1931 Lincoln Wheat Cent Value
In the current market, a 1931 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 Certified examples in top grades can run far higher.
1931 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 1931 Lincoln Wheat Cent
In worn but collectible condition (Good-4), a 1931 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.
1931 Lincoln Wheat Cent specifications
- Series
- Lincoln Wheat Cent
- Year
- 1931
- Mint mark
- None (Philadelphia)
- Mintage
- 19,396,000
- 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).
The missing mint mark, explained
No mint mark is the mark here: the 1931 Lincoln Wheat Cent comes from the main Philadelphia Mint, which left its coins unlettered in this era. The position where branch mints placed their letter (On the obverse, below the date on the right side of Lincoln's portrait) is simply blank.
What makes the 1931 Lincoln Wheat Cent valuable
The generous mintage of 19,396,000 keeps this date affordable. That availability is an asset for collectors: it is the textbook choice for owning the Lincoln Wheat Cent design without a key-date price tag.
Context adds the final layer to the 1931 Lincoln Wheat Cent. The wheat-ear reverse ran for fifty years, spanning two world wars. 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 1931 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.