Design and Specifications of the Lincoln Cent (Wheat Reverse)

The Lincoln Cent was introduced in 1909 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s birth. It was the first U.S. coin to feature a real person, marking a significant shift in American coinage design. The wheat reverse, symbolizing national prosperity, was used until 1958 when it was replaced by the Lincoln Memorial design.
Weight 3.11 grams
Diameter 19.05 mm
Mint Marks D (Denver), S (San Francisco), no mint mark (Philadelphia)
Composition 95% copper, 5% tin and zinc (1909-1942, 1944-1958); zinc-coated steel (1943)
Obverse Design Profile of Abraham Lincoln facing right, designed by Victor David Brenner
Reverse Design Two wheat stalks framing the words 'ONE CENT' and 'UNITED STATES OF AMERICA', designed by Victor David Brenner
Years of Minting 1909-1958

Collectibility and Rare Varieties

The condition of Lincoln Wheat Cents greatly affects their value, with uncirculated specimens commanding significant premiums. Errors like the 1955 Double Die Obverse can dramatically increase a coin’s worth. The 1943 copper cent, an accidental striking on the wrong planchet, is one of the most valuable Lincoln cents, with only a handful known to exist.
1914-D 1,193,000 minted; one of the key dates in the series
1931-S 866,000 minted; lowest mintage of any Lincoln cent from the 1930s
1909-S VDB 484,000 minted; highly sought after due to designer's initials controversy
1922 Plain No mint mark due to die error, very rare
1943 Copper Extremely rare error coins struck on copper planchets instead of steel

Explore Lincoln Cent (Wheat Reverse) Values by Year

1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958

Most Valuable Lincoln Cent (Wheat Reverse)

This section highlights the most valuable coins in the series, based on PCGS price guides. The table shows price ranges for each coin in various conditions.

