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Cents · 1909–1958

Lincoln Wheat Cent Values & Mintages

Struck for the centennial of Abraham Lincoln's birth, the Lincoln cent was the first regular-issue US coin to portray a real person. Victor David Brenner's initials V.D.B. on the 1909 reverse caused a stir and were removed within days, making the 1909-S VDB the most famous key date in American coins. The initials returned, tiny, on Lincoln's shoulder in 1918.

Years
1909–1958
Issues listed
178
Lowest mintage
484K
Diameter
19.05 mm

Original illustration. Tap to flip.

In 1943 copper was needed for the war and cents were struck in zinc-coated steel. From 1944 to 1946 the Mint used brass recovered from spent shell casings. A few cents struck on the wrong planchet, the 1943 copper and 1944 steel cents, are among the most valuable errors in the world.

Designer: Victor David Brenner.

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Key dates: lowest mintages

See all 178 →
1909-S VDB Lincoln Wheat CentThe 1909-S VDB is the most famous key date in American coin collecting
484,000
1931-S Lincoln Wheat CentThe 1931-S has the lowest mintage of any regular Lincoln cent after 1909, struck during the Depression.
866,000
1914-D Lincoln Wheat CentThe 1914-D is one of the two great Lincoln cent keys.
1,193,000
1909-S Lincoln Wheat CentSemi-key: below-average mintage
1,825,000
1924-D Lincoln Wheat CentSemi-key: below-average mintage
2,520,000
1911-S Lincoln Wheat CentSemi-key: below-average mintage
4,026,000
1914-S Lincoln Wheat CentSemi-key: below-average mintage
4,137,000
1912-S Lincoln Wheat CentSemi-key: below-average mintage
4,431,000
1931-D Lincoln Wheat CentSemi-key: below-average mintage
4,480,000
1926-S Lincoln Wheat CentSemi-key: below-average mintage
4,550,000

Famous varieties & errors

1917 Lincoln Wheat Cent Proof (Struck illegally, 1 known to exist)Variety / error
Unknown
1922 "No D" Lincoln CentVariety / error
Unknown
1942 Lincoln Wheat Cent (White metal pattern)Variety / error
2
1942 Lincoln Wheat Cent (Aluminum pattern)Variety / error
1
1942 Lincoln Wheat Cent (Copper-plated Steel pattern)Variety / error
Unknown
1942 Lincoln Wheat Cent (Zinc-plated Steel pattern)Variety / error
Unknown
1943 Copper (Bronze) PennyVariety / error
40
1943-D Copper (Bronze) PennyVariety / error
Unknown
1943-S Copper (Bronze) PennyVariety / error
Unknown
1944 Steel PennyVariety / error
27+ known
1944-D/S Lincoln CentVariety / error
Unknown
1944-D Steel PennyVariety / error
10
1944-S Steel PennyVariety / error
1+ known
Lincoln Wheat Cent circulation mintagesLog scale · hover or tap a bar · 1909–1958
100K1M10M100M1B

