Coin Identifier
Lincoln Wheat Cent — obverse
Obverse
Lincoln Wheat Cent — reverse
Reverse
One Cent (1¢)

Lincoln Wheat Cent

United States of America · 1909-1958

A dark, heavily circulated small copper cent with the profile of Abraham Lincoln on the front and Wheat stalks on the back.

Country
United States of America
Year
1909-1958
Denomination
One Cent (1¢)
Metal
95% copper, 5% tin and zinc (Note: 1943 was zinc-plated steel)

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Overview

A dark, heavily circulated small copper cent with the profile of Abraham Lincoln on the front and Wheat stalks on the back.

Historical significance

Introduced in 1909 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birth. It was the first US circulating coin to feature a portrait of a person.

Obverse (front)

Portrait of Abraham Lincoln facing right. Inscribed 'IN GOD WE TRUST', 'LIBERTY', and the date. Designed by Victor David Brenner.

Reverse (back)

Two stalks of wheat framing the words 'ONE CENT' and 'UNITED STATES OF AMERICA'. Top motto 'E PLURIBUS UNUM'.

Estimated value

$0.02-$0.15 circulated common dates; $50,000+ for rare errors/key dates like 1909-S VDB or 1943 copper.

What drives this coin's value

Condition/Grade, presence of a mint mark (S or D), the year, and specific errors (like the 1955 doubled die).

Grade assessment

About Good to Good (Estimated due to low image resolution and visible heavy wear).

Mintage & rarity

Billions minted over the series. Key dates include 1909-S VDB, 1909-S, 1914-D, and 1931-S.

Authenticity & counterfeit red flags

Check weight and diameter; look for proper font styles on the date; look for added 'S' mint marks or 'VDB' initials on 1909-S VDB replicas.

Notable varieties & errors

1909-S VDB, 1914-D, 1922 'No D', 1943 Copper, 1944 Steel, 1955 Doubled Die Obverse (DDO).

Similar coins

Lincoln Memorial Cent (1959-2008) - distinguished by the building on the reverse instead of wheat stalks.

Care & preservation

Store in a PVC-free flip or tube. Do not clean or polish, as this removes the natural patina and significantly decreases numismatic value.