Coin Name Circulated Price Uncirculated Price
1944 Penny Steel (Regular Strike) $38,500.00 – $42,500.00 –
1945 Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $1.00 – $6,500.00
1943 Penny Bronze, BN (Regular Strike) $215,000.00 – $360,000.00 –
1944-S Penny Steel (Regular Strike) – $475,000.00
1956-D Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $3.00 – $1,700.00
1919-S Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $100.00 – $32,500.00
1943 Penny (Regular Strike) $1.00 – $8.00 –
1943-D Penny Bronze, BN (Regular Strike) – $1,050,000.00
1909 VDB Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $17.00 – $30.00 –
1944-S Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $3.00 – $1,000.00
1958-D Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $3.00 – $2,400.00
1909-S VDB Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $500.00 – $2,125.00 –
1955-D Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $2.00 – $6,000.00
1942-D Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $5.00 – $8,000.00
1909 VDB Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $35.00 – $58,000.00
1951-D Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $2.00 – $7,000.00
1944 Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $4.00 – $13,000.00
1943-S Penny (Regular Strike) $1.00 – $8.00 –
1943-D Penny (Regular Strike) $1.00 – $8.00 –
1957-D Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $3.00 – $4,500.00
1955 Penny Doubled Die Obverse, RB (Regular Strike) – $3,350.00 – $18,000.00
1914-D Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $130.00 – $2,550.00 –
1922 No D Penny Strong Reverse, BN (Regular Strike) $275.00 – $11,000.00 –
1946-S Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $5.00 – $1,400.00
1953-D Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $3.00 – $6,500.00
1948-D Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $3.00 – $1,700.00
1955-S Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $2.00 – $10,000.00
1953-S Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $3.00 – $17,500.00
1931-S Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $210.00 – $11,500.00
1945-S Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $3.00 – $7,500.00
1950-D Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $3.00 – $1,350.00
1946-D Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $2.00 – $3,000.00
1920-S Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $3.00 – $90.00 –
1943-S Penny Bronze, BN (Regular Strike) $145,000.00 – $350,000.00 –
1909-S Penny Lincoln, BN (Regular Strike) $60.00 – $335.00 –
1944-D Penny Steel (Regular Strike) $40,000.00 – $45,000.00 –
1952-D Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $2.00 – $1,450.00
1930-S Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $20.00 – $15,000.00
1951-S Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $3.00 – $1,450.00
1925-S Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $300.00 – $50,000.00
1954-S Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $2.00 – $27,500.00
1944-D/S Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $45.00 – $285.00 –
1922-D Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $14.00 – $135.00 –
1950-S Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $2.00 – $12,000.00
1929-S Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $50.00 – $65,000.00
1956 Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $3.00 – $58,000.00
1910 Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $3.00 – $28.00 –
1926-S Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $8.00 – $190.00 –
1910-S Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $17.00 – $110.00 –
1947-S Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $2.00 – $1,100.00
1941-S Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $5.00 – $30,000.00
1954-D Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $2.00 – $1,200.00
1955 Penny Doubled Die Obverse, RD (Regular Strike) – $3,500.00 – $288,000.00
1917-S Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $150.00 – $82,500.00
1918 Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $1.00 – $32.00 –
1948-S Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $2.00 – $1,050.00
1935 Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $8.00 – $48,500.00
1946 Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $3.00 – $1,000.00
1947-D Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $7.00 – $3,000.00
1914-S Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $400.00 – $85,000.00
1941 Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $4.00 – $20,000.00
1915-D Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $1.00 – $85.00 –
1934-D Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $1.00 – $8.00 –
1936-D Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $7.00 – $15,000.00
1917 Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $1.00 – $28.00 –
1915-S Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $21.00 – $315.00 –
1945-D Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $5.00 – $16,000.00
1953 Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $6.00 – $20,000.00
1916-S Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $150.00 – $18,000.00
1939-D Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $7.00 – $10,500.00
1939-S Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $4.00 – $10,000.00
1935-S Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $14.00 – $7,500.00
1943-D/D Penny (Regular Strike) $55.00 – $350.00 –
1911-S Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $30.00 – $215.00 –
1921 Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $70.00 – $47,500.00
1928-S Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $135.00 – $55,000.00
1937 Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $4.00 – $16,500.00
1940-D Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $4.00 – $10,000.00
1927-D Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $1.00 – $62.00 –
1921-S Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $250.00 – $12,500.00
1924-S Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $200.00 – $37,500.00
1937-D Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $6.00 – $11,500.00
1944-D Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $6.00 – $9,500.00
1927 Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $1.00 – $15.00 –
1919-D Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $1.00 – $80.00 –
1920-D Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $1.00 – $95.00 –
1916 Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $34.00 – $62,500.00
1937-S Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $5.00 – $20,000.00
1936 Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $2.00 – $4.00 –
1918-S Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $1.00 – $85.00 –
1934-D Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $18.00 – $6,350.00
1917 Penny Doubled Die Obverse, BN (Regular Strike) $70.00 – $3,350.00 –
1955 Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $3.00 – $2,750.00
1924-D Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $20.00 – $310.00 –
1934 Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $8.00 – $5,250.00
1912-S Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $15.00 – $205.00 –
1952-S Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $4.00 – $30,000.00
1914 Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $2.00 – $58.00 –
1913-S Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $12.00 – $210.00 –
1926 Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $1.00 – $14.00 –
1955 Penny Doubled Die Obverse, BN (Regular Strike) $1,375.00 – $2,775.00 –
1917 Penny Doubled Die Obverse, RB (Regular Strike) – $4,000.00 – $22,500.00
1918-D Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $175.00 – $95,000.00
1912 Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $2.00 – $42.00 –
1929-S Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $1.00 – $28.00 –
1909 Penny Lincoln, BN (Regular Strike) $3.00 – $25.00 –
1916-D Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $1.00 – $87.00 –
1917-S Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $2.00 – $100.00 –
1923-S Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $500.00 – $70,000.00
1925-D Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $125.00 – $93,000.00
1911 Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $2.00 – $30.00 –
1919 Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $1.00 – $16.00 –
1929-D Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $40.00 – $9,500.00
1942-S Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $8.00 – $9,500.00
1949-D Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $2.00 – $7,500.00
1928-D Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $1.00 – $36.00 –
1938-S Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $8.00 – $1,000.00
1922-D Penny Weak D, BN (Regular Strike) $40.00 – $485.00 –
1926-D Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $1.00 – $82.00 –
1936 Penny Doubled Die Obverse, Type 1, BN (Regular Strike) $50.00 – $540.00 –
1956 Penny, RD (Proof) – $10.00 – $165.00
1909 VDB Penny, BN (Proof) – $7,000.00 – $42,500.00
1930-D Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $25.00 – $35,000.00
1933-D Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $20.00 – $16,000.00
1917-D Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $1.00 – $85.00 –
1933 Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $1.00 – $15.00 –
1913 Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $90.00 – $47,500.00
1927-S Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $150.00 – $50,000.00
1936-S Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $8.00 – $5,750.00
1932-D Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $28.00 – $32,500.00
1925 Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $26.00 – $65,000.00
1926-S Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $550.00 – $120,000.00
1935-D Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $9.00 – $12,500.00
1913-D Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $2.00 – $145.00 –
1909-S VDB Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $2,300.00 – $175,000.00
1920-D Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $125.00 – $21,500.00
1920 Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $30.00 – $16,000.00
1928 Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $1.00 – $10.00 –
1912-D Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $5.00 – $210.00 –
1923 Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $40.00 – $55,000.00
1931-D Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $100.00 – $50,000.00
1932 Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $25.00 – $11,500.00
1929 Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $1.00 – $11.00 –
1919-S Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $2.00 – $50.00 –

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Chris McPherson is a lifelong collector turned shop owner who opened ChrisMcPherson's Souvenir Shop in 2005. With over 20 years as a professional antique dealer and appraiser, Chris expertly curates a selection of the most unique political, pop culture, and historic collectibles available. His passion is hunting one-of-a-kind artifacts and sharing the fascinating stories behind them. Chris graduated with a BA in American History, informing his specialty in political memorabilia. As a seasoned antique hunter, Chris utilizes his skills to deliver an ever-changing inventory of must-see relics and conversation pieces to his shop.

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