Lincoln Wheat Penny Values

How Much Lincoln Wheat Pennies are Worth: Lincoln Wheat Penny Values & Coin Price Chart

Year
Mint
Variety
Designation
VG-8
F-12
VF-20
EF-40
AU-50
U-60
MS-63
MS-64
MS-65
MS-66
MS-67
1800
P
Plain 4- Stemless Wreath
Red-brown
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900
1000
1200
1100
YearMintVarietyDesignationVG-8F-12VF-20EF-40AU-50MS-60MS-63MS-64MS-65MS-66
1909(None) Phil--BN$2.80$3.60$4.40$6.30$12$20.10$31$44$88$210
1909S--RD----------$375$517$778$1,397$3,829
1909(None) Phil--RB----------$30$33$52$90$192
1909SVDBRD----------$2,100$2,750$4,330$6,970$17,000
1909SVDBRB----------$2,000$2,640$4,439$4,580$8,075
1909SVDBBN$1,295$1,395$1,525$1,625$1,518$2,095$2,422$2,829$3,970$6,775
1909S/S S/Horizontal SRD------------$530$778$1,245$3,400
1909S/S S/Horizontal SRB----------$350$417$580$1,409$1,605
1909S/S --BN$92$115$144$185$236$317$394$479$773$1,163
1909S--RB----------$360$437$567$863$1,930
1909S--BN$180$250$300$300$330$500$407$472$780$1,210
1909(None) PhilVDB Doubled Die ObverseRD----------$100$284$372$1,005$2,290
1909(None) PhilVDB Doubled Die ObverseRB----------$85$202$255$567$1,358
1909(None) PhilVDB Doubled Die ObverseBN$36$42$66$89$99$125$197$241$552--
1909(None) PhilVDBRD----------$100$66$98$199$472
1909(None) PhilVDBRB----------$60$48$76$107$209
1909(None) PhilVDBBN$10.90$12.80$15$15$16.50$45$41$65$90$148
1909(None) Phil--RD----------$32$50$90$186$422
1910S--RB----------$125$156$213$330$650
1910S--RD----------$85$267$332$690$1,680
1910(None) Phil--BN$3$4$4$3.80$8.10$23.70$39$70$114$375
1910S--BN$17.10$20.80$27$60$100$102$130$167$337--
1910(None) Phil--RD----------$50$72$111$256$635
1910(None) Phil--RB----------$25$43$81$127$269
1911(None) Phil--BN$2$3$2.30$6.80$10.70$25.70$40$72$155$550
1911--RB----------$40$54$101$225$428
1911--RD------------$110$278$545$1,248
1911D--BN$8$13.70$24$53$71$109$161$331$442$1,300
1911D--RB----------$150$179$389$637$1,140
1911D--RD----------$160$287$531$979$1,613
1911S--BN$50$39$50$120$93$193$338$402$1,065$2,600
1911S--RB----------$225$481$755$1,280$4,025
1911S--RD----------$235$484$794$2,225$15,125
1912D--RD----------$100$390$835$1,180$4,760
1912S--RB----------$225$365$537$1,095$2,290
1912S--BN$19.70$25.40$60$64$150$185$298$490$808$2,600
1912S--RD----------$310$482$848$2,465$14,500
1912D--RB----------$225$334$454$794$2,000
1912--RD----------$65$104$246$461$1,140
1912--RB----------$50$66$117$324$443
1912(None) Phil--BN$1.80$2.60$5.50$15.10$24.10$36$60$99$185$350
1912D--BN$12.40$16$70$100$105$187$299$330$585$1,800
1913D--RD----------$165$452$784$1,670$3,760
1913S--RD----------$250$563$1,123$4,035$23,150
1913S--RB----------$250$390$609$1,380$6,500
1913S--BN$25$19.60$26$57$97$203$291$454$1,168$7,500
1913D--BN$3.60$6.40$11.10$45$65$119$226$260$635$1,200
