1922-D Lincoln Wheat Cent Value
Depending on how well it survived, a 1922-D Lincoln Wheat Cent brings anywhere from $44.00 to $7,425, while the raw metal inside it is valued at $0.03 as of 2026-06-01 Certified examples in top grades can run far higher.
1922-D Lincoln Wheat Cent value by grade
| Grade | Estimated value |
|---|---|
| Melt value floor(metal content, 2026-06-01) | $0.03 |
| Good (G-4) | $44.00 to $74.50 |
| Very Good (VG-8) | $64.00 to $108 |
| Fine (F-12) | $96.00 to $162 |
| Very Fine (VF-20) | $160 to $270 |
| Extremely Fine (XF-40) | $272 to $459 |
| About Uncirculated (AU-50) | $448 to $756 |
| Mint State (MS-60) | $720 to $1,215 |
| Choice Unc (MS-63) | $1,360 to $2,295 |
| Gem Unc (MS-65) | $4,400 to $7,425 |
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.
What is a 1922-D Lincoln Wheat Cent worth right now?
Figure roughly $44.00 as the realistic floor for a damage-free, well-worn 1922-D Lincoln Wheat Cent, rising steadily through the grades to about $7,425 for a certified gem. Cleaned or damaged coins trade below these figures, though never below the $0.03 melt floor.
1922-D Lincoln Wheat Cent specifications
- Series
- Lincoln Wheat Cent
- Year
- 1922
- Mint mark
- D
- Mintage
- 7,160,000
- 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
To confirm your 1922 coin is the Denver issue, find the small "D". 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 collectors pay for in a 1922-D Lincoln Wheat Cent
With a mintage of just 7,160,000, the 1922-D Lincoln Wheat Cent is one of the celebrated key dates of the Lincoln Wheat Cent series. Survivors are scarce in every grade, and demand from series collectors keeps prices firm year after year.
In 1943 copper went to the war effort and cents were struck in zinc-coated steel; a handful of bronze planchets left in the presses became the legendary 1943 copper cents, worth six figures. For the 1922-D Lincoln Wheat Cent, the enduring popularity of the series translates directly into buyers in every grade and every market cycle.
Summary: the 1922-D Lincoln Wheat Cent is valued between $44.00 and $7,425 as of 2026-06-15. Estimates combine mintage rarity, key-date status and metal content; they are editorial guidance, not an offer to buy.