CoinValueDB
Lincoln Wheat Penny obverse - Abraham Lincoln bust facing right (Victor D. Brenner) Lincoln Wheat Penny reverse

Lincoln Wheat Penny

1909-1958 | Designed by Victor D. Brenner

$0.5 – $44,525

Total Coins
74
Key Dates
5 + 12 semi
Value Range
$0.5 - $44,525
Most Valuable
1909 VDB San Francisco Wheat Penny

Lincoln Wheat Penny coins were minted from 1909-1958, designed by Victor D. Brenner. This series includes 74 coins in our database. Values range from $0.5 to $44,525. The most sought-after is the 1909 VDB San Francisco Wheat Penny.

All Lincoln Wheat Penny Coins

Showing 74 of 74 coins

1909 Philadelphia

Mintage: 72,702,618

$0.75 - $805View →

1909 Philadelphia

Mintage: 27,995,000

$1 - $845View →

1909 San Francisco

Mintage: 1,825,000

Semi-Key
$4.5 - $3,075View →

1909 San Francisco

Mintage: 484,000

Key Date
$46 - $44,525View →

1910 Philadelphia

Mintage: 146,801,218

$1 - $725View →

1910 San Francisco

Mintage: 6,045,000

$0.75 - $760View →

1911 Denver

Mintage: 12,672,000

$1 - $725View →

1911 Philadelphia

Mintage: 101,177,000

$0.75 - $840View →

1911 San Francisco

Mintage: 4,026,000

Semi-Key
$4.5 - $3,100View →

1912 Denver

Mintage: 10,411,000

$1 - $740View →

1912 Philadelphia

Mintage: 68,153,060

$1 - $810View →

1912 San Francisco

Mintage: 4,431,000

Semi-Key
$3.5 - $3,225View →

1913 Denver

Mintage: 15,804,000

$1 - $860View →

1913 Philadelphia

Mintage: 76,532,352

$1 - $725View →

1913 San Francisco

Mintage: 6,101,000

Semi-Key
$3.5 - $2,425View →

1914 Denver

Mintage: 1,193,000

Key Date
$40 - $26,775View →

1914 Philadelphia

Mintage: 75,238,432

$1 - $655View →

1914 San Francisco

Mintage: 4,137,000

Semi-Key
$3.5 - $3,575View →

1915 Denver

Mintage: 22,050,000

$1 - $870View →

1915 Philadelphia

Mintage: 29,092,120

$1 - $865View →

1915 San Francisco

Mintage: 4,833,000

Semi-Key
$3.5 - $3,675View →

1916 Denver

Mintage: 35,956,000

$1 - $670View →

1916 Philadelphia

Mintage: 131,833,677

$1 - $690View →

1916 San Francisco

Mintage: 22,510,000

$0.75 - $735View →

1917 Denver

Mintage: 55,120,000

$1 - $670View →

1917 Philadelphia

Mintage: 196,429,785

$1 - $790View →

1917 San Francisco

Mintage: 32,620,000

$0.75 - $805View →

1918 Denver

Mintage: 47,830,000

$1 - $690View →

1918 Philadelphia

Mintage: 288,104,634

$1 - $635View →

1918 San Francisco

Mintage: 34,680,000

$1 - $735View →

1919 Denver

Mintage: 57,154,000

$0.75 - $835View →

1919 Philadelphia

Mintage: 392,021,000

$0.75 - $740View →

1919 San Francisco

Mintage: 139,760,000

$1 - $785View →

1920 Denver

Mintage: 49,280,000

$0.5 - $415View →

1920 Philadelphia

Mintage: 310,165,000

$0.5 - $355View →

1920 San Francisco

Mintage: 46,220,000

$0.5 - $420View →

1921 Philadelphia

Mintage: 39,157,000

$0.5 - $390View →

1921 San Francisco

Mintage: 15,274,000

Semi-Key
$1.5 - $1,575View →

1922 Denver

Mintage: 7,160,000

$0.5 - $420View →

1922 Philadelphia

Mintage: Unknown

Key Date
$21 - $17,900View →

1923 Philadelphia

Mintage: 74,723,000

$0.5 - $350View →

1923 San Francisco

Mintage: 8,700,000

Semi-Key
$2 - $1,200View →

1924 Denver

Mintage: 2,520,000

Semi-Key
$2 - $1,625View →

1924 Philadelphia

Mintage: 75,178,000

$0.5 - $375View →

1924 San Francisco

Mintage: 11,696,000

$0.5 - $400View →

1925 Denver

Mintage: 22,580,000

$0.5 - $370View →

1925 Philadelphia

Mintage: 139,949,000

$0.5 - $315View →

1925 San Francisco

Mintage: 26,380,000

$0.5 - $425View →

1926 Denver

Mintage: 28,020,000

$0.5 - $360View →

1926 Philadelphia

Mintage: 157,088,000

$0.5 - $425View →

1926 San Francisco

Mintage: 4,550,000

Semi-Key
$2.5 - $1,925View →

1927 Denver

Mintage: 27,170,000

$0.5 - $325View →

1927 Philadelphia

Mintage: 144,440,000

$0.5 - $390View →

1927 San Francisco

Mintage: 14,276,000

$0.5 - $400View →

1928 Denver

Mintage: 31,170,000

$0.5 - $345View →

1928 Philadelphia

Mintage: 134,116,000

