Rare Coins Worth Thousands Found in Spare Change

A penny in your drawer could be worth thousands—or even more.

With the cost of producing pennies now exceeding their face value, the U.S. may soon halt their minting. As a result, rare coins like certain collectible pennies are attracting renewed interest, even among Korean Americans. Some coins are selling for hundreds of thousands of dollars.

But not every old penny is valuable. To find out whether a coin is worth more than its face value, collectors advise checking for specific details: the year of minting, mint mark, and physical condition.

One of the most prized coins is the 1943 copper penny. During World War II, most pennies were made of steel to save copper for the war effort. However, a few were mistakenly struck in copper. According to Roxana Uscali, a senior appraiser at Heritage Auctions in Chicago, “Only about 20 of the 1943 copper pennies are known to exist, and they can sell for hundreds of thousands of dollars at auction.”

Another sought-after coin is the 1909 VDB penny, named after designer Victor David Brenner, whose initials “VDB” are stamped on the bottom back of the coin. Due to its limited mintage, it remains a high-value item.

The 1982 penny is also worth examining. That year marked a transition from copper to zinc coins, and the two types differ in weight. Copper pennies weigh about 3.1 grams, while zinc versions weigh around 2.5 grams. A 1982 copper penny in mint condition can fetch thousands of dollars depending on rarity and condition.

It’s not just pennies drawing interest. Some dimes and quarters from recent decades also have collectible value.

One standout is the 1982 no-mark dime. It was minted in Philadelphia, but lacks the “P” mint mark due to a production error. These dimes were released in small numbers and now sell for hundreds to thousands of dollars.

In 1996, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Roosevelt dime, a proof-only version was made at the West Point Mint and marked with a “W.” These 1996-W dimes weren’t meant for general circulation, and when sold individually, they can command high prices in the collector market.

Among quarters, the 2004 Wisconsin state quarter is particularly notable. Some coins from this run feature an extra leaf on the ear of corn—an error known as the “extra leaf” quarter. Depending on condition, these coins are valued from several hundred to several thousand dollars.

High-value coins are typically the result of minting errors, limited production runs, or missing mint marks. Condition matters greatly—coins in mint or near-mint state fetch far more than worn examples.

You can assess coin value using mobile apps like Coin Scanner or websites like coinvaluechecker.com, which allow users to identify and price coins.

With rare coins possibly sitting unnoticed in drawers or piggy banks, now might be a good time to check your spare change. That one-cent coin could be worth $10,000.