1911-S Lincoln Wheat Cent Value
The 1911-S Lincoln Wheat Cent carries a current retail range of about $1.75 to $567 across circulated and Mint State grades, and its metal content alone is worth $0.03 as of 2026-06-01 Where your coin lands depends on wear, strike and surface quality.
1911-S 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 1911-S Lincoln Wheat Cent
In worn but collectible condition (Good-4), a 1911-S 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.
1911-S Lincoln Wheat Cent specifications
- Series
- Lincoln Wheat Cent
- Year
- 1911
- Mint mark
- S
- Mintage
- 4,026,000
- 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).
Where is the mint mark on a 1911 Lincoln Wheat Cent?
On a 1911-S Lincoln Wheat Cent, the "S" mint mark of the San Francisco Mint sits on the obverse, below the date on the right side of Lincoln's portrait. A loupe helps: on worn examples the letter can fade into the surrounding devices.
What makes the 1911-S Lincoln Wheat Cent valuable
The mintage of 4,026,000 puts the 1911-S 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.
There is history in a 1911 Lincoln Wheat Cent as well. The 1955 doubled-die obverse, with its dramatically doubled date and lettering, is the most recognizable mint error ever to reach circulation. That backdrop keeps the series among the most actively collected in American numismatics.
Summary: the 1911-S 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.