Every Lincoln Wheat Cent by year and mint

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Owned✓CoinYearMintMintageTypeSilver
1909 VDB Lincoln Wheat Cent1909None 27,995,000Circulation strike–
1909 Lincoln Wheat Cent1909None 72,702,618Circulation strike–
1909 VDB Lincoln Wheat Cent Matte Proof1909None 1,194Proof–
1909 Lincoln Wheat Cent Matte Proof1909None 2,352Proof–
1909-S VDB Lincoln Wheat Cent1909S 484,000Circulation strike–
1909-S Lincoln Wheat Cent1909S 1,825,000Circulation strike–
1910 Lincoln Wheat Cent1910None 146,801,218Circulation strike–
1910 Lincoln Wheat Cent Matte Proof1910None 4,083Proof–
1910-S Lincoln Wheat Cent1910S 6,045,000Circulation strike–
1911 Lincoln Wheat Cent1911None 101,177,787Circulation strike–
1911 Lincoln Wheat Cent Matte Proof1911None 2,411Proof–
1911-D Lincoln Wheat Cent1911D 12,672,000Circulation strike–
1911-S Lincoln Wheat Cent1911S 4,026,000Circulation strike–
1912 Lincoln Wheat Cent1912None 68,153,060Circulation strike–
1912 Lincoln Wheat Cent Matte Proof1912None 2,145Proof–
1912-D Lincoln Wheat Cent1912D 10,411,000Circulation strike–
1912-S Lincoln Wheat Cent1912S 4,431,000Circulation strike–
1913 Lincoln Wheat Cent1913None 76,532,352Circulation strike–
1913 Lincoln Wheat Cent Matte Proof1913None 2,848Proof–
1913-D Lincoln Wheat Cent1913D 15,804,000Circulation strike–
1913-S Lincoln Wheat Cent1913S 6,101,000Circulation strike–
1914 Lincoln Wheat Cent1914None 75,238,432Circulation strike–
1914 Lincoln Wheat Cent Matte Proof1914None 1,365Proof–
1914-D Lincoln Wheat Cent1914D 1,193,000Circulation strike–
1914-S Lincoln Wheat Cent1914S 4,137,000Circulation strike–
1915 Lincoln Wheat Cent1915None 29,092,120Circulation strike–
1915 Lincoln Wheat Cent Matte Proof1915None 1,050Proof–
1915-D Lincoln Wheat Cent1915D 22,050,000Circulation strike–
1915-S Lincoln Wheat Cent1915S 4,833,000Circulation strike–
1916 Lincoln Wheat Cent1916None 131,832,627Circulation strike–
1916 Lincoln Wheat Cent Matte Proof1916None 1,050Proof–
1916-D Lincoln Wheat Cent1916D 35,956,000Circulation strike–
1916-S Lincoln Wheat Cent1916S 22,510,000Circulation strike–
1917 Lincoln Wheat Cent1917None 196,429,785Circulation strike–
1917 Lincoln Wheat Cent Proof (Struck illegally, 1 known to exist)1917None –Variety–
1917-D Lincoln Wheat Cent1917D 55,120,000Circulation strike–
1917-S Lincoln Wheat Cent1917S 32,620,000Circulation strike–
1918 Lincoln Wheat Cent1918None 288,104,634Circulation strike–
1918-D Lincoln Wheat Cent1918D 47,830,000Circulation strike–
1918-S Lincoln Wheat Cent1918S 34,680,000Circulation strike–
1919 Lincoln Wheat Cent1919None 392,021,000Circulation strike–
1919-D Lincoln Wheat Cent1919D 57,154,000Circulation strike–
1919-S Lincoln Wheat Cent1919S 139,760,000Circulation strike–
1920 Lincoln Wheat Cent1920None 310,165,000Circulation strike–
1920-D Lincoln Wheat Cent1920D 49,280,000Circulation strike–
1920-S Lincoln Wheat Cent1920S 46,220,000Circulation strike–
1921 Lincoln Wheat Cent1921None 39,157,000Circulation strike–
1921-S Lincoln Wheat Cent1921S 15,274,000Circulation strike–
1922-D Lincoln Wheat Cent1922D 7,160,000Circulation strike–
1922 "No D" Lincoln Cent1922None –Variety–
1923 Lincoln Wheat Cent1923None 74,723,000Circulation strike–
1923-S Lincoln Wheat Cent1923S 8,700,000Circulation strike–
1924 Lincoln Wheat Cent1924None 75,178,000Circulation strike–
1924-D Lincoln Wheat Cent1924D 2,520,000Circulation strike–
1924-S Lincoln Wheat Cent1924S 11,696,000Circulation strike–
1925 Lincoln Wheat Cent1925None 139,949,000Circulation strike–
1925-D Lincoln Wheat Cent1925D 22,580,000Circulation strike–
