What's your old penny worth?

That wheat penny from the junk drawer might be worth more than one cent. Pick the year and the mint mark. You'll get a value range by condition, plus a straight answer: keep it, sell it, or get it graded.

1¢

Wheat Penny Value Lookup

Lincoln Wheat Cent · 1909–1958 · two steps to a price

1Step 1: Pick the year (⚠ = key dates worth real money)

Key dates worth checking your change for

Low mintages and famous errors. Even worn examples can be worth real money.

1909 VDB Wheat Penny

$7.29 – $38

The first-year Lincoln cent carries designer Victor David Brenner's initials VDB on the reverse, below the wheat stalks. The initials were removed the same year after public controversy, making any 1909 VDB an instant classic.

1909-S Wheat Penny

$103 – $498

First-year San Francisco issue without the VDB initials. Under 2 million struck, making it one of the series' semi-key dates.

1909-S S Over Horizontal S Wheat Penny

$117 – $527

Mint mark variety of the 1909-S: the S was first punched horizontally, then corrected. Remnants of the sideways S show under magnification.

1909-S VDB Wheat Penny

$860 – $2,498

The undisputed king of the Wheat Penny series: only about 484,000 were struck, combining the first year of issue, the San Francisco mint, and the short-lived VDB initials. Fakes are everywhere — get professional authentication before paying or accepting four figures.

1911-S Wheat Penny

$38 – $438

Early San Francisco issue with a low mintage. Scarce in nicer grades.

1912-S Wheat Penny

$22 – $354

Semi-key early San Francisco issue.

1913-S Wheat Penny

$12 – $376

Semi-key early San Francisco issue.

1914-D Wheat Penny

$207 – $3,634

The series' second great key date at roughly 1.19 million struck. Its fame makes it one of the most counterfeited US cents — most fakes are ordinary 1914-P cents with an added 'D', so mint mark shape and position are the authentication points that matter.

1914-S Wheat Penny

$21 – $612

Semi-key early San Francisco issue.

1917 Doubled Die Obverse Wheat Penny

$186 – $8,586

Doubled die variety with visible doubling on the date and IN GOD WE TRUST.

1922-D Wheat Penny

$25 – $313

In 1922 neither Philadelphia nor San Francisco struck cents at all — Denver alone carried the year. Any '1922' cent with no mint mark is either the rare No D variety (see related entries) or a coin worth a second, skeptical look.

1922-D No D Mint Mark Wheat Penny

$556 – $19,307

All 1922 cents came from Denver, but some dies were so over-polished that the D vanished entirely, creating the famous 'No D' variety. Distinguish it from the cheaper Weak D by checking whether the rest of the coin's details are equally mushy — on a true No D, the reverse is unusually sharp.

1922-D Weak D Wheat Penny

$30 – $1,243

The weak-strike sibling of the No D: the D is faint but still visible under magnification. Worth more than a normal 1922-D, less than a true No D.

1924-D Wheat Penny

$38 – $721

Low-mintage Denver issue of the 1920s.

1926-S Wheat Penny

$12 – $612

Low-mintage San Francisco issue of the 1920s; prices climb steeply in higher grades.

1931-D Wheat Penny

$8.64 – $87

Depression-era low-mintage year, usually mentioned alongside the 1931-S.

1931-S Wheat Penny

$92 – $249

Only about 866,000 struck — the second-lowest mintage of the series. Hoarded by collectors when new, so circulated examples are more available than the mintage suggests, and the price ladder is gentle until Mint State.

1933-D Wheat Penny

$6.25 – $30

Low-mintage Denver issue of the 1930s.

1936 Doubled Die Obverse Wheat Penny

$34 – $1,879

A doubled die second in fame only to the 1955 DDO, and considerably scarcer.

1943-D Bronze Copper Wheat Penny

— – $2,469,065

The Denver strike of the 1943 bronze error. Single-digit survivors; auction-record material.