1913D--RB----------$160$298$377$700$1,040
1913(None) Phil--RD----------$90$148$215$522$1,355
1913(None) Phil--RB----------$65$78$132$248$608
1913(None) Phil--BN$2$2.30$3$16.80$25.70$36$68$88$191$500
1914D--RD----------$2,000$4,575$9,620$17,000$82,100
1914S--RB----------$350$680$1,895$2,720$7,400
1914S--BN$21.30$24.90$32$83$139$314$598$801$1,770$7,500
1914S--RD----------$400$1,215$2,570$9,230$73,850
1914D--RB----------$2,650$4,465$5,185$7,330$29,100
1914(None) Phil--RD----------$70$157$390$773$3,320
1914(None) Phil--RB----------$65$106$160$280$1,378
1914(None) Phil--BN$2$3.30$8.80$22.30$37$56$81$114$207$1,100
1914D--BN$219$400$490$699$1,695$2,455$3,900$4,535$6,375$11,500
1915D--RD----------$100$281$508$1,037$2,890
1915S--RB----------$360$792$1,065$1,660$5,125
1915S--BN$19.20$23.50$32$66$102$299$625$741$1,250$3,750
1915S--RD----------$400$1,350$1,585$4,905$20,950
1915D--RB----------$100$155$249$678$1,170
1915D--BN$4.50$7.80$18$27.80$45$120$112$172$328$650
1915(None) Phil--RD----------$135$227$331$690$1,585
1915(None) Phil--RB----------$100$128$228$448$545
1915(None) Phil--BN$3.40$5.30$15$43$52$81$119$176$241$675
1916S--RD----------$125$575$1,095$6,863$13,200
1916S--RB----------$140$226$390$795$1,100
1916S--BN$3.30$5$10$26.10$46$130$216$395$722$7,500
1916D--RD----------$100$235$353$1,330$6,888
1916D--RB----------$85$180$290$560$1,950
1916D--BN$2$3.60$5.70$19$36$84$117$175$470$1,860
1916(None) Phil--RD----------$34$72$130$332$581
1916(None) Phil--RB----------$30$54$91$184$392
1916(None) Phil--BN$1$2$3.60$15$11.60$23.30$39$72$124$275
1917D--RD----------$110$354$629$1,675$9,100
1917S--RD----------$150$630$1,520$10,075$59,950
1917S--RB----------$135$256$477$1,040$3,300
1917S--BN$2$5$4.60$25$27$91$174$281$599$3,500
1917D--RB$4$6.40$10.20$37$44$82$130$315$440$2,000
1917(None) PhilDoubled Die ObverseRD------------$8,650$12,275$20,500$30,000
1917(None) PhilDoubled Die ObverseBN$163$270$405$1,305$1,680$3,525$7,300$8,213$8,800--
1917(None) Phil--RD----------$50$123$222$473$1,669
1917(None) Phil--BN$1$1$1.70$5.10$12.10$22.20$41$85$196$450
1917(None) PhilDoubled Die ObverseRB----------$4,000$7,740$9,010$11,750$22,500
1918D--RD----------$175$407$1,040$3,685$18,800
1918S--RD----------$225$599$996$5,175--
1918S--RB----------$130$298$559$1,300$3,450
1918S--BN$3$6$8.90$19.70$33$86$225$291$653$3,400
1918D--RB----------$125$220$470$1,065$4,525
1918D--BN$1$4$7.70$23.20$35$88$191$269$494--
1918(None) Phil--RD----------$50$94$194$479$933
1918(None) Phil--RB----------$25$44$80$268$332
1918(None) Phil--BN$1$1$2$4.90$11$22.50$37$62$217$325
1919D--RD----------$125$232$490$1,198$4,785
1919S--RD----------$100$404$755$6,725$27,250
1919S--RB----------$80$159$380$872$1,955
1919S--BN$2$3$3.60$8$19.70$90$115$195$414--
