Lincoln Wheat Cent Facts-Pictures

FACTS:

The mint mark is under the date on the obverse, and no “P” mint marks. The V.D.B. is on the reverse and at the very bottom of the coin for 1909 dates only. Some 1909 Wheats don't have V.D.B and are less valuable than 1909 dates with the initials. The dates 1910-1917 don't have the designer's initials V.D.B. The dates 1918-200? have the V.D.B. on the bottom of Lincoln's shoulder, next to the rim, of the obverse.

SPECIFICATIONS:

Designer: Victor David Brenner

Diameter: 19 millimeters

Metal content:

Copper - 95%

Tin and Zinc - 5%

Weight: 48 grains (3.11 grams)

Edge: Plain

Cherry Picker's List:

Varieties-Errors-Key and Semi-Key Dates:

1909-S VDB

1909-S

1909-S Over horizontal S

1911-S

1911-D Over D (RPM)

1914-D

1914-S

1917-P Doubled Die Obverse PICTURE

1922 No D

1931-S

1936 Double Die Obverse

1944 D/S Variety 1

1944 D/S Variety 2

1946 S/D

1955 Double die PICTURE

1970-S Doubled die

1936 Double die obverse, the date, LIBERTY and IN GOD WE TRUST has some doubling.

1941 Double die reverse: Doubling of the date and LIBERTY.

1943-D The D is stamped over another D (RPM).

1943-P Should be a steel cent but there are reports of some struck using copper.

1944-D D over S the mint mark D is stamped over the S.

1946-S S Mint mark stamped over a D mint mark.

1955-D Stamped over a horizontal D.

1955-P No VDB.

1955-P Lincoln Wheat Cent Double Die cent.

1956-D D Stamped over a D mint mark.

1958-P Double die obverse.

1959-D First year for Memorial reverse, check for wheat reverse.

1960-D D over D RPM PICTURE

1960-P Look for Small Date variety, the 6 has a shorter stem than normal.

1963-D Check to see if the 3 in the date is struck over another 3.

1968-D D mint mark stamped over another D.

1968-D Double die reverse, strong doubling in the word AMERICA.

1969-S Lincoln Memorial double die, all design features strongly doubled.

1970-S Small date Lincoln Cent with a doubled die reverse, strong doubling of TRUST & LIBERTY.

1970-S Small Date high 7.

1970-S Level 7. The 7 is level with rest of date.

1971-P Double die obverse, strong doubling on LIBERTY & IN GOD WE TRUST.

1972-P Lincoln Memorial Cent with a doubled date. PICTURE

1973-P No V.D.B.

1980-D A shadow of an S mint mark struck above the D.

1982-P Doubling of IN GOD WE TRUST.

1983-P Doubled die reverse doubled, IN GOD WE TRUST doubled.

1984-P Doubled ear, look at the ear lobe. PICTURE

1984-D Doubled Date.

1989-P No VDB.

1994-P Doubling of the last three columns on reverse.

1995-P Double die, LIBERTY doubled.

1995-D Double die obverse, strong doubling of the date and LIBERTY.

1997-P Double Die, look at the ear lobe like the 1984.

1998-P Wide AM reverse Lincoln Memorial Cent.

1999-P Wide AM reverse Lincoln Memorial Cent.

1999-P There may be double dies varieties.

2000-P Wide AM in America.

2003-P May be doubling of the steps, experts say “yes”, mint says “no”.

