While rare pennies can indeed fetch significant sums at auction, it's important to note that the vast majority of pennies are not particularly valuable.
The 1943 Bronze Lincoln Cent: During World War II, copper was needed for the war effort, so the U.S. Mint switched from using copper to zinc-coated steel for Lincoln cents in 1943.
The 1955 Doubled Die Lincoln Cent: In 1955, a small number of Lincoln cents were struck with a noticeable doubling of the date and inscriptions due to a misalignment of the dies.
The 1909-S VDB Lincoln Cent: The 1909-S VDB Lincoln Cent is one of the key dates in the Lincoln cent series. It features the initials "VDB" (for Victor David Brenner, the designer of the Lincoln cent) on the reverse.
While over 484 million Lincoln cents were minted in 1909, the coins struck at the San Francisco Mint with Brenner's initials on the reverse are particularly desirable to collectors.
In Mint State-65 Red condition, a 1909-S VDB Lincoln Cent can be worth tens of thousands of dollars.