1930-S Lincoln Wheat Cent Value
A 1930-S Lincoln Wheat Cent is worth roughly $0.10 to $38.00 depending on its condition, with a hard melt-value floor of $0.03 as of 2026-06-01 Certified examples in top grades can run far higher.
1930-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 1930-S Lincoln Wheat Cent worth today?
Start with $0.10 for a heavily circulated 1930-S Lincoln Wheat Cent and work upward. Lightly circulated 1930 examples occupy the middle of the range, while true gems approach $38.00. If your coin has no wear on the high points, it deserves a closer look or a professional opinion.
1930-S Lincoln Wheat Cent specifications
- Series
- Lincoln Wheat Cent
- Year
- 1930
- Mint mark
- S
- Mintage
- 24,286,000
- 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).
Identifying the San Francisco mint mark
San Francisco's "S" is the letter that defines the 1930-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.
What collectors pay for in a 1930-S Lincoln Wheat Cent
With 24,286,000 struck, the 1930-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.
Few series carry the following that supports the 1930-S Lincoln Wheat Cent. 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. A coin that thousands of collectors are actively assembling into sets never lacks for a market.
Summary: the 1930-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.