is in.Grab a coin magnifier and a copy of the U.S. Coin Grading Standards book. Then, watch this video to see how to grade coins yourself at home:
How To Grade A Coin Yourself To Determine Its Value
1927 Penny Error List & Current Values
Along with high-grade 1927 Lincoln cents, other pieces worth a “pretty penny” are those with errors and odd varieties.
Here’s how to tell the difference between legit error coins and coins with post-mint damage.
See how much a 1927 penny error is worth, plus popular 1927 wheat penny errors you should be looking for:
1927 Doubled Die Pennies
At least one type of doubled die has been reported for each of the three 1927 Lincoln cent issues from the Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco mints:
- Some 1927 no mintmark examples show doubling in the obverse (heads side) inscriptions of LIBERTY, IN GOD WE TRUST, and the date. These 1927 doubled die pennies exhibit varying degrees of doubling in Lincoln’s eyelid.
- A few kinds of 1927-D doubled die pennies show doubling in Lincoln’s eyelid.
- There’s at least one type of 1927-S doubled die penny with an extra eyelid.
Prices aren’t necessarily very high for these 1927 doubled die pennies — certainly not as high as those for, say, the 1955 doubled die penny. But they’re nevertheless worth at least $10 to $25 for the minor varieties and perhaps $250+ for the more drastic examples.
Off-Center 1927 Pennies
This interesting type of error occurs when the dies don’t strike the blank coin squarely.Some off-center coins are more askew than others. Those that are off-center by only 1% or 2% really aren’t worth anything extra and may be only barely noticeable as off-center errors — with perhaps part of the rim missing.These types of error coins don’t really become valuable or worth saving until they’re at least 5% to 10% off center.Off-center 1927 pennies are worth anywhere from $10 to $25 for examples that are 5% to 10% off-center to more than $100 that are 50% off center or more!
1927 Pennies With Repunched Mintmarks
On some 1927 Lincoln cents, there are indications of doubling or repositioning of the mintmark.These types of varieties are quite common — there are actually many hundreds of types of repunched mintmark pennies known across the entire Lincoln cent series.Among the 1927 pennies, there are several kinds of 1927-D wheat cents with repunched mintmarks.They are generally worth between $3 and $10 in circulated grades.
Die Breaks & Die Cracks On 1927 Pennies
Raised lines across the surface of a coin are usually indicative of minor fissures or cracks in the die that struck that coin. Die breaks can range in size from little raised lines that connect letters… to fractures that run across the entire face of a coin, from rim to rim.Values for die crack errors vary depending on how drastic the error is or the location of the die break. Generally, the larger the error, the more it’s worth. Also, the more prominent the crack, the higher the value.Because of the wide range in values for 1927 die break pennies, it’s hard to say what your specific piece is worth without an in-hand evaluation. But, there are some general value guidelines for coins with die crack errors:
- Wheat pennies with small die breaks located in inconspicuous locations are perhaps worth $2 to $5.
- Large die cracks on pennies are quite desirable among collectors, and many of these drastic die breaks can bring over $100.
- BIE error Lincoln cents show a vertical die break (or line) between the “B” and “E” of “LIBERTY” on the obverse. Old wheat pennies with BIE errors are worth $7 to $15.
What Else Happened When Your 1927 Penny Was Made?
- The Jazz Singer became the first “talkie” movie with audio — marking the end of the silent era.
- Ford’s Model A car was released, ushering in a new era of automobile innovation.
- Work began on Mount Rushmore in South Dakota — an iconic, larger-than-life sculpture of Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln.
- Columbia Broadcasting System, more widely known as media network CBS, was established.
- Charles Lindbergh piloted The Spirit of St Louis on a solo, non-stop flight across the Atlantic Ocean from New York City to Paris.
The Jazz Singer (1927) - Trailer
Joshua
I’m the Coin Editor here at TheFunTimesGuide. My love for coins began when I was 11 years old. I primarily collect and study U.S. coins produced during the 20th century. I’m a member of the American Numismatic Association (ANA) and the Numismatic Literary Guild (NLG) and have won multiple awards from the NLG for my work as a coin journalist. I’m also the editor at the Florida United Numismatists Club (FUN Topics magazine), and author of Images of America: The United States Mint in Philadelphia (a book that explores the colorful history of the Philadelphia Mint). I’ve contributed hundreds of articles for various coin publications including COINage, The Numismatist, Numismatic News, Coin Dealer Newsletter, Coin Values, and CoinWeek. I’ve authored nearly 1,000 articles here at The Fun Times Guide to Coins (many of them with over 50K shares), and I welcome your coin questions in the comments below!