1925-S Lincoln Wheat Cent1925S 26,380,000Circulation strike–
1926 Lincoln Wheat Cent1926None 157,088,000Circulation strike–
1926-D Lincoln Wheat Cent1926D 28,020,000Circulation strike–
1926-S Lincoln Wheat Cent1926S 4,550,000Circulation strike–
1927 Lincoln Wheat Cent1927None 144,440,000Circulation strike–
1927-D Lincoln Wheat Cent1927D 27,170,000Circulation strike–
1927-S Lincoln Wheat Cent1927S 14,276,000Circulation strike–
1928 Lincoln Wheat Cent1928None 134,116,000Circulation strike–
1928-D Lincoln Wheat Cent1928D 31,170,000Circulation strike–
1928-S Lincoln Wheat Cent1928S 17,266,000Circulation strike–
1929 Lincoln Wheat Cent1929None 185,262,000Circulation strike–
1929-D Lincoln Wheat Cent1929D 41,730,000Circulation strike–
1929-S Lincoln Wheat Cent1929S 50,148,000Circulation strike–
1930 Lincoln Wheat Cent1930None 157,415,000Circulation strike–
1930-D Lincoln Wheat Cent1930D 40,100,000Circulation strike–
1930-S Lincoln Wheat Cent1930S 24,286,000Circulation strike–
1931 Lincoln Wheat Cent1931None 19,396,000Circulation strike–
1931-D Lincoln Wheat Cent1931D 4,480,000Circulation strike–
1931-S Lincoln Wheat Cent1931S 866,000Circulation strike–
1932 Lincoln Wheat Cent1932None 9,062,000Circulation strike–
1932-D Lincoln Wheat Cent1932D 10,500,000Circulation strike–
1933 Lincoln Wheat Cent1933None 14,360,000Circulation strike–
1933-D Lincoln Wheat Cent1933D 6,200,000Circulation strike–
1934 Lincoln Wheat Cent1934None 219,080,000Circulation strike–
1934-D Lincoln Wheat Cent1934D 28,446,000Circulation strike–
1935 Lincoln Wheat Cent1935None 245,388,000Circulation strike–
1935-D Lincoln Wheat Cent1935D 47,000,000Circulation strike–
1935-S Lincoln Wheat Cent1935S 38,702,000Circulation strike–
1936 Lincoln Wheat Cent1936None 309,632,000Circulation strike–
1936 Lincoln Wheat Cent Proof1936None 5,569Proof–
1936-D Lincoln Wheat Cent1936D 40,620,000Circulation strike–
1936-S Lincoln Wheat Cent1936S 29,130,000Circulation strike–
1937 Lincoln Wheat Cent1937None 309,170,000Circulation strike–
1937 Lincoln Wheat Cent Proof1937None 9,320Proof–
1937-D Lincoln Wheat Cent1937D 50,430,000Circulation strike–
1937-S Lincoln Wheat Cent1937S 34,500,000Circulation strike–
1938 Lincoln Wheat Cent1938None 156,682,000Circulation strike–
1938 Lincoln Wheat Cent Proof1938None 14,734Proof–
1938-D Lincoln Wheat Cent1938D 20,010,000Circulation strike–
1938-S Lincoln Wheat Cent1938S 15,180,000Circulation strike–
1939 Lincoln Wheat Cent1939None 316,466,000Circulation strike–
1939 Lincoln Wheat Cent Proof1939None 13,520Proof–
1939-D Lincoln Wheat Cent1939D 15,160,000Circulation strike–
1939-S Lincoln Wheat Cent1939S 52,070,000Circulation strike–
1940 Lincoln Wheat Cent1940None 586,810,000Circulation strike–
1940 Lincoln Wheat Cent Proof1940None 15,872Proof–
1940-D Lincoln Wheat Cent1940D 81,390,000Circulation strike–
1940-S Lincoln Wheat Cent1940S 112,940,000Circulation strike–
1941 Lincoln Wheat Cent1941None 887,018,000Circulation strike–
1941 Lincoln Wheat Cent Proof1941None 21,100Proof–
1941-D Lincoln Wheat Cent1941D 128,700,000Circulation strike–
1941-S Lincoln Wheat Cent1941S 92,360,000Circulation strike–
1942 Lincoln Wheat Cent1942None 657,796,000Circulation strike–
1942 Lincoln Wheat Cent (White metal pattern)1942None 2Variety–
1942 Lincoln Wheat Cent (Aluminum pattern)1942None 1Variety–
1942 Lincoln Wheat Cent (Copper-plated Steel pattern)1942None –Variety–
1942 Lincoln Wheat Cent (Zinc-plated Steel pattern)1942None –Variety–
1942 Lincoln Wheat Cent Proof1942None 32,600Proof–
1942-D Lincoln Wheat Cent1942D 206,698,000Circulation strike–
