The Lincoln Wheat Penny is minted in the United States to commemorate Abraham Lincoln’s 100th birthday in 1909. Most Lincoln pennies are common, but some are worth thousands or even millions of dollars.
The coin collectors desired some of the rarest Lincoln Wheat Pennies due to their error, unique design, and mint history. Some Lincoln Wheat Pennies are worth $225 million and higher, and coin collectors interested in knowing more about these valuable coins can check the full details here.
Lincoln Wheat Penny Value
Lincoln Pennies’ first issue was produced in 1909 to honor Abraham Lincoln on his 100th birthday. The Lincoln Wheat Pennies were struck at Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Denver. People also called them Lincoln Cents and Wheat Reverse Cents, and these coins are the longest-running coin designs in the history of the US.
According to reports, the Lincoln Wheat Pennies minted in Philadelphia are more sought after than the San Francisco and Denver coins due to their mintage quality and condition. While most Lincoln Wheat Pennies are worth only a few cents, they can have an average value of $20 or $30 if they are in good condition.
The most popular and valuable coins of Lincoln Wheat Pennies, such as 1909-S VDB, had a full series, where 484,000 were minted and only 20,000 survived. The Lincoln Wheat Penny was struck with 95% copper, but when the copper was needed in 1943 for World War II, it was made through zinc-coated steel for a year.
In 1959, the Wheat cent was again made with copper, and Frank Gasparro’s Lincoln memorial design replaced the Victor D. Benner design. The collectors should know that no single cent will be worth billions, but as a collectible, they can be worth billions.
What makes the Lincoln Wheat Penny unique and valuable?
People wondering about what makes the Lincoln Wheat Pennies unique and valuable can check the following factors:
- Historical Connection: The Lincoln Wheat Penny was produced to commemorate Abraham Lincoln’s 100th birthday; this was the first time a real person’s portrait was displayed on the US coin. As we mentioned, it was the most running coin, as these Lincoln cents were in circulation till 1958. The Lincoln pennies were half a century old, and it has seen both World Wars and the Great Depression.
- War Connection: As mentioned earlier, during World War II, the Lincoln Wheat Penny was made with zinc-coated steel as copper was needed for the war. So, no copper coins were meant to be in 1943; however, in 1942, by mistake, the 1942 coins were struck with the 1943 date, making the 1943 bronze pennies in existence and becoming one of the rare Lincoln cents.
- Condition: Some of the rare Lincoln cents are well-preserved; this adds to their flawless condition, making them valuable. This makes the Lincoln Wheat Pennies of higher value and increases tier demand among the collectors.
- Cultural Aspect: The Lincoln Wheat Penny not only reminds us of history but also signifies the national sacrifices of the soldiers in the World War.
Most Valuable Lincoln Wheat Penny
Coin collectors wondering about the most valuable Lincoln Wheat Pennies can check the list of valuable coins below:
- 1943 Copper Lincoln Wheat Cent: The 1943-S bronze is the coin which was mistakenly struck in 1943 in 1942. This makes them one of the rarest Lincoln cents minted at Philadelphia with no mint mark. The coin weighs around 3.11 grams; it features Abraham Lincoln, and on the reverse side we have two wheat stalks. These error green coins range from $100,000 to $900,000 today.
- 1943-D Bronze Lincoln Wheat Cent: Another rare Lincoln cent in US history minted in Denver during World War II made of 95% copper, 5% zinc, and tin. The coin was produced as a sample when the authority was testing the metal options to reserve copper for war. According to reports, it was sold for $840,000 at a Heritage auction in 2021; its current value stands between $800,000 and $2,000,000.
- 1909-S VDB Lincoln Wheat Penny: It is one of the first minted Lincoln Wheat Pennies that got into circulation. The 1909-S VDB was minted in San Francisco and designed by Victor D. Brenner. According to the NGC, the coin was worth $1700 to $27,500.
Where to buy the Lincoln Wheat Penny?
Coin collectors who wish to buy the Lincoln Wheat Penny can buy them on the online platforms Etsy or UBuy. Some people can also find them in their house for a long-forgotten coin jar, as it was the most run coin in the history of the US.
So, people can check their long-forgotten treasure or house, as there is a high chance that people can find these coins still in their house. The people can identify these coins with the Abraham Lincoln portrait, the year marks, the mint marks, and through the coin conditions.
The Lincoln Wheat Penny is one of the valuable coins, not only due to its high value but also due to its historical connection, such as World War II and Abraham Lincoln’s 100th birthday.