Wheat Pennies Worth Money: Complete Value Guide by Year

The Lincoln Wheat Penny: America’s Most Collected Coin

The Lincoln wheat penny, minted from 1909 to 1958, is the most widely collected coin series in American numismatics. Designed by Victor David Brenner, the wheat penny features Abraham Lincoln on the obverse and two wheat stalks on the reverse. Over 28 billion wheat pennies were produced across three mints (Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco), but certain dates, mint marks, and varieties are genuinely rare and valuable.

Most common-date wheat pennies in circulated condition are worth $0.05 to $0.25. However, key dates can range from $10 to over $100,000 depending on the year, mint mark, variety, and condition. This guide covers every significant date and variety you should know about.

Key Date Wheat Pennies: The Most Valuable

1909-S VDB — $1,000 to $2,500+ (Circulated) / $10,000+ (Mint State)

The 1909-S VDB is the king of wheat pennies. It was the first year of the Lincoln cent, and the San Francisco Mint produced only 484,000 coins bearing designer Victor David Brenner’s initials (“VDB”) on the reverse before public complaints caused their removal. This is the lowest-mintage regular-issue Lincoln cent and the most sought-after date in the series.

1914-D — $300 to $500 (Good) / $5,000+ (Extremely Fine) / $100,000+ (MS-65 Red)

With a mintage of just 1,193,000, the 1914-D is the second most valuable wheat penny. It is notoriously counterfeited — fake “D” mint marks are added to common 1914 Philadelphia cents. Always buy certified examples from PCGS or NGC for this date.

1922 No-D (Plain) — $600 to $1,200 (VF) / $20,000+ (MS-63)

In 1922, pennies were only struck at the Denver Mint. Heavily worn dies failed to fully strike the “D” mint mark on some coins, creating the famous 1922 “Plain” or “No-D” variety. The strongest no-D examples (Die Pair 2) command the highest premiums. Be careful: some coins simply have a weak D rather than a true no-D, and these are worth far less.

1931-S — $80 to $130 (Fine) / $8,000+ (MS-65 Red)

The Great Depression caused dramatically reduced mintages. The 1931-S had a mintage of only 866,000, making it one of the lowest-mintage dates in the entire Lincoln cent series. Many were saved by collectors at the time, so mint state examples do exist but still command significant premiums.

1943 Copper Penny — $150,000 to $250,000+

In 1943, pennies were minted on zinc-coated steel planchets to conserve copper for World War II. However, a small number of copper planchets were accidentally used, creating the legendary 1943 copper penny. Only about 20 genuine examples are confirmed. A magnet test is the easiest way to check: steel pennies stick to magnets, copper ones do not.

1944 Steel Penny — $75,000 to $110,000

The reverse of the 1943 copper error: leftover steel planchets from 1943 were accidentally struck with 1944 dies. Only about a dozen confirmed examples exist. A PCGS MS-63 example sold for $108,000 in 2021.

1955 Doubled Die Obverse — $1,000 to $3,000 (Circulated) / $25,000 to $50,000 (MS-63+)

One of the most dramatic minting errors in U.S. coinage history. The doubling on the date and lettering is easily visible to the naked eye. Approximately 20,000 to 24,000 examples entered circulation. This remains one of the most popular and recognizable error coins among collectors.

Semi-Key Dates: Valuable but More Affordable

• 1909-S (no VDB): Mintage 1,825,000. Worth $100 to $200 in Good, $1,000+ in MS-63.
• 1910-S: Mintage 6,045,000. Worth $15 to $30 in Good, $500+ in MS-63.
• 1911-S: Mintage 4,026,000. Worth $25 to $45 in Good, $600+ in MS-63.
• 1912-S: Mintage 4,431,000. Worth $20 to $35 in Good, $500+ in MS-63.
• 1913-S: Mintage 6,101,000. Worth $12 to $20 in Good, $400+ in MS-63.
• 1914-S: Mintage 4,137,000. Worth $20 to $35 in Good, $600+ in MS-63.
• 1915-S: Mintage 960,000. Worth $20 to $40 in Good, $700+ in MS-63.
• 1924-D: Mintage 2,520,000. Worth $30 to $50 in Good, $1,500+ in MS-63.
• 1926-S: Mintage 4,550,000. Worth $10 to $20 in Good, $2,000+ in MS-63.
• 1933-D: Mintage 6,200,000. Worth $3 to $5 in Good, $150+ in MS-63.

Complete Price Guide by Decade

Year & Mint	Mintage	Good (G-4)	Fine (F-12)	EF (EF-40)	MS-63 Red
1909 VDB	27,995,000	$10	$15	$20	$35
1909-S VDB	484,000	$1,000	$1,400	$2,000	$10,000+
1909-S	1,825,000	$100	$140	$200	$1,000+
1914-D	1,193,000	$300	$600	$2,000	$5,000+
1922 No-D	Unknown	$600	$900	$2,500	$20,000+
1931-S	866,000	$80	$100	$140	$8,000+
1943 Copper	~20	$150,000+	$180,000+	$200,000+	$372,000+
1943 Steel	684,628,670	$0.25	$0.50	$2	$10–$20
1944 Steel	~12	$75,000+	$85,000+	$95,000+	$108,000+
1955 DDO	~24,000	$1,000	$1,500	$2,500	$25,000+
Common Dates	Billions	$0.05	$0.10	$0.25	$1–$5

How to Search Through Wheat Pennies

• Sort by date first. Separate any coins dated before 1920, as these tend to have the highest values even in common dates.
• Check mint marks. Look for “S” (San Francisco) or “D” (Denver) below the date. Philadelphia coins have no mint mark. S-mint coins from 1909 to 1915 are particularly valuable.
• Use a magnet on 1943 pennies. Normal 1943 steel cents stick to magnets. If one does not stick, it could be the incredibly rare copper version.
• Examine 1955 and 1972 cents with a loupe. Look for strong doubling on the date and inscriptions. A 10x magnifying loupe is sufficient to identify major doubled die varieties.
• Set aside any coin in uncirculated condition. Even common-date wheat pennies in mint state can be worth $1 to $10, and better dates can be worth hundreds or thousands.

Where to Sell Valuable Wheat Pennies

If you find a key-date wheat penny, here are the best selling options:

• PCGS or NGC grading first: For coins potentially worth $100 or more, professional grading is essential. It authenticates the coin and maximizes sale value.
• Heritage Auctions: The largest coin auction house in the world. Best for coins worth $500 or more.
• eBay: Good for mid-range coins ($25 to $500). Use the auction format for better prices. Always photograph both sides clearly.
• Local coin dealers: Convenient for quick sales, but expect wholesale prices (typically 50% to 70% of retail value).

Think you might have valuable wheat pennies? Upload a photo to our free AI valuation tool and get an instant estimate. Our tool identifies dates, mint marks, and varieties to help you determine value.