1942-S Lincoln Wheat Cent1942S 85,590,000Circulation strike–
1943 Lincoln Wheat Cent1943None 684,628,670Circulation strike–
1943 Copper (Bronze) Penny1943None 40Variety–
1943-D Lincoln Wheat Cent1943D 217,660,000Circulation strike–
1943-D Copper (Bronze) Penny1943D –Variety–
1943-S Lincoln Wheat Cent1943S 191,550,000Circulation strike–
1943-S Copper (Bronze) Penny1943S –Variety–
1944 Lincoln Wheat Cent1944None 1,435,000,000Circulation strike–
1944 Steel Penny1944None –Variety–
1944-D Lincoln Wheat Cent1944D 430,578,000Circulation strike–
1944-D/S Lincoln Cent1944D –Variety–
1944-D Steel Penny1944D 10Variety–
1944-S Lincoln Wheat Cent1944S 282,760,000Circulation strike–
1944-S Steel Penny1944S –Variety–
1945 Lincoln Wheat Cent1945None 1,040,515,000Circulation strike–
1945-D Lincoln Wheat Cent1945D 266,268,000Circulation strike–
1945-S Lincoln Wheat Cent1945S 181,770,000Circulation strike–
1946 Lincoln Wheat Cent1946None 991,655,000Circulation strike–
1946-D Lincoln Wheat Cent1946D 315,690,000Circulation strike–
1946-S Lincoln Wheat Cent1946S 198,100,000Circulation strike–
1947 Lincoln Wheat Cent1947None 190,555,000Circulation strike–
1947-D Lincoln Wheat Cent1947D 194,750,000Circulation strike–
1947-S Lincoln Wheat Cent1947S 99,000,000Circulation strike–
1948 Lincoln Wheat Cent1948None 317,570,000Circulation strike–
1948-D Lincoln Wheat Cent1948D 172,637,500Circulation strike–
1948-S Lincoln Wheat Cent1948S 81,735,000Circulation strike–
1949 Lincoln Wheat Cent1949None 217,775,000Circulation strike–
1949-D Lincoln Wheat Cent1949D 153,132,500Circulation strike–
1949-S Lincoln Wheat Cent1949S 64,290,000Circulation strike–
1950 Lincoln Wheat Cent1950None 272,635,000Circulation strike–
1950 Lincoln Wheat Cent Proof1950None 51,383Proof–
1950-D Lincoln Wheat Cent1950D 334,950,000Circulation strike–
1950-S Lincoln Wheat Cent1950S 118,505,000Circulation strike–
1951 Lincoln Wheat Cent1951None 284,576,000Circulation strike–
1951 Lincoln Wheat Cent Proof1951None 57,500Proof–
1951-D Lincoln Wheat Cent1951D 625,355,000Circulation strike–
1951-S Lincoln Wheat Cent1951S 136,010,000Circulation strike–
1952 Lincoln Wheat Cent1952None 186,775,000Circulation strike–
1952 Lincoln Wheat Cent Proof1952None 81,980Proof–
1952-D Lincoln Wheat Cent1952D 746,130,000Circulation strike–
1952-S Lincoln Wheat Cent1952S 137,800,004Circulation strike–
1953 Lincoln Wheat Cent1953None 256,755,000Circulation strike–
1953 Lincoln Wheat Cent Proof1953None 128,800Proof–
1953-D Lincoln Wheat Cent1953D 700,515,000Circulation strike–
1953-S Lincoln Wheat Cent1953S 181,835,000Circulation strike–
1954 Lincoln Wheat Cent1954None 71,640,050Circulation strike–
1954 Lincoln Wheat Cent Proof1954None 233,300Proof–
1954-D Lincoln Wheat Cent1954D 251,552,500Circulation strike–
1954-S Lincoln Wheat Cent1954S 96,190,000Circulation strike–
1955 Lincoln Wheat Cent1955None 330,580,000Circulation strike–
1955 Lincoln Wheat Cent Proof1955None 378,200Proof–
1955-D Lincoln Wheat Cent1955D 563,257,500Circulation strike–
1955-S Lincoln Wheat Cent1955S 44,610,000Circulation strike–
1956 Lincoln Wheat Cent1956None 420,745,000Circulation strike–
1956 Lincoln Wheat Cent Proof1956None 669,384Proof–
1956-D Lincoln Wheat Cent1956D 1,098,201,100Circulation strike–
1957 Lincoln Wheat Cent1957None 282,540,000Circulation strike–
1957 Lincoln Wheat Cent Proof1957None 1,247,952Proof–
1957-D Lincoln Wheat Cent1957D 1,051,342,000Circulation strike–
1958 Lincoln Wheat Cent1958None 252,525,000Circulation strike–
1958 Lincoln Wheat Cent Proof1958None 875,652Proof–
1958-D Lincoln Wheat Cent1958D 800,953,300Circulation strike–

