Rare Lincoln Wheat:The story of the Lincoln Wheat Pennies is one of those enduring classics of coin collecting that blends history, rarity, and a bit of mystery. To this day we continue to hear reports from collectors and hobbyists about rare Wheat Pennies being found in circulation. It’s enough to make anyone’s pulse race.
The idea of finding a low-value penny (equivalent to a penny in U.S. currency) that was in your pocket over 100 years ago may never be true for the average person. These are more than just currency; they are a piece of American history that has been passed down through the ages, so they are worth far more than the numbers they show on one side or the other.
Rare Lincoln Wheat Pennies Are Still in Circulation
To understand why some Lincoln wheat coins are so valuable, it is important to know the story behind them. These coins were first minted in 1909 to commemorate President Abraham Lincoln’s 100th birthday. Designed by Victor David Brenner, this coin became instantly popular. The grains of wheat on the back of the coin are what make it the wheat coin, which is still referred to by numismatists today as the wheat coin.
Not all wheat coins are the same, however. Editions can become very rare due to some mint errors, but a low printing of a special edition or an odd edition can also lead to very rare editions. For example, the 1943 copper wheat coin is one of the most famous and expensive coins in US history.
Why are Wheat Coins One of The Best coins to Collect?
The value of a coin is determined by its rarity, condition, demand, popularity, and history. Coins from some years are harder to find than others, and Wheat coins in particular (some years more than others) meet all of these criteria. What makes this even more amazing is that these coins were minted over a century ago. In the intervening years, many coins have been lost, many have been damaged, many have been worn, so he may not have wanted as many good specimens as he has.
Here are Some Reasons why Pomeranian coins are Expensive:
- Minting errors: Errors in the minting process result in coins that are slightly “different” from the rest. These errors are highly coveted by collectors.
- Low mintage: In certain years, fewer coins were minted, which means they are rarer, and there are fewer coins available for collectors on the market today.
- Historical value: The first Lincoln Wheat Penny was a revolutionary new design in U.S. coinage, and coins from certain eras are always popular items on the collectors’ market.
- Survival rate: The number of coins that survive in strong condition (or any condition) can be extremely significant.
Famous Rare Wheat Coins
For collectors, there are some wheat coins that have become legends. These include:
- 1909-S VDB Penny: As the first Lincoln penny, and minted in San Francisco with the designer’s initials (VDB), only 484,000 of these coins were minted. Nowadays, circulating specimens are worth thousands.
- 1914-D Penny: This penny was minted in Denver and is also another coin that was rare from the time it was minted. To this day, this is one of the hardest to find wheat coins.
- 1922 No D Penny: Due to a mint error, many 1922 pennies were produced without a “D” mint mark and are worth a lot of money.
- 1943 Copper Penny: The rarest of all the wheat pennies, this penny was actually minted in copper (this was a mistake, all other 1943 pennies were minted in steel due to the war) and some pennies have sold for over $1 million.
These coins are accidental occurrences, minor miracles in this country’s history, or simply rare survivals in a world where most money is as helpless as puppies.
How to Identify a Rare Wheat Penny?
For coin enthusiasts, or rather anyone with a knack for wheat coins, the ability to spot a rare and valuable wheat coin is certainly a plus. Here’s what to look for:
- Check the date: Certain years, such as 1909, 1914, 1922, 1943 and 1944, are considered rare.
- Check the mint mark: These letters could be “S” for San Francisco, “D” for the city of his birth, “Denver” or other types of markings that
- are on some coins, depending on the year and which could make your coin even more valuable.
- Check for errors: Missing letters, double numbers and off-center marks usually indicate mint oddities that are worth more than the coin itself.
- Check the condition: Even if you don’t find a collectible coin among your old coins, a penny in uncirculated/vintage condition is worth more than a coin that is extremely worn.
- Unusual metals: If the 1943 coin is copper or the 1944 coin is steel, you may have a valuable misprint.
Collecting Wheat Coins
Wheat coins are one of the valuable coins that many coin collectors seek out. Although some rare wheat coins are worth $10,000 or more (one coin recently sold for $10,000 and then good luck collecting $1 million), the average price of the common version of this coin should be low enough to give new collectors a good chance of completing their collection.
Collectors usually focus on:
- Creating full-year sets
- Searching for flawed coins
- Collecting high-grade specimens
- Market investing in rare findsIf anything, interest in them has increased as numbers of them have been discovered and their history and value has become better known.
FAQs
Q.1 Which year wheat pennies are worth the most?
The rarest would be the 1909-S VDB, 1914-D, 1922 No D, 1943 copper pennies, and 1944 steel cents.
Q.2 How much is a 1943 copper penny worth?
It can sell for anywhere from about $100,000 to $1.7 million (depending on condition).
Q.3 Do you continue to find wheat pennies in circulation?
Yes, wheat pennies are rare to find in circulation these days, but you can still find them in change, coin rolls, or bags of old coins.
Q.4 How do I know if I have a rare penny?
Get it authenticated by a professional grading service so you can find out its rarity and value.
Q.5 Are all wheat pennies valuable?
Not all, as most pennies are worth only a few cents to a few dollars, but rare years and mint errors can fetch thousands or even millions of dollars.
