1939 United States Cent Value

A 1939 United States Cent is worth roughly its melt value to well into four figures depending on its condition. Certified examples in top grades can run far higher.

1939COINCOIN
Illustrative rendering. Photographs of this date are being added.

1939 United States Cent value by grade

1939 United States Cent value by grade
GradeEstimated value

Estimated retail range. 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 1939 United States Cent worth today?

Pricing for the 1939 United States Cent depends on grade and current collector demand.

1939 United States Cent specifications

Series
United States Coinage
Year
1939
Mint mark
None (Philadelphia)
Mintage
Not recorded
Composition
Bronze

Why this coin has no mint mark

The 1939 United States Cent was struck at the Philadelphia Mint, which used no mint mark in this era. If you find no letter where branch-mint coins carry one (check the usual position for this series), you are holding a Philadelphia issue.

The value drivers behind this coin

Documented examples of the 1939 United States Cent in our reference database anchor what we know about this issue. Mintage records are incomplete, so collector demand and surviving population drive its market.

Documented United States coin types preserved in museum collections, with measured specifications for each date, denomination and mint. For the 1939 United States Cent, the enduring popularity of the series translates directly into buyers in every grade and every market cycle.

1939 United States Cent inscriptions & design

Obverse

IN GOD WE TRUST / LIBERTY / (date)

Lincoln bust r., motto top, date l.

Reverse

E PLURIBUS UNUM / ONE CENT / UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

two wheat stalks

Measured 1939 United States Cent specimens

4 physically measured 1939 United States Cent examples in our reference database. Real measured weights and die axes let you authenticate a coin against the g, mm minting standard.

Measured 1939 United States Cent specimens
SpecimenWeightDiameterDie axisReferences
1939 United States Cent #1---Breen.2144
1939 United States Cent #2---Breen.2144
1939 United States Cent #3---Breen.2146
1939 United States Cent #4---Breen.2147

Specifications compiled from documented museum specimens. See our data & methodology page.