1942-D Wheat Penny Value: What Is It Worth in 2026?
Mintage: ~207 million struck
Estimated value · Source: USACoinBook price guide (updated Feb 2026)
1942 D Wheat Penny
Mint: Denver (D)
Keep it
Common date: not worth selling one by one. Keep it for your collection, or bundle it with other wheat pennies by the roll or bag.
Value by condition
| Good (G-4, heavily worn) | $0.18 |
| Very Good (VG-8) | $0.22 |
| Fine (F-12) | $0.24 |
| Very Fine (VF-20) | $0.30 |
| Extremely Fine (XF-40) | $0.61 |
| About Uncirculated (AU-50) | $1.05 |
| Mint State (MS-63, uncirculated) | $2.50 |
A 1942 Lincoln Wheat Cent struck at the Denver mint — a later common date, affordable in circulated grades.
See the full page for this coin (mintage, how to identify it, where to sell)How to confirm it's genuine
- The mint mark sits directly below the date — it should be the letter "D". A magnifier with light at a 45° angle works best.
- Never clean the coin: cleaning destroys the original surface and can cut the value in half.
- For any coin worth more than $200, PCGS/NGC grading fees (~$20–50) are money well spent.
Where to sell this coin
- eBay works best in the $1.00–$200 range. Take clear photos of both sides in natural light, and put the year, mint mark, and approximate grade in the title.
- A local coin dealer is the fastest way to cash out, but expect 60–70% of guide prices. Best for selling common dates in bulk.
- Graded high-value coins do best at auction houses like Heritage Auctions or Stack's Bowers, where realized prices are public.