1943-D Steel Cent Boldy Doubled Mintmark Wheat Penny

$19 – $1,244

A repunched mint mark variety of the 1943-D steel cent — the D shows obvious doubling under magnification.

1943 Bronze Copper Wheat Penny

— – —

The legendary error: a handful of 1943 cents were struck on leftover bronze planchets. Genuine examples have sold for six figures at auction. It is also one of the most faked coins in the hobby — plated steel cents and altered dates abound. Failing the magnet test is step one; PCGS/NGC authentication is mandatory.

1943-S Bronze Copper Wheat Penny

— – —

The San Francisco strike of the 1943 bronze error. Single-digit survivors; auction-record material.

1944-D D Over S Wheat Penny

$61 – $860

Mint mark error: an S punch was corrected with a D. Under magnification, traces of the underlying S curve remain visible inside the D.

1944-D Steel Cent Wheat Penny

— – —

The Denver strike of the 1944 steel error — roughly 2 known. Museum-grade rarity.

1944 Steel Cent Wheat Penny

— – —

The mirror image of the 1943 bronze error: after copper returned in 1944, a few steel planchets slipped through. Mintage records show single digits. If a 1944 cent sticks to a magnet, authenticate it immediately.

1944-S Steel Cent Wheat Penny

— – $1,218,407

The San Francisco strike of the 1944 steel error — single digits known. Museum-grade rarity.

1946-S S Over D Wheat Penny

$12 – $498

Mint mark error: a D punch was overpunched with an S, leaving overlapping traces of both letters.

1955 Doubled Die Obverse Wheat Penny

$790 – $18,707

The most famous error in American numismatics: dramatic naked-eye doubling on LIBERTY and IN GOD WE TRUST, caused by a misaligned die. Roughly 20,000–40,000 exist, and it remains the single most valuable coin realistically findable in circulation. Counterfeits and 'poor man's double die' machine doubling are common — real examples show strong, full doubling.

1956-D D Above Shadow D Wheat Penny

$3.62 – $92

Mint mark position variety: a faint shadow D appears above the primary mint mark.

1958 Doubled Die Obverse Wheat Penny

— – $240,760

Doubled die obverse with extreme rarity — among the most valuable 1950s errors.

Value your coin in three steps

① Check the date

The date is on the front, to the right of Lincoln's portrait. This site covers wheat pennies from 1909 to 1958 — older coins deserve professional appraisal.

② Find the mint mark

Look just below the date: no letter = Philadelphia, D = Denver, S = San Francisco. The same year from a different mint can be worth many times more.

③ Match the condition to the price

Grade it by the wheat stalk detail; when in doubt, go one grade lower. Then read the price table.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the mint mark on a wheat penny?+

The mint mark sits directly below the date on the front (obverse) of the coin. No letter means Philadelphia (P), D means Denver, and S means San Francisco. A magnifying glass with light coming in at an angle makes it easiest to spot.

Is a 1943 steel penny worth anything?+

A regular 1943 steel cent is very common — usually $0.15 to $1 in circulated condition. But if your 1943 penny does NOT stick to a magnet, it could be the famous bronze error worth six figures. Test it with a magnet first, then get it professionally authenticated.

Should I clean my coins before selling them?+

Never. Cleaning destroys the original surface and can cut a coin's value in half or worse in collectors' eyes. Leave it exactly as found — a dirty old coin is worth more than a polished one.

How do I judge the condition (grade) of my coin?+

Look at the wheat stalks on the back: completely flat is Good (G-4), most lines visible is Fine (F-12), sharp lines with even wear is XF-40, and zero wear with original mint luster is Mint State. When in doubt, assume the lower grade.

Where should I sell a valuable coin?+

Under $20: sell on eBay yourself or bundle with a local dealer. $20–$200: eBay with clear photos of both sides. $200+: get it graded by PCGS or NGC first, then sell through an auction house like Heritage Auctions, where realized prices are usually well above private sales.