1909 Lincoln Wheat Cent Value
Depending on how well it survived, a 1909 Lincoln Wheat Cent brings anywhere from $1.75 to $567, and its metal content alone is worth $0.03 as of 2026-06-01 See the grade table below for exactly where your coin falls.
Public domain image (struck or printed before 1926). Click to enlarge.
1909 Lincoln Wheat Cent value by grade
| Grade | Estimated value |
|---|---|
| Melt value floor(metal content, 2026-06-01) | $0.03 |
| Good (G-4) | $1.75 to $2.95 |
| Very Good (VG-8) | $2.55 to $4.30 |
| Fine (F-12) | $4.40 to $7.45 |
| Very Fine (VF-20) | $8.00 to $13.50 |
| Extremely Fine (XF-40) | $14.50 to $24.50 |
| About Uncirculated (AU-50) | $28.00 to $47.50 |
| Mint State (MS-60) | $56.00 to $94.50 |
| Choice Unc (MS-63) | $112 to $189 |
| Gem Unc (MS-65) | $336 to $567 |
Estimated retail range, updated 2026-06-15. Estimates are modeled from mintage rarity and metal content, not auction records. Actual sale prices vary with certification, eye appeal and market timing.
Today's value of the 1909 Lincoln Wheat Cent
In worn but collectible condition (Good-4), a 1909 Lincoln Wheat Cent starts around $1.75. From there, value climbs with every grade step: a gem Mint State example (MS-65) can reach $567. Most coins found in old collections fall somewhere between Very Fine and About Uncirculated, the middle rows of the table above.
1909 Lincoln Wheat Cent specifications
- Series
- Lincoln Wheat Cent
- Year
- 1909
- Mint mark
- None (Philadelphia)
- Mintage
- 72,702,618
- Composition
- 95% copper, 5% tin and zinc (bronze); zinc-coated steel in 1943
- Weight
- 3.11 g
- Diameter
- 19.05 mm
- Edge
- Plain
- Designer
- Victor David Brenner
Mintage figure: US Mint reports (approximate).
Why there is no letter on this coin
Philadelphia struck the 1909 Lincoln Wheat Cent, and Philadelphia coins of this period carry no mint mark at all. An empty space at the usual mint mark position (On the obverse, below the date on the right side of Lincoln's portrait) confirms a Philadelphia strike, not a flaw.
What makes the 1909 Lincoln Wheat Cent valuable
The mintage of 72,702,618 puts the 1909 Lincoln Wheat Cent among the scarcer issues of its series. It is findable, but nice examples take patience, and the market prices that difficulty in.
Context adds the final layer to the 1909 Lincoln Wheat Cent. initials prominently on the reverse, public outcry forced their removal within days, instantly creating the 1909-S VDB, the most famous key date in American numismatics with just 484,000 struck. Owning this date means owning a piece of that story, and demand for the series as a whole sustains liquidity for every issue in it.
1909 Lincoln Wheat Cent inscriptions & design
Obverse
IN GOD WE TRUST / LIBERTY / (date)
Lincoln bust r., motto top, date l.
Reverse
E PLURIBUS UNUM / ONE CENT / UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
two wheat stalks
Measured 1909 Lincoln Wheat Cent specimens
8 physically measured 1909 Lincoln Wheat Cent examples in our reference database. Real measured weights and die axes let you authenticate a coin against the 3.11 g, 19.05 mm minting standard.
| Specimen | Weight | Diameter | Die axis | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1909 Lincoln Wheat Cent #1 | - | - | - | Breen.2055 |
| 1909 Lincoln Wheat Cent #2 | - | - | - | Breen. |
| 1909 Lincoln Wheat Cent #3 | - | - | - | Breen. |
| 1909 Lincoln Wheat Cent #4 | - | - | - | Breen.2054 |
| 1909 Lincoln Wheat Cent #5 | - | - | - | Breen.2057 |
| 1909 Lincoln Wheat Cent #6 | - | - | - | Breen.2052 |
| 1909 Lincoln Wheat Cent #7 | - | - | - | Breen.2055 |
| 1909 Lincoln Wheat Cent #8 | - | - | - | Breen.2055 |
Specifications compiled from documented museum specimens. See our data & methodology page.
Summary: the 1909 Lincoln Wheat Cent is valued between $1.75 and $567 as of 2026-06-15. Estimates combine mintage rarity, key-date status and metal content; they are editorial guidance, not an offer to buy.