Top 25 Most Valuable Lincoln Pennies Sold on eBay in July 2015

Tuesday, 25 August 2015

This list of the top 25 most expensive Lincoln pennies sold on eBay in July 2015 has a most unusual element – three of the top five Lincoln cents listed here are modern (post-1958) issues. Even more peculiar is the fact that the 1909-S VDB Lincoln cent doesn’t turn up until the seventh position, or the lowest spot that issue has ever first appeared on any of these monthly rundowns of Lincoln penny prices.

Perhaps more dramatic still is the top price on the number one Lincoln penny: $10,000. Very few times has any Lincoln cent on these monthly eBay sales rundowns ever surpassed $6,000, let alone reached the $10,000 price point. Here’s a look at the top 25 most expensive Lincoln pennies sold in July 2015 and what they sold for:

#1 – 1955 Doubled Die Lincoln Wheat Penny NGC MS-66 Red-Brown, $10,000.00

An MS-66 1955 doubled die Lincoln wheat penny is a rare coin indeed. Yes, all 1955 doubled die Lincoln cents are scarce, but most of those in existence grade less than MS-63 or so. This piece is certainly a top pick for any Lincoln cent series enthusiast and one worth it’s weight in gold. Or, really, in this case, much more than that even.

#2 – 1972 Doubled Die Lincoln Memorial Penny NGC MS-67 Red CAC Designated, $6,600.00

The 1972 doubled die Lincoln cent is perhaps one of the most popular modern-era die varieties. Yes, the 1969-S doubled die Lincoln cent is far scrarer and, at $50,000+, much more valuable. But because it is an esoteric coin for most penny collectors, the 1972 doubled die steps in as that piece that, while quite scarce and valuable, is reasonably obtainable for many collectors. That is especially the case when referring to lower-grading specimens, which often sell for under $500, or less than the storied 1909-S VDB Lincoln cent.

#3 – 1955 Doubled Die Lincoln Wheat Penny PCGS MS-64 Red-Brown, $5,200.00

A second 1955 doubled die Lincoln wheat penny appears in the top 3 segment of this list. This specimen is some two grade points lower and, thus, half the price. While this 1955 doubled die cent is perhaps more common than the MS-66 specimen listed above, that fact does not mitigate the scarceness of this piece. In fact, it is widely suggested that perhaps 15,000 to 20,000 1955 doubled die Lincoln cents exist, which is a relatively tiny figure compared to the number of people who want this coin, otherwise widely known as the most popular die variety in coin collecting.

#4 – 1972 Doubled Die Lincoln Memorial Penny NGC MS-67 Red CAC Designated, $5,100.00

This 1972 doubled die Lincoln cent though the same on paper as the number two coin above, could have been sold at a different time or, most probable, has a minor surface quality issue that prevented it from selling for the $6,000+ price that its above-listed counterpart snagged. As the old saying goes, buy the coin, not the slab.

#5 – 1998-S Close AM Lincoln Memorial Penny PCGS Proof-70 Deep Cameo, $4,500.00

PCGS lists just four 1998 close AM Lincoln cents in Proof-70 with a deep cameo designation. The close AM variety as listed here shows a much smaller gap between the letters “A” and “M” in “AMERICA” on the reverse. There are several types of close AM Lincoln Memorial cent varieties, though the 1998-S is the second rarest behind the 1992 and 1992-D close AM pennies.

#6 – 1922 No-D Lincoln Wheat Penny PCGS AU-53, $4,095.00

1922 plain cents are scarce at any grade level, period. In fact, less than 20,000 are thought to survive across the board, and most Lincoln cent collectors (which number into the millions) want one. However, it’s quite difficult to find any 1922 plain cent (die pair #2) that grades above Fine-12. In this case, the coin in question grades AU-53, which is far superior to the vast majority of 1922 plain cents on the market today.