FAQs
How much is a 1927 no mint mark wheat penny worth? ›
The 1927 Wheat Penny value ranges from just over one hundred dollars to around $7,000 for higher grade red varieties of the coin. Compared to many others in the series prior to this date, the 1927 is one of the most affordable in Mint State while still adding value to a collection with its excellent craftsmanship.
How much is a 1927 s wheat penny worth today? ›USA Coin Book Estimated Value of 1927-S Lincoln Wheat Penny is Worth $2.28 in Average Condition and can be Worth $94 to $160 or more in Uncirculated (MS+) Mint Condition.
How much is a 1927 Plain penny worth? ›DATE | GOOD | UNCIRCULATED |
---|---|---|
1927 Lincoln Penny | $0.20 | $3.50 |
1927 Lincoln Penny (D) | $1.25 | $25 |
1927 Lincoln Penny (S) | $1.50 | $40 |
Source: Red Book |
1943 wheat penny worth a million dollars
$840,000 was paid for it at auction in 2021. A 1943 bronze Lincoln cent graded Mint State 63 Red was reportedly sold in a private agreement for one million dollars.
If the date of a US coin is written without a mintmark, it means that the coin has no mintmark and was (usually) minted in Philadelphia. Coins without mintmarks made in Philadelphia are sometimes referred to as, for example, 1927-P, even though there may be no mintmark on the coin.
What is the most valuable wheat penny today? ›Considered to be the most valuable of the non-error Wheat Pennies, the 1914 D Wheat Penny commands an asking price range from $281 to $4,268.
What wheat penny is worth thousands of dollars? ›1931-S Wheat Penny
The 1931 S Wheat Cent was hoarded by many people so it's relatively easy to purchase uncirculated grades of this coin. As with most pennies, the ones designated "Red" fetch the highest prices. In 2021, an MS66+RD graded coins (pictured left) sold for $18,600.00!
1955 Doubled Die Lincoln Cent: $1,000 to $2,000+
The 1955 doubled die penny shows heavy doubling in the inscriptions on the obverse side such as the word LIBERTY and the date. It is worth $1,000 and up even in well-worn condition, with uncirculated specimens taking $2,000 or more.
The most valuable Wheat Penny ever auctioned is a unique 1943-D Bronze Cent, sold for $840,000. Other examples of valuable wheat pennies include the 1909-S VDB Lincoln Wheat Penny, the 1944 Steel Penny, and other variations of the 1943 Bronze Penny.
What old penny is rare? ›If you have heard of only one rare coin, there is a good chance that it is the 1933 penny. For some reason this coin, more than any other, has lodged itself in the public consciousness. Indeed, people have spent a lifetime sifting through their coins in a vain attempt to find one.
What year penny is worth $1 million? ›
1943 Bronze Lincoln
Only a handful of these bronze pennies have been discovered, including the one found by Lutes. “The most valuable Lincoln cent sold privately in 2010 for $1.7 million,” said Stone.
1943-S Lincoln Cent Sells for $1 Million.
What steel penny is worth $1 million dollars? ›1943 'D' Steel Penny Value
Experts are unsure how many copper error pennies were minted in Denver during 1943, so when one was discovered recently it caused quite the stir. After much skepticism, the coin was authenticated and eventually sold for $1.7 million.
The $1 million Canadian Gold Maple Leaf coin is a novelty coin, if there ever were one, and it tips the scales at a whopping 100 kilograms or about 220 pounds. Only six of the nearly pure gold coins have ever been made, as of December 2022, and each has a face value of $1 million.
What year coins are worth keeping? ›All quarters minted before 1965 are worth their silver value. All Standing Liberty quarters have a premium above that value, except for well-worn coins. Among Washington quarters, only the 1932-D and 1932-S have a significant premium over the silver value. The 1955-D also carries a premium.
What coins should I look for? ›- 1943 Lincoln Head Copper Penny.
- 1955 Doubled Die Penny.
- 1982 No Mint Mark Roosevelt Dime.
- 2004 Wisconsin State Quarter With Extra Leaf.
Did you know that there are some dimes still out there that could be worth up to $1.9 million? A specific dime minted in 1894, known as the 1894-S Barber Dime, is actually worth millions. The story behind the Barber Dime is fascinating.
What does the D mean on a penny? ›The mint mark is the small letter that shows which Mint location made the coin. The two most common mint marks are the “P” for Philadelphia and “D” for Denver.
What are the five most valuable wheat pennies? ›- 1931-S Lincoln Wheat Cent. In 1931, the San Francisco Mint created a series of Abraham Lincoln wheat pennies. ...
- 1943 Bronze Cent. ...
- 1914-D Wheat Cent. ...
- 1922 No D Wheat Cent. ...
- 1909-S VDB Wheat Cent. ...
