1931-D Lincoln Wheat Cent Value
A 1931-D Lincoln Wheat Cent is worth roughly $1.75 to $567 depending on its condition, 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.
1931-D Lincoln Wheat Cent value by grade
| Grade | Estimated value |
|---|---|
| Melt value floor(metal content, 2026-06-01) | $0.03 |
| Good (G-4) | $1.75 to $2.95 |
| Very Good (VG-8) | $2.55 to $4.30 |
| Fine (F-12) | $4.40 to $7.45 |
| Very Fine (VF-20) | $8.00 to $13.50 |
| Extremely Fine (XF-40) | $14.50 to $24.50 |
| About Uncirculated (AU-50) | $28.00 to $47.50 |
| Mint State (MS-60) | $56.00 to $94.50 |
| Choice Unc (MS-63) | $112 to $189 |
| Gem Unc (MS-65) | $336 to $567 |
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 1931-D Lincoln Wheat Cent worth today?
At the entry level, well-worn examples bring about $1.75. The same coin in gem uncirculated condition is a $567 coin. Grade is everything: two examples of the 1931-D Lincoln Wheat Cent can differ in price by an order of magnitude based purely on preservation.
1931-D Lincoln Wheat Cent specifications
- Series
- Lincoln Wheat Cent
- Year
- 1931
- Mint mark
- D
- Mintage
- 4,480,000
- 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 1931 Lincoln Wheat Cent?
Denver's "D" is the letter that defines the 1931-D 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
The mintage of 4,480,000 puts the 1931-D Lincoln Wheat Cent among the scarcer issues of its series. It is findable, but nice examples take patience, and the market prices that difficulty in.
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 1931-D Lincoln Wheat Cent, the enduring popularity of the series translates directly into buyers in every grade and every market cycle.
Summary: the 1931-D Lincoln Wheat Cent is valued between $1.75 and $567 as of 2026-06-15. Estimates combine mintage rarity, key-date status and metal content; they are editorial guidance, not an offer to buy.