1919D--BN$1$2.20$4.70$16.40$33$70$140$189$380$1,200
1919D--RB----------$100$179$220$996$1,377
1919(None) Phil--RD----------$30$57$114$256$600
1919(None) Phil--RB----------$30$44$77$107$200
1919(None) Phil--BN$1$1$1$3$8$16.30$41$47$81--
1920(None) Phil--BN$1$2$4$6$9.30$50$35$57$98--
1920(None) Phil--RB----------$26$39$59$135$350
1920(None) Phil--RD----------$30$53$139$296$690
1920D--BN$2$3$6.10$17.50$33$82$130$224$432--
1920D--RB----------$100$208$291$625$1,860
1920D--RD----------$125$282$506$1,967$18,450
1920S--BN$4$5$5.10$15.50$34$97$195$434$729--
1920S--RB----------$140$308$717$1,790$6,975
1920S--RD----------$325$943$1,880$18,525--
1921S--RB----------$150$295$598$1,705$8,350
1921S--RD----------$250$570$2,175$11,750--
1921D--BN$24.40$26.90$32$42$66$119$249$310$533$1,780
1921S--BN$5.80$7.70$11.80$40$60$110$237$414$1,543--
1921(None) Phil--BN$2$3$2.60$11.70$21.40$44$73$101$195--
1921(None) Phil--RD----------$70$141$183$536$1,330
1921(None) Phil--RB----------$50$98$119$220$558
1922D--RB----------$175$326$545$785$2,300
1922D--RD----------$185$448$835$2,485$7,880
1922(None) PhilNo D Strong ReverseBN$653$758$927$1,850$3,450$11,730$21,434$43,300$82,400--
1922(None) PhilNo D Strong ReverseRB----------$21,500$33,600$56,850$109,250--
1922(None) PhilNo D Strong ReverseRD------------$83,750$220,000----
1923(None) Phil--BN$3$3$3$7.80$10.20$17.10$39$52$168$350
1923(None) Phil--RB----------$35$40$75$181$455
1923(None) Phil--RD----------$40$78$112$303$913
1923S--BN$9.30$11.90$15$47$92$240$535$813$2,335$3,850
1923S--RB----------$264$1,020$1,880$4,935$10,840
1923S--RD----------$500$1,453$6,250$53,650--
1924S--BN$12$10.10$13.20$35$77$137$368$550$2,145$10,000
1924S--RD----------$200$1,425$3,000$32,500--
1924S--RB----------$175$573$1,300$2,310--
1924D--BN$31$60$47$130$136$278$598$689$1,455--
1924(None) Phil--RB----------$30$55$111$242$518
1924(None) Phil--BN$2$3$5$7.20$11.40$21.70$42$88$114$500
1924(None) Phil--RD----------$35$87$174$578$1,480
1925(None) Phil--BN$1$1$1$5.10$8.80$14.90$22.60$53$108$225
1925(None) Phil--RB----------$25$27.70$64$106$233
1925(None) Phil--RD----------$26$52$78$185$403
1925D--BN$6$4.80$7.10$17.60$31$70$130$190$343$2,315
1925S--BN$1$2.80$6.10$17$32$128$237$459$1,020$3,025
1925S--RB----------$150$433$1,137$2,975--
1925S--RD----------$300$828$7,345$45,100--
1926D--RD----------$150$410$739$3,150$14,850
1926S--RD----------$550$3,055$8,875$112,250--
1926S--RB----------$410$919$1,355$11,290$27,500
1926S--BN$11$14.50$18.20$37$71$228$584$778$2,713$11,000
1926(None) Phil--BN$1$1$2$2.50$4.70$12.30$20.40$33$56--
1926D--RB----------$90$249$436$913$2,650
1926D--BN$2$5.20$9.50$20.60$35$90$172$218$638--
1926(None) Phil--RD----------$22$38$67$137$306
1926(None) Phil--RB----------$18$25$44$62$165
1927S--RD----------$150$539$1,358$12,050--
