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How to tell if a penny is valuable: 5 checks in 60 seconds

3 min read · Updated Oct 4, 2026

Before you start

You do not need to be an expert to examine a penny. Hold it by the edges, use a window or a good lamp, and work through these five steps. Each step narrows the identification.

1. Read the date

On Lincoln cents, the date is on the front beside the portrait. Look more closely at 1909, 1914, 1922, 1931, 1943, 1944, 1955, 1969, 1972, 1982, 1992 and 1998 through 2000. Our key-date guide explains their features. A date alone does not make a coin rare. Famous rarities are often counterfeited; seek independent authentication of a possible find, for example from PCGS or NGC.

2. Find the mint mark

On Lincoln cents, the small letter sits under the date.

• D means Denver; S means San Francisco.
• P appears on Philadelphia pennies dated 2017.
• W appears on West Point collector issues dated 2019.
• No letter usually means Philadelphia, but there are exceptions.
• Circulating coins dated 1965–1967 have no mint marks.

Open the mint-mark finder in the app

3. Identify the design

The design identifies the series. The back can help; its photo is optional for a scan.

• Flying eagle on the front: Flying Eagle, regular circulation dates 1857–1858; 1856 is considered a pattern.
• Liberty wearing a Native American headdress: Indian Head, 1859–1909.
• Two wheat ears on the back: Lincoln Wheat, 1909–1958.
• Lincoln Memorial on the back: Memorial, 1959–2008.
• Four different scenes from Lincoln's life: the 2009 issue.
• A shield on the back: the Shield design introduced in 2010. Check later collector issues in the catalogue.

4. Consider the metal

The composition has changed several times:

• Flying Eagle cents are a copper-nickel alloy.
• Most Lincoln cents from 1909 through 1982 are a copper alloy, normally weighing about 3.11 g.
• Ordinary 1943 cents are zinc-coated steel, weigh about 2.70 g and are attracted to a magnet.
• The copper-plated zinc type introduced in 1982 normally weighs about 2.50 g.

Both alloys were struck in 1982. A photo alone cannot reliably distinguish them; a suitable scale helps. Weight and magnet tests provide clues, not proof of authenticity.

Open the weight test in the app

5. Judge the condition

Wear usually starts on the highest parts. On Lincoln, examine the cheek and hair. Surviving detail and original mint luster are useful clues; a flat portrait suggests more wear. A weak strike can look similar, so compare several features.

What common pennies are worth

Many worn zinc cents have no meaningful premium over their one-cent face value. Common Wheat cents are often sold in bulk at low unit prices. A copper cent's theoretical metal value is not a guaranteed sale price. Rarity, variety, condition and demand determine any collector premium; app estimates are not purchase offers.

Questions

How do I know if my penny is worth money?

Check five things in order: the date, the mint mark under the date, the design, the metal (weight and magnet) and the condition. Most common, worn pennies have little collector value; some dates and varieties deserve a closer look.

Which penny dates should I look for?

Look more closely at 1909, 1914, 1922, 1931, 1943, 1944, 1955, 1969, 1972, 1982, 1992 and 1998 through 2000. A date alone does not make a coin rare, and famous rarities are often counterfeited.

Are common pennies worth more than one cent?

Many worn zinc pennies have no meaningful premium over face value, and common wheat pennies are often sold in bulk at low prices. Rarity, variety, condition and demand decide any collector premium.

Penny Value is an Android app for now, so it isn't on the App Store. The values and checks on this page are free to use.Penny Value is an Android app. Open this page on your Android phone to check your own penny with a photo.

Coins in this guide

• 1943 Steel

  Philadelphia · 684.6 million made

  7.5¢worn

  $2.00MS-60
• 1982 Copper Large Date

  Philadelphia · Part of the 10,712,525,000 1982 Philadelphia cents; US Mint figures don't split copper from zinc or Small from Large Date.

  4¢worn
• 1982 Zinc Large Date

  Philadelphia · Part of the 10,712,525,000 1982 Philadelphia cents; US Mint figures don't split copper from zinc or Small from Large Date.

  1¢worn
• 2017-P

  Philadelphia · 4.4 billion made

  1¢worn
• 2019-W

  West Point · 318,695 made

  Collector issue

Related guides

• Where's the mint mark? P, D, S and W on every US penny
• Lincoln penny key dates: the short list worth knowing

Sources

1. U.S. Mint, “Penny” (accessed 2026-10-04)
2. Wikipedia, “Lincoln cent” (accessed 2026-09-26)
3. Wikipedia, “1943 steel cent” (accessed 2026-09-26)
4. American Numismatic Association, “None the Worse for Wear” (accessed 2026-09-26)
5. U.S. Mint, “Get Started Collecting Coins” (accessed 2026-09-26)
6. U.S. Mint, “Mint Marks” (accessed 2026-10-04)