1957 Lincoln Wheat Cent Value
In the current market, a 1957 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.
1957 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 1957 Lincoln Wheat Cent worth today?
In worn but collectible condition (Good-4), a 1957 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.
1957 Lincoln Wheat Cent specifications
- Series
- Lincoln Wheat Cent
- Year
- 1957
- Mint mark
- None (Philadelphia)
- Mintage
- Not recorded
- 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
Why there is no letter on this coin
No mint mark is the mark here: the 1957 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 1957 Lincoln Wheat Cent valuable
Official mintage figures for the 1957 Lincoln Wheat Cent are not well established. The museum-documented specimens behind our specifications provide the physical reference points for the issue, and the market prices it on observed scarcity.
Context adds the final layer to the 1957 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.
1957 Lincoln Wheat Cent inscriptions & design
Obverse
In God We Trust / Liberty
Abraham Lincoln presidential bust r.
Reverse
E Pluribus Unum / One Cent / United States of America
Ears of wheat flank legend on each side
Measured 1957 Lincoln Wheat Cent specimens
1 physically measured 1957 Lincoln Wheat Cent example in our reference database. Real measured weights and die axes let you authenticate a coin against the 3.11 g, 19.05 mm minting standard.
| Specimen | Weight | Diameter | Die axis | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1957 Lincoln Wheat Cent #1 | 3.0248 g | 19 mm | 6 h | PCGS.2843 |
Specifications compiled from documented museum specimens. See our data & methodology page.
Summary: the 1957 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.