Lincoln "wheat" cents were struck from 1909 to 1958 and take their name from the two ears of wheat on the reverse. Billions were made, so most are worth only a little more than face value. But a short list of dates and errors carry a collector premium and a few are significant rarities.
The lowest-mintage wheat cents
These are the circulation issues with the smallest mintages, according to US Mint records:
| Coin | Mintage |
|---|---|
| 1909-S VDB Lincoln Wheat Cent | 484,000 |
| 1931-S Lincoln Wheat Cent | 866,000 |
| 1914-D Lincoln Wheat Cent | 1,193,000 |
| 1909-S Lincoln Wheat Cent | 1,825,000 |
| 1924-D Lincoln Wheat Cent | 2,520,000 |
| 1911-S Lincoln Wheat Cent | 4,026,000 |
| 1914-S Lincoln Wheat Cent | 4,137,000 |
| 1912-S Lincoln Wheat Cent | 4,431,000 |
| 1931-D Lincoln Wheat Cent | 4,480,000 |
| 1926-S Lincoln Wheat Cent | 4,550,000 |
| 1915-S Lincoln Wheat Cent | 4,833,000 |
| 1910-S Lincoln Wheat Cent | 6,045,000 |
| 1913-S Lincoln Wheat Cent | 6,101,000 |
| 1933-D Lincoln Wheat Cent | 6,200,000 |
| 1922-D Lincoln Wheat Cent | 7,160,000 |
The two great keys are the 1909-S VDB and the 1914-D. Semi-key dates such as the 1909-S, 1911-D, 1912-S, 1913-S, 1915-S, 1924-D, 1926-S, 1931-D and 1931-S also sell for meaningful premiums, especially in better grades.
Famous wheat cent errors and varieties
| Variety | Notes |
|---|---|
| 1917 Lincoln Wheat Cent Proof (Struck illegally, 1 known to exist) | Matte proof, struck illegally, 1 known to exist |
| 1922 "No D" Lincoln Cent | Error, many counterfeits exist |
| 1942 Lincoln Wheat Cent (White metal pattern) | White metal pattern |
| 1942 Lincoln Wheat Cent (Aluminum pattern) | Aluminum pattern |
| 1942 Lincoln Wheat Cent (Copper-plated Steel pattern) | Copper-plated Steel pattern |
| 1942 Lincoln Wheat Cent (Zinc-plated Steel pattern) | Zinc-plated Steel pattern |
| 1943 Copper (Bronze) Penny | 12 known to exist in Bronze. |
| 1943-D Copper (Bronze) Penny | Currently unique in Bronze. |
| 1943-S Copper (Bronze) Penny | 4 known to exist in Bronze. |
| 1944 Steel Penny | Zinc-plated Steel. 27 known. |
| 1944-D/S Lincoln Cent | D over S |
| 1944-D Steel Penny | Zinc-plated Steel. 7-10 known. |
| 1944-S Steel Penny | Zinc-plated Steel. Only 1 known. |
| 1955 Doubled Die Obverse | Strong doubling of the date and lettering; one of the most famous US errors. |
How to check your wheat pennies
- Sort by date and mint mark. The mint mark (D or S) is directly below the date; Philadelphia cents have none.
- Pull the key dates listed above and any 1943 or 1944 cent.
- Use a magnet on 1943 cents (they should stick; a 1943 that doesn't is worth investigating) and on 1944 cents (they should not stick).
- Check for alterations. Key dates are often faked by adding an S or D mint mark or altering a digit. A 1944-D re-engraved as 1914-D is a classic. Genuine key dates should be authenticated.
- Keep the color. Never clean copper coins; original red or red-brown color is worth much more than shiny cleaned copper.
Browse all 178 issues on the Lincoln wheat cent page.
The design and its designer
The Lincoln cent was designed by the sculptor Victor David Brenner and released in 1909 for the centennial of Lincoln's birth. His initials, VDB, appeared at the bottom of the reverse on the first coins. After complaints that they were too prominent, they were removed within days of release, which is why the 1909 VDB and 1909-S VDB exist as separate issues. The initials returned in 1918 in a much smaller form on the truncation of Lincoln's shoulder, where they stayed for the rest of the series.
What wheat cents are made of
Most wheat cents are bronze, 95% copper with the rest tin and zinc, weighing 3.11 grams. The exceptions are the zinc-coated steel cents of 1943 and the cents of 1944 to 1946, which were made from brass that included metal from spent cartridge cases. After 1946 the Mint returned to the bronze alloy until the wheat reverse ended in 1958. The Lincoln Memorial reverse replaced it in 1959.
Grading a wheat cent
Wear on a wheat cent shows first on Lincoln's cheekbone and jaw, the hair above his ear and his bow tie. On the reverse, look at the parallel lines on the two wheat stalks. On a well-preserved coin the lines in the upper part of each stalk are complete and separate. As the coin wears they merge and then disappear. Many 1920s cents from Denver and San Francisco were softly struck, so the detail can be weak even on coins with little wear.
Color matters as much as wear on copper. Cents start bright red-orange and slowly tone to red-brown and then brown. Original red color on an older date is scarce. A bright coin with a pinkish or yellow tint and no luster has almost always been cleaned.
How to search a large lot of wheat cents
Bulk lots of wheat cents usually come mostly from the 1940s and 1950s, the years with the largest mintages. Sort first by decade and pull every coin dated 1909 to 1933 into its own pile, since that is where most of the key and semi-key dates sit. Then check each early coin for a D or S below the date. Next, look over the 1940s and 1950s coins for repunched and over mint marks such as the 1944-D/S and for strong doubling on the 1955 date. Keep a log of the dates you find so you can see which ones are missing from your set.
Proof wheat cents
The Mint also struck proof wheat cents for collectors. Matte proofs with a fine, grainy surface were made from 1909 to 1916. Brilliant proofs with mirror fields followed from 1936 to 1942 and again from 1950 to 1958. All were struck at Philadelphia, so they have no mint mark. They are rarely found in circulation but sometimes turn up in old collections.
Frequently asked questions
When did wheat pennies stop being made?
In 1958. From 1959 the Lincoln cent carried the Lincoln Memorial reverse instead of the wheat ears.
Are 1958 wheat pennies rare?
No. Hundreds of millions were struck at Philadelphia and Denver, so ordinary 1958 cents are common despite being the last year.
What does VDB mean on a penny?
VDB are the initials of Victor David Brenner, who designed the Lincoln cent. They appear on the reverse of some 1909 cents and on Lincoln's shoulder from 1918.