- 1955 Doubled Die. ...
- 1944 Steel Cent.
Watch for low mintage years like 1955-S, 1939-D, 1933-D, and 1931-S. Depending on condition, rarer pennies are worth more. Look for all-copper pennies. Old pennies made before 1982 are 95% copper, which gives them an inherent metal value.
Why is a 1982 penny worth $10000? ›
So for the past 30 years, pennies have been made with an alloy comprised of 97.5% zinc and 2.5% copper, but pennies minted before 1982 are 95% copper and 5% zinc. The price of copper has more than quadrupled over the past 10 years.
How much is 10 lbs of copper pennies worth? ›One modern US penny weighs 0.088 ounces. That means it would take approximately 1,818 pennies to weigh 10 pounds, which would be worth 18 dollars and 18 cents.
What year wheat penny is silver? ›During World War II, the war effort required a lot of copper to make shell casings and munitions. In 1943 U.S. Mint produced the penny out of zinc plated steel to save copper for the war effort, so most 1943 pennies are silver colored. Metal was not the only commodity that was critical to the war effort.
What is the hardest penny to find? ›1877 Indian Head Penny
This penny is the rarest date of all the Indian Head pennies ever minted.
Rare 1943 penny sells for over $200,000
The 1943 penny is one of 20 that were accidentally minted when the federal government was trying to conserve copper for World War II. Heritage Auctions says Don Lutes Jr., of Pittsfield, was 16 when he found the coin in change he received at his school cafeteria in 1947.
Arguably the most valuable one penny coin is the 1933 George V penny, which is worth an estimated value of £72,000. Although this was originally created as a pattern coin – which means it is not intended for release into circulation – it is believed seven were issued, making them extraordinarily rare.
What is no mint mark on a wheat penny? ›1922 No "D" (No Mint Mark)
If it were not for a fire at the U.S. Mint facility in Philadelphia, coin collectors would have never noticed this error. Because of the fire, no Lincoln cents were produced in Philadelphia (no mint mark) in 1922.
Mint Mark Facts
No mint marks appeared on circulating coins from 1965 to 1967. The Coinage Act of 1965 eliminated mint marks to discourage collecting while the Mint worked to meet the country's coinage needs. Mint marks were placed on the reverse of coins until 1968 when they moved to the obverse.
The most valuable Wheat Penny ever auctioned is a unique 1943-D Bronze Cent, sold for $840,000. Other examples of valuable wheat pennies include the 1909-S VDB Lincoln Wheat Penny, the 1944 Steel Penny, and other variations of the 1943 Bronze Penny.
What rare pennies should I be looking for? ›- 1909-S Indian Cent: $300 to $1,000+ ...
- 1909-S VDB Lincoln Cent: $600 to $1,300+ ...
- 1914-D Lincoln Cent: $150 to $2,200+ ...
- 1922 Plain Lincoln Cent: $500 to $10,500+ ...
- 1931-S Lincoln Cent: $65 to $100+ ...
- 1943 Bronze Lincoln Cent: $125,000+
What is the rarest penny to look for? ›
- S Lincoln Penny – $105,800. ...
- 1944-D Lincoln Penny on a Zinc-Coated Steel Planchet – $115,000. ...
- 1909-S VDB Lincoln Penny. ...
- 1872 Indian Head Penny – $126,500. ...
- 1969-S Lincoln Penny–Doubled Die Obverse – $126,500. ...
- 1926-S Lincoln Penny – $149,500.
- 1914-S Lincoln Penny.
- 1944-D Lincoln Penny (Zinc-coated steel)
- 1909-S VDB Lincoln Penny.
- 1872 Indian Head Penny.
- 1969-S Lincoln Penny-Doubled Die Obverse.
- 1926-S Lincoln Penny.
- 1877 Indian Head Penny.
- 1914-D Lincoln Penny.
A penny from 1909 was the star of the show. It is, in fact, considered one of the rarest and most highly valued pennies in existence, made to celebrate the centennial of Abraham Lincoln's birth and inscribed with the initials of its designer, Victor D. Brenner. It sold for $365,000.
Is a penny with no mint mark rare? ›In most cases, no mint mark coins represented coins minted in Philadelphia. However, it's not uncommon to see a coin without a mint mark enter circulation for other reasons.
Why is the 1999 penny worth so much? ›It's from 1999 and could be worth $4,500 thanks to a little-known error on it. What you want to look for is a 1999 penny with no mint mark, which means no letter under the year on the heads side.
What is the oldest penny? ›America's first one-cent piece, called the "large cent," was first struck in 1793, one year after the Mint opened. It was so big that it was hard to use, but it wasn't replaced by a smaller penny until 1857, more than 50 years later.