Wheat Penny Value (1909-1958): A Collector's Price Guide
The Lincoln Wheat Penny, with its iconic wheat stalks on the reverse, is one of the most widely collected coins in the United States. Minted from 1909 to 1958, these pennies are a common find in old coin jars. While most are worth only a few cents, certain dates, mint marks, and errors are worth a fortune. This guide will show you how to identify the valuable ones.
What is the Value of a Common Wheat Penny?
Most Wheat Pennies you find, especially those from the 1940s and 1950s, are very common. Their value is typically:
- Circulated Condition: 3 to 10 cents each.
- Uncirculated Condition: 50 cents to a few dollars.
The real money is in the "key dates" and major errors. Let's look at the ones you should be hunting for.
Top 5 Most Valuable Wheat Pennies
1. 1909-S VDB
The "holy grail" for Wheat Penny collectors. The designer's initials (VDB) were removed from the reverse early in 1909, making the San Francisco issue with the initials incredibly scarce.
- What to Look For: A 1909 penny with an "S" under the date and "V.D.B." on the back at the bottom.
- Estimated Value: $600 - $2,500+
2. 1955 Doubled Die Obverse
The most famous error in the series. A hub misalignment caused a dramatic doubling of the date and lettering on the front of the coin.
- What to Look For: A 1955 penny with very obvious doubling on "LIBERTY" and "IN GOD WE TRUST".
- Estimated Value: $1,000 - $2,000+
3. 1922 "No D" (Plain)
The Denver mint was the only mint to produce pennies in 1922. A heavily used die resulted in the "D" mint mark being completely filled in and polished away, creating a coin that looks like it was made in Philadelphia (which made none).
- What to Look For: A 1922 penny with a very weak or completely missing mint mark. The reverse details will often be weak as well. Authenticate this one, as fakes are common.
- Estimated Value: $500 - $10,000+
4. 1914-D
With a mintage of just over 1 million, the 1914-D is the second-rarest non-error coin in the series after the 1909-S VDB.
- What to Look For: A 1914 penny with a "D" under the date.
- Estimated Value: $150 - $4,000+
5. 1944 Steel Penny / 1943 Copper Penny
These are major wartime errors. Leftover steel planchets were used in 1944, and a few bronze planchets were struck in 1943. Both are extremely rare and valuable.
- What to Look For: A 1944 penny that sticks to a magnet, or a 1943 penny that does NOT stick to a magnet.
- Estimated Value: $75,000 to over $1,000,000.
Other Valuable "Semi-Key Date" Wheat Pennies
Keep an eye out for these dates, as they carry a premium over common pennies:
- 1909-S: $75+
- 1910-S: $10+
- 1911-S: $25+
- 1912-S: $15+
- 1913-S: $15+
- 1914-S: $15+
- 1915-S: $15+
- 1924-D: $20+
- 1931-S: $70+
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