2006-P Double Die Obverse

LINCOLN CENT MINT ERROR PICTURES

Date/Mint Mark	Grade	Value
1909-S VDB	G4	$900
1909 VDB	G4	$15
1909-S	G4	$125
1909-S Over horizontal S	G4	$135
1911-S	G4	$45
1911-D Over D (RPM)	N/A	$10+	Check completed RPM auction values
1912-S	G4	$28
1913-S	G4	$16
1914-D	G4	$250
1914-S	G4	$30
1915-S	G4	$23
1917-P Doubled Die Obverse	G4	$200
1922 No D Strong strike on obverse	G4	$850
1922-D	G4	$22
1924-D	G4	$50
1926-S	G4	$12
1931-S	G4	$140
1936 Double Die Obverse	EF40	$175
1941 Double die reverse	N/A
1943-D/D RPM	MS62	$700
1943-P Copper instead of steel	N/A
1944 D/S Variety 1	G4	$50
1944 D/S Variety 2	G4	$50
1946 S/D RPM	EF40	$100	Check completed RPM auction values
1955 Double die (obvious and strong)	G4	$1,100
1955-D Stamped over a horizontal D	N/A		Check completed RPM auction values
1955-P No VDB	N/A
1956-D/D RPM	MS65	$100	Check completed RPM auction values
1958-P Double die obverse	N/A
1959-D Check for wheat reverse	N/A
1960-P Small Date	MS64	$200
1960-D/D	N/A		Check RPM auctions
1963/3-D Over date	N/A
1968-D/D	N/A		Check RPM auctions
1968-D DDO Strong doubling in the word AMERICA.	N/A
1969-S Double die	F12	$10,000
1970-S Small date doubled die reverse	AU50	$5,000
1970-S Level 7. The 7 is level with rest of date	AU50	$24
1972-P Double die obverse	$225
1973-P No V.D.B	N/A
1980-D Shadow S over D	N/A
1982-P Doubling of IN GOD WE TRUST	N/A
1983-P Doubled die	N/A
1984-P Doubled ear, look at the ear lobe.	N/A
1984-D Doubled Date.	N/A
1989-P No VDB.	N/A
1994-P Doubling of the last three columns on reverse.	N/A
1995-P Double die, LIBERTY doubled.	MS63	$18
1995-D Double die obverse	N/A
1997-P Double Die, look at the ear lobe	N/A
1998-P Wide AM reverse	N/A
1999-P Wide AM reverse	N/A
1999-P There may be double dies varieties	N/A
2000-P Wide AM in America.	N/A
2003-P May be doubling of the steps	N/A
2006-P Double Die Obverse	N/A
As stated before, if a date and mint is not listed, the G4 value ranges from $0.50-$2.00 for common wheat cents up to 1933. The value for common cents from 1934 to the present Memorial Cents is $0.05 in G4.

A Little Note Before Using This Price Guide:

The below values are just a guide of what the particular date and mint has sold for, and not what a dealer will pay for the coin. A collector should consult The Official Coin Blue Book for values dealers might pay. If a date and mint is not listed, the G4 value ranges from $0.50-$2.00 for common wheat cents up to 1933. The value for common cents from 1934 to the present Memorial Cents is $0.05 in G4.

Each value is for a coin that will Grade in Good condition, unless otherwise noted, and as the grade (that's not listed) increases so will the value of that grade. Also, a coin that's not listed with a mint mark is referred to as 'P' or 'Plain' and was struck at the Philadelphia Mint.

Further research should be considered, besides the aforementioned Blue Book, before determining the actual value of a particular date, mint and grade of a Morgan Dollar. For example, CDN or The Coin Dealer News Letter (Greysheet), The Red Book (The official Guide Book Of United States Coins), ebay completed auctions, ads in coin publications with a list of what the dealer is paying, or a trustworthy, local dealer.

Lincoln Cent Values Show Sharp Increases

It has already begun, on the eve of the Lincoln Cent's 100th birthday, values have dramatically increased over the last eight months according to Coin World Coin Values. Now is the time to buy before it's too late!

The greatest increases have been realized for the semi-key dates, but not only have semi-key dates increased, but certain key dates have also shown sharp increases. For instance, A 1924-D in G4 had a Book Value (BV) of $18.00 in Sept. 2007, but for May 2008 it has increased to $50.00! During the same time frame, the 1926-S has quadrupled in value, from $3.00 to $12 in G4 grade, 1909 V.D.B has almost doubled in value, the 1911-S was $20.00 and now trades for up to $45.00, the 1931-S was $70.00 but has doubled in value at $140.00, and these trends continue for all semi-key and key dates of the series.

Are all of these increases due to the coming of the 100th birthday in 2009? Such might not be case, if one also considers other circumstances surrounding the coin market like the U.S. Government's ban on melting coins, the increase for melt value of copper, the Bull Market that coin values are experiencing for every series, Congress's legislation to change the metal content of the Lincoln Cent, and the fact that more people are collecting in general, are a few other examples to blame for these sharp increases.

Also, the continued discoveries of mint errors, varieties, and new varieties has made Lincoln Cents more popular than ever. Most people know about the 1969-S that was recently found in Michigan which sold for thousands of dollars, and this one of many examples that have popularized this coin series, and helped in the increase of premiums.

But one aspect of all of this that's for certain, the coming 100th anniversary that will see much hype among coin collectors and the U.S. Mints alike and with the introduction of new Lincoln Cent designs for the first time in its hundred year tenure, 2009 should reveal that the values will continue to increase like never before in the history of Lincoln Cent collecting.

If you're interested in more Lincoln Cent values, consult are price guide below.