1927D--RD----------$100$182$447$1,880$36,450
1927S--BN$2$3$5.10$18.60$41$105$266$520$2,318--
1927S--RB----------$125$347$765$3,070$3,905
1927D--RB----------$75$166$211$417$1,253
1927(None) Phil--RD----------$26$43$86$159$506
1927(None) Phil--RB----------$22$26.10$41$83$144
1927(None) Phil--BN$1$1$1$5$6.20$13.30$20$33$59--
1927D--BN$2$2$4.10$12.30$23$58$94$148$300$700
1928D--RD----------$60$150$282$1,175$8,880
1928S--RD----------$135$523$1,488$9,070$48,400
1928S--RB----------$100$349$869$1,530--
1928S--BN$2$3$4.10$13.90$29.80$92$157$205$490--
1928D--RB----------$50$89$157$423$935
1928D--BN$1$2$3$10$19.30$41$66$97$248$839
1928(None) Phil--RD------------$44$88$166$390
1928(None) Phil--RB------------$28.30$57$125$175
1928(None) Phil--BN$1$1$1$4$4.20$10.30$19.10$32$55--
1929D--RD----------$40$94$190$617$3,930
1929S--RD----------$50$81$135$461$2,305
1929S--RB----------$35$45$73$183$665
1929S--BN$2$1.80$3.10$9$13.30$23.30$37$62$133$550
1929D--RB----------$35$55$106$195$415
1929(None) Phil--RD----------$22$35$63$160$334
1929(None) Phil--RB----------$16$21$33$77$172
1929D--BN$1$1$2.60$6$13.80$24.50$55$93$179$400
1929(None) Phil--BN$1$1$1$5$7$10.30$19.90$32$44$100
1930D--RB----------$20$25.40$43$63$180
1930(None) Phil--BN$1$1$1$2$4.10$8.70$14.20$25.50$35$54
1930(None) Phil--RB----------$12$17.80$28.70$39$85
1930(None) Phil--RD----------$18$24.90$40$80$136
1930D--BN$1$1$1$2.30$4.20$13.40$21.60$34$51$150
1930D--RD----------$25$45$91$175$620
1930S--BN$1$1$1$2$5.80$9.90$16.40$23.70$49--
1930S--RB----------$14$19$31$68$148
1930S--RD----------$70$33$62$130$545
1931S--RB----------$200$218$241$470$1,018
1931D--RD----------$100$235$432$1,323$6,475
1931S--RD----------$210$252$364$625$2,395
1931S--BN$69$180$89$240$250$200$340$233$397$830
1931D--RB----------$75$180$248$500$1,273
1931(None) Phil--RD----------$30$57$112$183$515
1931(None) Phil--RB----------$24$38$55$87$232
1931D--BN$6$6.80$9.30$18.50$33$57$73$135$201$577
1931(None) Phil--BN$1$2$2.20$5.70$11.40$19.30$29.90$43$57--
1932D--RD----------$28$50$113$278$742
1932(None) Phil--BN$1.70$2.60$3.90$7.30$10.50$16.70$26.40$31$49--
1932(None) Phil--RB----------$18$31$45$61$83
1932(None) Phil--RD----------$25$41$86$157$257
1932D--BN$1.70$2.20$2.60$4.20$10$50$35$43$70$235
1932D--RB----------$28$40$58$102$264
1933D--BN$4.20$5.20$7.80$9.50$13.30$19.50$31$38$60--
1933D--RB----------$20$45$53$86$169
1933D--RD----------$20$52$94$161$274
1933(None) Phil--RD----------$24$37$92$166$357
1933(None) Phil--RB----------$20$27.40$44$88$130
1933(None) Phil--BN$1.70$2$2.60$5.30$9$15.20$21.80$28.40$50--
1934D--RD----------$18$31$50$119$284
1934D--RB----------$10$16.70$26$54$99
1934(None) Phil--RD----------$8$22$20.50$35$55
1934D--BN$0.44$1$1$3$6$6.20$11.90$15$35$55
1934(None) Phil--RB----------$6$9.90$13.40$23.40$50
