1915-S Lincoln Wheat Cent Value
In the current market, a 1915-S Lincoln Wheat Cent changes hands for roughly $1.75 at the low end and $567 at the top, and its metal content alone is worth $0.03 as of 2026-06-01 Exceptional, certified pieces regularly exceed the top of that range.
1915-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 1915-S Lincoln Wheat Cent
In worn but collectible condition (Good-4), a 1915-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.
1915-S Lincoln Wheat Cent specifications
- Series
- Lincoln Wheat Cent
- Year
- 1915
- Mint mark
- S
- Mintage
- 4,833,000
- 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 1915 Lincoln Wheat Cent?
On a 1915-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 1915-S Lincoln Wheat Cent valuable
Context adds the final layer to the 1915-S Lincoln Wheat Cent. The 1955 doubled-die obverse, with its dramatically doubled date and lettering, is the most recognizable mint error ever to reach circulation. 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.
At 4,833,000 struck, this is a better date: not a legendary rarity, but clearly harder to locate than the common issues, especially with sharp detail and original surfaces.
Summary: the 1915-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.