Lincoln Wheat Cent

Country of Origin: United States of America

Year of Issue: 1957

Denomination: One Cent (1¢)

Composition: 95% copper, 5% tin and zinc

Lincoln Wheat Cent

Brief Description

A copper-colored U.S. penny featuring Abraham Lincoln on the obverse and two wheat stalks on the reverse.

Historical Significance

The Lincoln Wheat Cent was first introduced in 1909 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Lincoln's birth. The 'wheat' design ended in 1958, making 1957 one of the final years of this iconic reverse type.

Estimated Value

$0.02-$0.10 in circulated condition; $1.00-$10.00+ in high Uncirculated (MS) grades.

Care Instructions

Do not clean or polish the coin, as this destroys numismatic value. Store in a cool, dry place in a PVC-free holder or 'flip' to prevent corrosion and 'green slime'.

Mint Mark

None (Philadelphia Mint)

Mintage & Rarity

Common; 282,540,000 struck at Philadelphia in 1957.

Weight & Diameter

3.11 grams / 19.05 mm

Edge

Plain

Apparent Grade

Fine to Very Fine; shows significant wear on Lincoln's hair and the wheat lines, but all legends are clearly legible.

Obverse (Front)

Right-facing portrait of Abraham Lincoln by Victor David Brenner. Legends: 'IN GOD WE TRUST', 'LIBERTY', and the date '1957'.

Reverse (Back)

Features two stalks of wheat surrounding the words 'ONE CENT' and 'UNITED STATES OF AMERICA'. Above this is the motto 'E PLURIBUS UNUM'.

What Drives This Coin's Value

Most affected by condition (color and luster) and the presence of rare errors. Being a very common date, its value is minimal unless in exceptionally high grade.

Similar Coins

1957-D Lincoln Cent (distinguished by a small 'D' under the date) and the 1909-1958 Wheat series generally.

Authenticity & Counterfeit Red Flags

Weight should be approximately 3.1g. Check for consistent copper color. Counterfeits for this common date are rare, but altered mint marks on key dates in the series are more frequent.

Notable Varieties & Errors

BIE die breaks (a small vertical line between 'B' and 'E' in LIBERTY) and various minor double dies.

Created At: 2026-05-03T23:06:23.400914