1934(None) Phil--BN$0.06$0.07$0.07$1$3$5$7.20$10.30$14.40$24.70
1935(None) Phil--BN$0.06$0.07$0.07$0.09$1$6$6.70$8.80$11.90$25
1935(None) Phil--RB----------$7$11.90$14.50$19.30$50
1935(None) Phil--RD----------$8$18$17.60$33$55
1935D--RD----------$9$22$29.50$47$75
1935S--RD----------$14$48$49$96$414
1936(None) PhilDoubled Die Obverse, Type 3RD----------$150$215$277$573$1,195
1936(None) PhilDoubled Die Obverse, Type 3BN--$20--$79$92$113$140$191$354--
1936(None) PhilDoubled Die Obverse, Type 3RB----------$110$153$223$457--
1936(None) PhilDDO FS-102RB----------$350$553$938$1,275$1,770
1936(None) PhilDDO FS-103BN$20$40$50$77$87$101$140$179$304$500
1936(None) PhilDDO FS-103RB----------$125$171$235$469$800
1936(None) PhilDDO FS-103RD----------$165$225$289$560$1,220
1936D--RD----------$7$9.20$14.30$19.50$57
1936(None) PhilDDO FS-102RD----------$375$645$1,118$1,533$3,135
1936S--RD----------$20$9.70$18.30$32$160
1936(None) PhilDDO FS-102BN$54$60$80$150$210$325$488$673$968$1,550
1936(None) PhilDoubled Die Obverse, Type 1BN$60$88$107$185$304$670$1,638$2,600$3,540$3,850
1936(None) Phil--BN$2$3$3$4$4$2$3.50$4.10$5.70$20
1936(None) Phil--RB----------$5$6.10$7.40$11.70$27.80
1936(None) Phil--RD----------$7$8.70$13.20$18.40$80
1936(None) PhilDoubled Die Obverse, Type 2RD----------$350$633$1,093$1,508$3,110
1936(None) PhilDoubled Die Obverse, Type 1RB----------$650$2,470$3,665$4,870$4,400
1936(None) PhilDoubled Die Obverse, Type 1RD------------$2,875$4,465$7,265$8,963
1936(None) PhilDoubled Die Obverse, Type 2BN$34$40$60$140$225$310$513$773$955$1,500
1936(None) PhilDoubled Die Obverse, Type 2RB----------$325$540$838$1,075$1,845
1937D--RD----------$6$7.70$11.20$20$34
1937S--RD----------$5$7.20$12.80$40$42
1937(None) Phil--RD----------$4$7.70$12.20$18$35
1938(None) Phil--RD----------$7$7.70$11.30$21.50$37
1938D--RD----------$15$7.70$13.90$19.10$37
1938S--RD----------$8$9.20$15.80$19.40$43
1939(None) Phil--RD------------$6.70$10.30$17.40$33
1939D--RD----------$17$8.20$13.80$19.40$47
1939S--RB----------$3$5.20$7.20$9.30$16.50
1939S--RD----------$4$8.20$11.80$18.50$41
1940S--RD----------$4$5.70$9.70$17.40$42
1940D--RD----------$4$5.20$8.20$17.40$40
1940(None) Phil--RD------------$4.40$8.70$18.50$38
1941(None) PhilDoubled Die ObverseBN$65$80$90$114$145$218$285$365$538$650
1941(None) PhilDoubled Die ObverseRB----------$275$324$468$833--
1941(None) PhilDoubled Die ObverseRD------------$439$624$1,355$2,790
1941D--RD----------$6$6.20$9.70$20.40$42
1941S--RD------------$7.20$10.80$18$43
1941(None) Phil--RD----------$4$5.70$8.20$16.40$34
1942D--RD------------$4.70$8.20$15.40$26.70
1942(None) Phil--RD------------$4.20$8.20$34$32
1942S--RD----------$8$10.90$15$21.70$37
1943D--BN--------------$987,000----
