Lincoln Wheat Penny (1909–1958): Values & Key Dates
In pristine condition, a 1941 Lincoln cent “could be” worth $1,000 or $5,000, but what is a well-worn example from pocket change worth in reality? That’s a different story.
First, The Bad News. . .
The vast majority of Lincoln Wheat pennies are worth less than ten cents each, with well-worn 1943 steel pennies fetching 5 to ten cents in worn condition, and no Lincoln Wheat penny struck after 1933 fetching more than eight cents in worn condition.
Now, The Good News!
There are four major regular-issue key dates in the series, as well as several valuable semi-key dates, varieties, and errors, and many Lincoln Wheat pennies are worth more than ten cents.
Key Date Wheat Pennies
The following are the major Lincoln Wheat cent key dates: 1909-S1909-S VDB1914-D1931-S. Although varieties and errors are not required for completing a set of Lincoln Wheat cents, many collectors pursue them anyway.
What Are These Wheat Pennies Worth?
The values above are for problem-free coins with no signs of damage, such as holes, major gouges, scratches, or cleanings, and are for coins in average circulated (VG8 to VF20) and average uncirculated condition.
Collecting Lincoln Wheat Cents
Many collectors will build sets of Lincoln Wheat pennies using cardboard folders, deluxe albums, or Lucite holders. The Lincoln penny is one of the most widely collected issues among all United States coinage, and the Lincoln Wheat cent is a long-obsolete coin that has been disappearing from circulation.
How much is a 1958 penny worth today?
According to CoinTrackers.com, the average value of a 1958 Wheat Penny is 15 cents, but one in certified mint state (MS) could be worth $5.
What years of wheat pennies are valuable?
Most wheat cents (wheat pennies were minted between 1909 and 1956) are worth about 4 to 5 cents, but better examples (especially those in near-perfect condition) can be worth much more. Indian Head pennies from 1859 to 1879 are generally worth more than $10.
What is the rarest wheat leaf penny?
7 Wheat Pennies to Collect and How Much They’re Worth
- 1909-S Wheat Penny.
- 1914-D Wheat Penny.
- 1922 u201cPlainu201d Wheat Penny.
- 1931 S Wheat Penny.
- 1943 Bronze Wheat Penny.
- 1955 Doubled Die Obverse Wheat Penny.
Is a 1958 penny worth money?
Extra Fine 1958 Lincoln Wheat Pennies are only worth $.12 and are not in high demand by collectors; even uncirculated examples are worth less than $0.50, while MS-60 condition is worth $0.30 and MS-65 condition is worth $8.
Why is a 1958 D penny rare?
The 1958 Doubled Die Penny The term “double die” implies that there are two dies involved with this error variety u2014 which is not the case with a doubled die coin, which only has three known examples.
How do I know if my wheat penny is valuable?
When purchased or sold in MS-63 condition, all Wheat Pennies are worth more than their face value of.01 cent. A good rule of thumb is that they are worth at least 3 or 4 cents even in poor condition, but those in good condition (not including special years) are worth at least double digit dollars ($10 or more).
Should I clean my wheat pennies?
Cleaning foreign coins, Morgan dollars, wheat pennies, and other valuables to remove corrosion is a delicate and dangerous task; we do not recommend cleaning rare coins if you plan to sell them because cleaning such valuable items devalues them.
How do I know if my 1964 penny is worth money?
The 1964 penny with no mint mark and the 1964 D penny are both worth around $0.15 in uncirculated condition with an MS-63RB grade, and around $0.30 in MS-65RD condition. Proof coins with no mint mark are also available and are worth around $1.50 in PR-65RD condition.
What wheat back pennies are valuable?
From wheat pennies to Indian heads, Bellevue Rare Coins has compiled a list of the Top 5 Most Valuable Pennies ever produced.
- 1873 Indian Head Penny.
- 1914 D Wheat Penny.
- 1877 Indian Head Penny.
- 1944 Steel Wheat Penny.
- 1943 Copper Wheat Penny.
- 1873 Indian Head Penny.
Why is 1944 wheat penny rare?
The 1944 Lincoln penny is particularly desirable to collectors, not only because of its design, but also because of its scarcity: because no more 1944 Lincolns are being produced, their scarcity is constantly increasing, making the coins more valuable.
Is a 1944 wheat penny worth anything?
The 1944 S Wheat Penny is worth an average of 15 cents on CoinTrackers.com, but one in certified mint state (MS ) could be worth $8.
Is a 1960 penny rare?
The D mint mark is minted over an outline of another D mint mark on the obverse side of the coin, and the small date is minted over a large date. This error coin is worth around $150 in uncirculated condition with an MS-63RB grade.
What makes a 1957 D penny rare?
Higher grades are elusive due to the Denver mint’s bulk handling of coins, which resulted in all coins having some minuscule bag marks; problem free circulated examples can be purchased for about 10 to 15 cents.
What is the rarest Penny year?
The 1943 copper-alloy cent is one of the most enigmatic coins in American numismatics, and it is said to be the most valuable Lincoln penny ever.