US Lincoln Wheat Cent | Facts, Grading Standards, and Specifications

Lincoln Cent Wheat (1909-1958)

Lincoln Wheat Cent General Grading Standards

G4 Good - Date worn but apparent. Lines in wheat heads missing. Full rims.
VG8 Very Good - Half of lines show in upper wheat heads.
F12 Fine - Wheat lines worn but visible.
VF20 Very Fine - Cheek and jaw bones worn but separated. No worn spots on wheat heads.
EF40 Extremely Fine - Slight wear. All details sharp.
AU50 About Uncirculated - Slight wear on Lincoln's cheek and jaw and on the wheat stalks.
MS60 Uncirculated - No trace of wear. Light blemishes or discoloration.
MS63 Select Uncirculated - No trace of wear. Slight blemishes. Red-Brown color.
MS65 Choice Uncirculated - No trace of wear. Barely noticeable blemishes. Nearly full red color.

1917 Lincoln Wheat Cent Obverse and Reverse

Image Courtesy of MidAtlantic Coins, LLC

Designer: Victor David Brenner	Weight: 3.11 grams
Diameter: 19 millimeters	Edge: Plain
Content: 95% Copper 5% Tin/Zinc

Year/ Mint Mark	Circulation Strikes	Proof Strikes
1909 VDB	27,995,000	1,194
1909 S VDB	484,000	0
1909	72,700,000	2,618
1909 S	1,825,000	0
1910	146,798,813	2,405
1910 S	6,045,000	0
1911	101,176,054	2,411
1911 D	12,672,000	0
1911 S	4,026,000	0
1912	68,150,915	2,145
1912 D	10,411,000	0
1912 S	4,431,000	0
1913	76,529,504	2,848
1913 D	15,804,000	0
1913 S	6,101,000	0
1914	75,237,067	1,365
1914 D	1,193,000	0
1914 S	4,137,000	0
1915	29,090,970	1,150
1915 D	22,050,000	0
1915 S	4,833,000	0
1916	131,832,627	1,050
1916 D	35,956,000	0
1916 S	22,510,000	0
1917	196,429,785	0
1917 D	55,120,000	0
1917 S	32,620,000	0
1918	288,104,634	0
1918 D	47,830,000	0
1918 S	34,680,000	0
1919	392,021,000	0
1919 D	57,154,000	0
1919 S	139,760,000	0
1920	310,165,000	0
1920 D	49,280,000	0
1920 S	46,220,000	0
1921	39,157,000	0
1921 S	15,274,000	0
1922 D	7,160,000	0
1922 Plain *	7,160,000	0
1923	74,723,000	0
1923 S	8,700,000	0
1924	75,178,000	0
1924 D	2,520,000	0
1924 S	11,696,000	0
1925	139,949,000	0
1925 D	22,580,000	0
1925 S	26,380,000	0
1926	157,088,000	0
1926 D	28,020,000	0
1926 S	4,550,000	0
1927	144,440,000	0
1927 D	27,170,000	0
1927 S	14,276,000	0
1928	134,116,000	0
1928 D	31,170,000	0
1928 S	17,266,000	0
1929	185,262,000	0
1929 D	41,730,000	0
1929 S	50,148,000	0
1930	157,415,000	0
1930 D	40,100,000	0
1930 S	24,286,000	0
1931	19,396,000	0
1931 D	4,480,000	0
1931 S	866,000	0
1932	9,062,000	0
1932 D	10,500,000	0
1933	14,360,000	0
1933 D	6,200,000	0
1934	219,080,000	0
1934 D	28,446,000	0
1935	245,388,000	0
1935 D	47,000,000	0
1935 S	38,702,000	0
1936	309,632,000	5,569
1936 D	40,620,000	0
1936 S	29,130,000	0
1937	309,170,000	9,320
1937 D	50,430,000	0
1937 S	34,500,000	0
1938	156,682,000	14,734
1938 D	20,010,000	0
1938 S	15,180,000	0
1939	316,466,000	13,520
1939 D	15,160,000	0
1939 S	52,070,000	0
1940	586,810,000	15,872
1940 D	81,390,000	0
1940 S	112,940,000	0
1941	887,018,000	21,100
1941 D	128,700,000	0
1941 S	92,360,000	0
1942	657,796,000	32,600
1942 D	206,698,000	0
1942 S	85,590,000	0

* This rare variety was caused when the mintmark became filled on a worn die.

Zinc Coated Steel (1943)

1943 Lincoln Wheat Steel Cent Obverse and Reverse

Image Courtesy of Bobby131313's Coins

Designer: Victor David Brenner	Weight: 2.7 grams
Diameter: 19 millimeters	Edge: Plain
Content: 100% steel thin zinc coating

Year/ Mint Mark	Circulation Strikes	Proof Strikes
1943	684,628,670	0
1943 D	217,660,000	0
1943 S	191,550,000	0

Shell Case Bronze (1944 - 1945)

1945 Lincoln Wheat Cent Obverse and Reverse

Image Courtesy of Bobby131313's Coins

Designer: Victor David Brenner	Weight: 3.1 grams
Diameter: 19 millimeters	Edge: Plain
Content: 95% copper 5% zinc

Year/ Mint Mark	Circulation Strikes	Proof Strikes
1944	1,435,000,000	0
1944 D	430,578,000	0
1944 S	282,760,000	0
1945	1,040,515,000	0
1945 D	266,268,000	0
1945 S	181,770,000	0

Copper (1946 - 1958)

1951 S Lincoln Wheat Cent Obverse and Reverse

Image Courtesy of Bobby131313's Coins

Designer: Victor David Brenner	Weight: 3.1 grams
Diameter: 19 millimeters	Edge: Plain
Content: 95% copper 5% tin / zinc

Year/ Mint Mark	Circulation Strikes	Proof Strikes
1946	991,655,000	0
1946 D	315,690,000	0
1946 S	198,100,000	0
1947	190,555,000	0
1947 D	194,750,000	0
1947 S	99,000,000	0
1948	317,570,000	0
1948 D	172,637,500	0
1948 S	81,735,000	0
1949	217,775,000	0
1949 D	153,132,500	0
1949 S	64,290,000	0
1950	272,635,000	51,386
1950 D	334,950,000	0
1950 S	118,505,000	0
1951	284,576,000	57,500
1951 D	625,355,000	0
1951 S	136,010,000	0
1952	186,775,000	81,980
1952 D	746,130,000	0
1952 S	137,800,004	0
1953	256,755,000	128,800
1953 D	700,515,000	0
1953 S	181,835,000	0
1954	71,640,050	233,300
1954 D	251,552,500	0
1954 S	96,190,000	0
1955	330,580,000	378,200
1955 D	563,257,500	0
1955 S	44,610,000	0
1956	420,745,000	669,384
1956 D	1,098,201,100	0
1957	282,540,000	1,247,952
1957 D	1,051,342,000	0
1958	252,525,000	875,652
1958 D	800,953,300	0
1959 D	Several experts have stated that they believe the coin to be counterfeit, although unable to say why. On the other hand, the Secret Service has said at least 2 of these coins are authentic.

Mint Mark Legend:

Below the date on the obverse.

Mint Mark	Mint	Date of Operation
None	Philadelphia	1793-present
S	San Francisco, CA	1854-1955; 1968-present
D	Denver, CO	1906-present

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