1943S----$0.17$0.17$0.22$1$1$6.30$11.40$17.40$28.90$68
1943(None) Phil----$0.14$0.14$0.14$1$1$250$20$14.10$19.40$58
1943D/D----$65$75$85$150$215$356$408$462$955$2,100
1943D----$0.14$0.14$0.14$1$1$11$10.80$14.70$20.50$66
1943(None) PhilBronzeRD------------$1,000,000------
1943SBronzeBN------$181,500$231,000--$775,000------
1944D/S--RB----------$325$432$560$935$1,540
1944S----------------------$475,000
1944D/S--RD----------$400$531$790$1,700$2,535
1944S--RD----------$130$10$7.90$13.40$25.70
1944D/S--BN$42$55$95$126$197$293$404$457$587$850
1944DSteel------------$38,500$89,000------
1944D--RD------------$10$8.70$15.40$33
1944(None) PhilSteel----------$34,650$44,000$85,000$153,000----
1944(None) Phil--RD----------$4$8$7.70$13.40$29.80
1945(None) Phil--RD----------$4$4$6.70$14.40$31
1945D--RD----------$5$10$8.20$34$40
1945S--RD----------$3$7$5.70$47$26.60
1946(None) Phil--RD----------$3$6$8.20$17.40$81
1946D--RD----------$2$10$9.20$18.40$32
1946S--RD----------$220$10$7.70$13.40$26.70
1947S--RD----------$2$8$8.20$16.40$40
1947D--RD------------$11$8.20$14.40$32
1947(None) Phil--RD----------$230$10$9.70$19.40$121
1948(None) Phil--RD----------$2$5$9.70$40$103
1948D--RD----------$3$6$6.70$18.40$37
1948S--RD----------$2$5$6.70$15.40$26
1949(None) Phil--RD----------$2$6$9.20$16.40$90
1949D--RD----------$2$10$8.70$16.90$71
1949S--RD------------$6$6.70$14.40$27.70
1950(None) Phil--RD----------$2$3.60$8.70$21.30$92
1950D--RD----------$3$5.10$8.70$16.50$67
1950S--RD----------$2$7$8.20$14.40$35
1951S--RD----------$3$8$8.70$16.40$35
1951DDDO FS-101BN------$25$27$32$42$55$83--
1951(None) Phil--RD----------$2$8$7.70$15.40$43
1951DDDO FS-101RB------------$53$79$118$132
1952(None) Phil--RD----------$4$4.10$10.20$22.90$92
1952D--RD----------$2$7$6.70$16.40$34
1952S--RD----------$4$10$10.70$16.90$40
1953(None) Phil--RD----------$6$8.10$13.80$24.90$86
1953D--RD----------$3$5.10$8.70$17.50$40
1953S--RD----------$3$8$7.70$16.40$31
1954(None) Phil--RD----------$2$5.70$10.80$19.10$125
1954D--RD----------$2$6$6.70$15.40$38
1954S--RD----------$2$5$8.70$14.40$27.30
1955D--RD----------$2$6$5.70$14.40$31
1955S--RD----------$2$5$5.70$13.40$25.70
1955(None) PhilDoubled Die ObverseBN$1,018$1,122$1,304$1,670$2,033$2,690$3,577$5,559$8,680$30,375
1955(None) PhilDoubled Die ObverseRD----------$3,500$7,240$13,225$42,750$104,500
1955(None) PhilDoubled Die ObverseRB----------$3,215$5,169$7,300$16,150$54,495
1955(None) Phil--RD----------$3$9$8.20$18$52
1956(None) Phil--RD----------$3$7$8.10$17.60$49
1956D--RD----------$3$7$5.70$14.40$29.60
1957(None) Phil--RD----------$3$7$8.20$15.40$87
1957D--RD----------$1.50$7$5.70$12.90$23.90
1958(None) Phil--RD----------$3$7$5.70$14.40$29.20
1958S--RD--------------$354,250$1,140,000--
1958D--RD----------$3$7$5.70$12.90$21.90