$0.5 - $375View →

1928 San Francisco

Mintage: 17,266,000

$0.5 - $415View →

1929 Denver

Mintage: 41,730,000

$0.5 - $370View →

1929 Philadelphia

Mintage: 185,262,000

$0.5 - $320View →

1929 San Francisco

Mintage: 50,148,000

$0.5 - $410View →

1930 Denver

Mintage: 40,100,000

$0.5 - $410View →

1930 Philadelphia

Mintage: 157,415,000

$0.5 - $355View →

1930 San Francisco

Mintage: 24,286,000

$0.5 - $355View →

1931 Denver

Mintage: 4,480,000

Semi-Key
$2 - $1,525View →

1931 Philadelphia

Mintage: 19,396,000

$0.5 - $335View →

1931 San Francisco

Mintage: 866,000

Key Date
$22 - $14,675View →

1932 Denver

Mintage: 10,500,000

$0.5 - $340View →

1932 Philadelphia

Mintage: 9,062,000

$0.5 - $335View →

1933 Denver

Mintage: 6,200,000

Semi-Key
$2 - $1,475View →

1933 Philadelphia

Mintage: 14,360,000

$0.5 - $440View →

1943 Denver

Mintage: 217,660,000

$0.5 - $370View →

1943 Philadelphia

Mintage: 684,628,670

$0.5 - $345View →

1943 San Francisco

Mintage: 191,550,000

$0.5 - $415View →

1955 Philadelphia

Mintage: Unknown

Key Date
$21 - $15,900View →

Key Dates & Rarities

The most sought-after coins in the Lincoln Wheat Penny series, ranked by highest recorded value.

1

1909 VDB San Francisco Wheat Penny

Key Date
Mintage: 484,000 Up to $44,525
2

1914 Denver Wheat Penny

Key Date
Mintage: 1,193,000 Up to $26,775
3

1922 (No Mint Mark) Wheat Penny

Key Date
Mintage: Unknown Up to $17,900
4

1955 Philadelphia Double Die Obverse Wheat Penny

Key Date
Mintage: Unknown Up to $15,900
5

1931 San Francisco Wheat Penny

Key Date
Mintage: 866,000 Up to $14,675

Lincoln Wheat Penny History

The Lincoln Wheat Penny began production in 1909 to mark the centennial of Abraham Lincoln's birth. President Theodore Roosevelt selected sculptor Victor D. Brenner to design the coin. Brenner chose a profile of Lincoln for the obverse and two stalks of durum wheat for the reverse. This design replaced the Indian Head Penny, which had circulated since 1859. Production continued until 1958 with few major changes to the primary design. The mint restored the designer's initials, V.D.B., to the obverse (on Lincoln's shoulder) in 1918. The composition changed from 95% copper to a zinc-coated steel in 1943 due to World War II copper shortages. The series ended in 1958 when the Mint replaced the wheat ears with the Lincoln Memorial design.

Collecting Tips

Start your collection by purchasing a Whitman folder to organize coins by date and mint mark. Focus on the 1940s and 1950s first, as these dates remain inexpensive and easy to find in circulation. Watch for environmental damage like green corrosion or heavy scratching, as these flaws ruin a coin's value. Avoid buying high-value key dates like the 1909-S VDB or 1914-D without third-party certification, because counterfeiters frequently add fake mint marks to common coins.

Have a penny? Scan it now.

Get instant identification, condition grading, and market value.

Scan Now — It's Free

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most valuable Lincoln Wheat Penny? +
The 1909 VDB San Francisco Wheat Penny is among the most valuable in this series. It is considered a key date by collectors. Condition plays a major role in value, so we recommend scanning your coin for a personalized estimate.
How many Lincoln Wheat Penny coins were made? +
The Lincoln Wheat Penny series spans 1909-1958 and includes coins from multiple mints. Our database tracks 74 individual date-and-mint combinations. Mintage figures vary widely, with lower-mintage coins typically commanding higher values.
How do I know if my Lincoln Wheat Penny is valuable? +
The value of a Lincoln Wheat Penny depends on the year, mint mark, condition (grade), and whether it is a key date or variety. You can check our price table above for grade-by-grade values, or scan your coin for an instant identification and value estimate.