1916-S Lincoln Wheat Cent Value
Depending on how well it survived, a 1916-S Lincoln Wheat Cent brings anywhere from $0.10 to $38.00, with a hard melt-value floor of $0.03 as of 2026-06-01 Certified examples in top grades can run far higher.
1916-S Lincoln Wheat Cent value by grade
| Grade | Estimated value |
|---|---|
| Melt value floor(metal content, 2026-06-01) | $0.03 |
| Good (G-4) | $0.10 to $0.15 |
| Very Good (VG-8) | $0.10 to $0.20 |
| Fine (F-12) | $0.20 to $0.35 |
| Very Fine (VF-20) | $0.40 to $0.70 |
| Extremely Fine (XF-40) | $0.80 to $1.35 |
| About Uncirculated (AU-50) | $1.60 to $2.70 |
| Mint State (MS-60) | $3.20 to $5.40 |
| Choice Unc (MS-63) | $7.20 to $12.00 |
| Gem Unc (MS-65) | $22.50 to $38.00 |
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.
How much is a 1916-S Lincoln Wheat Cent worth today?
Figure roughly $0.10 as the realistic floor for a damage-free, well-worn 1916-S Lincoln Wheat Cent, rising steadily through the grades to about $38.00 for a certified gem. Cleaned or damaged coins trade below these figures, though never below the $0.03 melt floor.
1916-S Lincoln Wheat Cent specifications
- Series
- Lincoln Wheat Cent
- Year
- 1916
- Mint mark
- S
- Mintage
- 22,510,000
- 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 to look for the mint mark
San Francisco's "S" is the letter that defines the 1916-S Lincoln Wheat Cent. On the obverse, below the date on the right side of Lincoln's portrait On heavily circulated coins the mark wears down with everything else, so check carefully before assuming a Philadelphia strike.
Where this coin's value comes from
With 22,510,000 struck, the 1916-S Lincoln Wheat Cent is one of the more available dates of its series. Its value rests on metal content and condition rather than absolute rarity, which makes it an ideal type coin.
The series itself does some of the lifting for the 1916-S 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. Broad, multigenerational demand for the design gives every date, including this one, a deep and liquid market.
Summary: the 1916-S Lincoln Wheat Cent is valued between $0.10 and $38.00 as of 2026-06-15. Estimates combine mintage rarity, key-date status and metal content; they are editorial guidance, not an offer to buy.