#7 – 1909-S VDB Lincoln Wheat Penny PCGS MS-65 Red, $4,000.00

Usually by this point on the monthly list of most valuable Lincoln pennies sold on eBay, at least two or three 1909-S VDB Lincoln cents will have shown up. Yet, this is the first to appear on this list (and certainly not the only one). $4,000 for a solid red 1909-S VDB Lincoln cent in a PCGS slab is not a bad deal at all.

#8 – 1914-D Lincoln Wheat Penny PCGS MS-63 Brown, $3,665.00

The 1914-D Lincoln cent is a very scarce coin and, in many respects, scarcer than the 1909-S VDB Lincoln penny in the uncirculated grades, as fewer of this issue were saved. It’s actually a good rule of thumb to remember that very few mintmarked Lincoln cents from the 1910s and 1920s were ever saved in the better grades, which is why they make great acquisitions for coin collectors who want scarce material.

#9 – 1922 No-D Lincoln Wheat Penny NGC AU Details, $3,100.00

This 1922 plain Lincoln cent exemplifies why it’s so hard to find truly original-quality coins. Yes, it grades AU according to the Numismatic Guaranty Corporation. Yet, a closer look at the grade reveals the glaring caveat – the dreaded “details” word. This piece appears to have been cleaned at some point years ago, and thus that significantly lowers both the coin’s eye appeal and overall value.

#10 – 1915 Lincoln Wheat Penny Proof-65 Red-Brown, $2,999.95

The matte proof Lincoln pennies of 1909 through 1916 seem to have relatively little collector following, though that is probably because of how expensive and scarce these early Lincoln proof coins are. These proof coins boast squared rims, precision detail in the devices, and overall possess a surface quality and eye appeal that business-strike Lincoln pennies of this age almost never possess.

11th Through 25th Most Valuable Lincoln Pennies Sold on eBay in July 2015

The last 15 Lincoln pennies on this list include mainly just two issues: the 1909-S VDB Lincoln penny and 1955 doubled die cent. There are, however, a couple more common dates of registry set quality, including a top-end 1983 Lincoln cent and a stunning 1933 Lincoln wheat penny. Here’s a look at the 11th through 25th most valuable Lincoln cents that were sold on eBay in July 2015:

#11 – 1983 Doubled Die Lincoln Memorial Penny NGC MS-68 Red, $2,966.00

#12 – 1955 Doubled Die Lincoln Wheat Penny PCGS MS-64, $2,853.00

#13 – 1909-S VDB Lincoln Wheat Penny PCGS MS-64+ Red, $2,800.00

#14 – 1909-S VDB Lincoln Wheat Penny PCGS MS-64 Red, $2,676.00

#15 – 1909-S VDB Lincoln Wheat Penny PCGS MS-64 Red-Brown, $2,551.50

#16 (Tied) – 1909-S VDB Lincoln Wheat Penny PCGS MS-64 Red, $2,500.00

#19 – 1909-S VDB Lincoln Wheat Penny PCGS MS-64 Red, $2,350.00

#20 – 1909-S VDB Lincoln Wheat Penny PCGS MS-64 Red, $2,250.00

#21 – 1966 Lincoln Memorial Penny PCGS Specimen-67 Red Cameo Special Mint Set, $2,26.00

#22 – 1933 Lincoln Wheat Penny PCGS MS-67 Red CAC Designated, $2,100.00

#23 (Tied) – 1909-S VDB Lincoln Wheat Penny PCGS MS-64 Red-Brown, $2,100.00

#23 (Tied) – 1955 Doubled Die Lincoln Wheat Penny PCGS AU-55 CAC Designated, $2,100.00

#25 – 1955 Doubled Die Lincoln Wheat Penny ANACS MS-60 Red-Brown, $2,099.00

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Lincoln Cents Sales

About the author

Joshua McMorrow-Hernandez

Joshua McMorrow-Hernandez is a freelance writer and author who has contributed hundreds of online articles and blog posts, as well as published Images of America, Tampa’s Carrollwood (Arcadia Publishing, 2013). Joshua is interested in a wide array of topics, and since 1992 has been heavily involved in numismatics, a topic about which he loves to research and write. His main area of focus is 19th and 20th century United States coins, but he also enjoys Canadian coins.