Depends really, out of all 1 cents types or a particular type? I'd say the 1909-S VDB Lincoln is probably one of the most sought after and pretty rare, at least in a really good grade. Also, rare can include the grade as well.
1793LC, 1794 starred rev, 1803 ld sf, s1807/6, 1856FE, 1877IH, 1888/7, just a few that are worth more than the 1909svdb, 1941d, 1922.:devil:
I'd say the 1909 S VDB is very highly sought after, but not super rare. At any given time, you can find lots on Ebay. In high grade, maybe you're on point. But I think it's just a really collected series. And to the OP, the US Mint has never made a penny, so there aren't any rare ones. There are rare cents, however...
I'd say a 1793 chain cent in MS-66+ would be pretty darn rare... or the 1856 flying eagle in high grade (only 2,000 minted).
The answer to this question (and many, many others) can be found in your Red Book. (You DO own a Red Book, don't you?)
Not really rare but I just spent $240 on 3 raw Indian head cents and they all only grade G-4 if that! 1869/69 Snow-3 list $150 in raw G-4. I paid $100 1871 dealer ask $78, paid $75 1872 dealer ask $85, I paid $65 Still need the 1856, 1877 and 1909-S to make a complete set. Probably never happen.
I will address a single year, the 1793 NC.1,NC.2, NC.3, NC.4, NC.5, and NC.6 would all qualify as Rare. These range from R8+ with 1 known to R7+ with 4 known.
I agree, it's pretty difficult to come up with one, because i believe the secret service can take them.
I would have to say my hero Steward Blay with his highest graded wheat cent >>> 1919 MS-69RD. There's only ONE in the world, it can't get any rarer than that.
Go with the NC-5. There are a half dozen to a dozen or so unique large cents, but Dan Holmes was able to acquire all of them except the 93 NC-5. It is unique and permanently impounded in the ANS collection. There are several others where there are only two known with one permanently impounded in a museum and Dan had the other. Another good possibility is the 1851 N-42, the only late date piece missing from the Dan Holmes collection. It has been unique since it was discovered maybe 20 years ago and is in a private collection. Dan wasn't able to pry it loose.
I would add the 1825 N-5 just discovered a few months ago, although I doubt it will stay unique for long.