Description and History

The Lincoln Cent was minted for the first time in 1909, and the obverse of the coin is still in use on the cent to the present day. These coins have a classic design and though the reverse has changed, these cents are among the longest-running designs in U.S. coinage.

Many numismatists today got their start with the first iteration of the Lincoln Cent. Today it is still occasionally possible to find the wheat cent in pocket change, though it is rarer than it used to be.

Lincoln Cent Design

The Lincoln Cent was first commissioned to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s birth. These cents have the obverse of Lincoln’s head, and the original reverse was a pair of wheat ears flanking the denomination.

These early half cents were made with handmade dies, and each die was unique. These issues had problems with the chain motif showing through on the other side as well as the problems that come with individually-made dies like parts of the design cut off, lines in the strike and other errors.

These coins came about because of Theodore Roosevelt’s desire to redesign U.S. coinage. If the coins had been designed less than 25 years before, it would have required an act of Congress to change them. But since the cent, the quarter eagle, the half eagle, the eagle and the double eagle had been in existence for more than 25 years, they were eligible for a redesign based on only the authorization of the Secretary of the Treasury.

Roosevelt complained in 1904 that U.S. coins were not aesthetically pleasing, and the mint hired sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens to come up with new designs. Saint-Gaudens was extremely sick at that point, and his assistants carried out the bulk of the work. Saint-Gaudens died in 1907 before completing the design of the cent. Sculptor Victor David Brenner was commissioned to create a new obverse for the cent in 1908. Brenner’s design bears a significant resemblance to an earlier plaque of Abraham Lincoln he had created.

Brenner’s first obverse designs drew inspiration from French Silver coins of the time, but Frank Leach, the Mint Director at the time, objected to the design. Brenner quickly created a reverse with the motto “E Pluribus Unum” and two ears of wheat.

Early pattern coins had Lincoln’s head slightly higher on the obverse, but the circulation strikes approved by President William Howard Taft had the head moved slightly down with the motto “In God We Trust” at the top of the coin.

Victor Brenner’s initials “V.D.B.” were placed at the bottom of the coin on the initial 1909 strikes, but after opposition, the initials were removed from the coin. It was determined that the placement and size of his initials were too much a part of the design. Brenner’s initials were not put back onto the coin until 1918 when they were placed on the base of Lincoln’s bust on the obverse, where they still remain today. Additionally, in an unrelated matter, the vending machine lobby complained that the new cents would not work in their machines, but eventually acquiesced.

These cents were originally struck in the same French bronze as the earlier Indian Head penny. This composition briefly changed in 1943 due to shortages and they were struck from steel, with a few errors in bronze and silver. From 1944 to 1946, cartridge cases were melted and used for coinage, and the composition changed to 95% Copper and 5% zinc. It then resumed its former French bronze composition until 1962 when it changed back to 95% Copper and 5% zinc. In 1982 the cent changed to its current copper-plated zinc.

Most of the cents that are commonly collected are the wheat reverse, often called the “wheat cent” or “wheat penny”. This series ran until 1959 when it was replaced with the Lincoln Memorial reverse. The current cent has replaced this design with a shield in 2010 after a bicentennial quarterly reverse release in 2009.

Historical Significance

The Lincoln Cent was the first usage of a President’s face on commonly circulating U.S. coinage. These paved the way for much of our current coinage. Well-known chief engraver Charles Barber loudly opposed the redesign, but to no avail. It set a precedent.

Numismatic Value

Most Lincoln Cent collectors collect pre-1959 wheat cents. Most wheat cents are common and not very expensive, with the exception of error cents and a few key dates. The early V.D.B. cents with the San Francisco mint mark are considered the king of the key date Lincoln cents, while the 1914-D, the 1922 Plain (struck in Denver), and the 1931-S are also popular key date coins among collectors.