Composition by year

YearsMetalWeightSilver
1909–194295% copper, 5% tin and zinc (bronze)3.11 g–
1943Zinc-coated steel2.7 g–
1944–194695% copper, 5% zinc (brass)3.11 g–
1947–195895% copper, 5% tin and zinc (bronze)3.11 g–
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Mint mark location

1909–1958: On the obverse, directly below the date. Philadelphia cents have no mint mark.

Grading tips

Check the parallel lines in the wheat stalks, Lincoln's cheek and jaw, plus the hair above the ear. Uncirculated cents are also graded by color (RD, RB, BN) and full red coins are worth multiples of brown ones.

Frequently asked questions

What is the rarest Lincoln Wheat Cent?

By mintage, the scarcest regular circulation issue is the 1909-S VDB Lincoln Wheat Cent with 484,000 struck, followed by the 1931-S Lincoln Wheat Cent (866,000). Survival rates and condition also matter: some higher-mintage dates are scarce in top grades.

Are Lincoln Wheat Cents silver?

1909–1942: 95% copper, 5% tin and zinc (bronze); 1943: Zinc-coated steel; 1944–1946: 95% copper, 5% zinc (brass); 1947–1958: 95% copper, 5% tin and zinc (bronze).

Where is the mint mark on a Lincoln Wheat Cent?

1909–1958: On the obverse, directly below the date. Philadelphia cents have no mint mark.

How many Lincoln Wheat Cents were made?

About 25,817,170,757 for circulation across 140 date and mint combinations, from 1,435,000,000 for the 1944 Lincoln Wheat Cent down to 484,000 for the 1909-S VDB Lincoln Wheat Cent.

Who designed the Lincoln Wheat Cent?

Victor David Brenner.

Other cents

Flowing Hair Large Cent

1793 · 2 issues

Liberty Cap Large Cent

1793–1796 · 6 issues

Draped Bust Large Cent

1796–1807 · 13 issues

Classic Head Large Cent

1808–1815 · 8 issues

Coronet (Matron Head) Large Cent

1816–1839 · 49 issues

Braided Hair Large Cent

1839–1857 · 39 issues

Flying Eagle Cent

1856–1858 · 7 issues

Indian Head Cent

1859–1909 · 108 issues

Lincoln Memorial Cent

1959–2008 · 166 issues

Lincoln Bicentennial Cent

2009 · 20 issues

Lincoln Shield Cent

2010–present · 52 issues

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Mintages from Wikipedia's US Mint-sourced tables (CC BY-SA 4.0). Specifications from US Mint records. All sources.