What is the rarest penny in the world?

Answer 1

There are 2 contenders for the rarest U.S. cent (=penny):

Among circulated coins it's the 1793 "strawberry" design cent, which retails for about $300,000 even in worn condition.

Among UNcirculated coins it's the 1793 "wreath" design cent, which retails for over half a million dollars.

There are several unique British pennies, most notably the 1933 proof issue which is effectively priceless. No one can put a value on it because there is only one.

Answer 2

The 1943 copper penny is one of the rarest pennies in the world. Due to a shortage of copper during World War II, pennies were made using steel coated in zinc that year, making the copper version highly sought after by collectors. Only a few are known to exist, with one selling for over $1 million in 2010.