1919-S Lincoln Wheat Cent Value
Expect a 1919-S Lincoln Wheat Cent to trade between about $0.10 and $38.00, driven almost entirely by grade; the melt floor under every example is $0.03 (spot prices as of 2026-06-01) Certified examples in top grades can run far higher.
1919-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.
Current 1919-S Lincoln Wheat Cent value
In worn but collectible condition (Good-4), a 1919-S Lincoln Wheat Cent starts around $0.10. From there, value climbs with every grade step: a gem Mint State example (MS-65) can reach $38.00. Most coins found in old collections fall somewhere between Very Fine and About Uncirculated, the middle rows of the table above.
1919-S Lincoln Wheat Cent specifications
- Series
- Lincoln Wheat Cent
- Year
- 1919
- Mint mark
- S
- Mintage
- 139,760,000
- 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 1919 Lincoln Wheat Cent?
To confirm your 1919 coin is the San Francisco issue, find the small "S". On the obverse, below the date on the right side of Lincoln's portrait The mark is small, so tilt the coin under a light if it is not obvious.
What makes the 1919-S Lincoln Wheat Cent valuable
With 139,760,000 struck, the 1919-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.
Context adds the final layer to the 1919-S Lincoln Wheat Cent. coin to portray a real person, issued for the centennial of Abraham Lincoln's birth at the urging of Theodore Roosevelt. 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.
Summary: the 1919-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.