1928 Lincoln Wheat Cent Value
In the current market, a 1928 Lincoln Wheat Cent changes hands for roughly $0.10 at the low end and $38.00 at the top, and its metal content alone is worth $0.03 as of 2026-06-01 The figures below break the range down grade by grade.
1928 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.
Today's value of the 1928 Lincoln Wheat Cent
In worn but collectible condition (Good-4), a 1928 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.
1928 Lincoln Wheat Cent specifications
- Series
- Lincoln Wheat Cent
- Year
- 1928
- Mint mark
- None (Philadelphia)
- Mintage
- 134,116,000
- 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).
Reading a coin with no mint mark
Philadelphia struck the 1928 Lincoln Wheat Cent, and Philadelphia coins of this period carry no mint mark at all. An empty space at the usual mint mark position (On the obverse, below the date on the right side of Lincoln's portrait) confirms a Philadelphia strike, not a flaw.
What makes the 1928 Lincoln Wheat Cent valuable
At 134,116,000 struck, scarcity is not the story here. Condition is: well-preserved examples with original luster stand far above the worn majority.
Context adds the final layer to the 1928 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.
Summary: the 1928 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.