Lincoln Wheat Cent

United States · 1909-1958

A heavily worn, dark or corroded United States Lincoln Wheat cent showing traces of Lincoln's bust on the obverse and wheat stalks on the reverse.

Country: United States
Year: 1909-1958
Denomination: One Cent ($0.01)
Metal: 95% Copper, 5% Tin and Zinc (1909-1942, 1944-1958)
Grade: Poor to About Good (AG-3) due to heavy wear, corrosion, and indistinct details.

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Identified August 30, 2026More united states coins →

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Overview

A heavily worn, dark or corroded United States Lincoln Wheat cent showing traces of Lincoln's bust on the obverse and wheat stalks on the reverse.

Historical significance

Introduced in 1909 to commemorate the centennial of Abraham Lincoln's birth, this was the first regular-issue US coin to feature a historical figure. The wheat reverse design lasted until 1958.

Obverse (front)

Right-facing portrait of President Abraham Lincoln with the motto 'IN GOD WE TRUST' above, 'LIBERTY' to the left, and the year of issue to the right.

Reverse (back)

Two stalks of durum wheat framing the inscriptions 'ONE CENT' and 'UNITED STATES OF AMERICA', with the national motto 'E PLURIBUS UNUM' along the upper rim.

Estimated value

$0.02 - $0.15 in heavily worn/damaged condition

What drives this coin's value

Condition/grade, year of issue, mint mark, and presence of notable errors or key dates.

Grade assessment

Poor to About Good (AG-3) due to heavy wear, corrosion, and indistinct details.

Mintage & rarity

Very common for most years, though certain dates (like 1909-S VDB or 1914-D) are key dates.

Authenticity & counterfeit red flags

Counterfeits are extremely rare for common-date wheat cents due to their low face value; focus checks primarily on rare key dates like the 1909-S VDB or 1914-D.

Notable varieties & errors

1909-S VDB, 1914-D, 1922 'No D' error, and various doubled die obverse varieties.

Similar coins

Indian Head Cent or modern Lincoln Memorial Cent.

Care & preservation

Store in a dry, room-temperature environment, preferably in inert flips or cardboard holders. Do not clean, as harsh cleaning destroys collector value.