Contents:
- What Is a 1919 Wheat Penny?
- How Much Is a 1919 Wheat Penny Worth in 2026?
- 1919 Penny Value by Mint Marks
- What Makes a 1919 Penny Rare?
- Most Valuable 1919 Wheat Penny Values Ever Sold
- 1919 Wheat Penny Error List
- How to Grade a 1919 Lincoln Wheat Penny
- Is a 1919 Penny Worth Anything in Circulation?
- Where to Sell or Buy a 1919 Wheat Penny
- FAQ
The 1919 no mint mark penny was in circulation during a time of major cultural changes in the US and the emergence of mass production. This is why the numismatic demand gets rather obvious – the price ranges between $0.5 and $2,500.
What Is a 1919 Wheat Penny?
American design is distinctive and easy to admit. That's why people call it the Wheat piece instead of the Lincoln cent. So, what do these instances expose?
Item Weight | 3.11 grams |
The Diameter | 19.05 millimeters |
The Thickness | 1.52 millimeters |
Item Composition | 95 % copper metal, 5 % tin, and zinc metal |
The Edge | Plain variant |
Anyway, it is not about the item's main design that makes the coins minted in 1919 valuable. It is about its unique, exceptionally crafted variations, either deliberately or inadvertently.
Let us briefly go back to 1919, just two years before 1921 silver dollars were minted, when a new iteration of the item, designed by Victor David Brenner, was released to commemorate the centennial of Abraham Lincoln's birth. The obverse of the coin features the profile of the 16th President, who is the first historical figure to appear on the United States of America currency.
How Much Is a 1919 Wheat Penny Worth in 2026?
These days, the average worth of a circulated coin may be equal to $0.10 to $10.00, while Mint State instances can be sold for $500 or more. However, auctions may demonstrate different numbers exceeding hundreds of dollars.
Keep in mind that these auction prices reflect the maximum amounts collectors were willing to pay for exceptional instances under ideal conditions. This does not guarantee that you can sell your coin for the same price, for its value depends on factors (including circumstances that we cannot predict).
In 2026, the market for the most sought‑after coins is led by a select group of wealthy collectors who compete for the highest ranking in the registry. An MS‑69 coin has a level of quality and preservation that no other similar coin matches.
Philadelphia (No Mark): With a mintage of 392 million, these are common. However, because they were common, few were saved in high condition, leading to the high prices for MS67+ specimens.
1919 Penny Value by Mint Marks
1919 D Penny Value: The mintage was much lower (57 million). These are better dates in circulated condition, and finding one in the Full Red (RD) variant is a significant challenge due to the poor planchet quality in Denver that year.
1919 S Penny Value: The mintage was 139 million, but the strike quality was terrible. Most 1919-S pennies have mushy details. A sharply struck 1919-S in MS65 Red is a major trophy and commands the highest premiums of the three mints.
Grade | 1919 Wheat Penny No Mint Mark | Denver | San Francisco |
Good | $0.20–$0.35 | $0.50–$0.75 | $0.20–$0.50 |
Fine | $0.40–$0.65 | $1.50–$3.00 | $1.00–$2.50 |
Extremely Fine | $3.00–$5.00 | $10.00–$15.00 | $6.00–$12.00 |
Uncirculated | $15.00–$25.00 | $50.00–$80.00 | $40.00–$75.00 |
MS-65 Red | $350+ | $600+ | $15,000+ |
What Makes a 1919 Penny Rare?
Well, these questions are omnipresent, but what about the process of spotting such a 1919 S Wheat penny value? You can easily identify different coins that may be worth much more than their face value, for example, 1922 silver dollars, and many others.
How much is a 1919 S penny worth in the numismatic industry? Certified items from PCGS or NGC grading services are in high demand because customers trust them.
The value in a certified holder often surpasses the same coin without certification by 20% to 50%, making third-party grading worthwhile for any coin worth over $100. This record-holder error is one of the few that managed to survive 100+ years without developing the dark carbon spots common to the D issue.
“While millions were struck, very few escaped the heavy circulation of the era in pristine, original red color. In MS65 Red condition, the 1919 Lincoln cent is a major condition rarity.”
– Jaime Hernandez, expert
PCGS CoinFacts
Most Valuable 1919 Wheat Penny Values Ever Sold
1919 Penny No Mint Mark PCGS MS69 RD (CAC Green Sticker)
This coin is currently the most valuable Wheat item (1909–1958) of any date or mint mark. Part of the famous Red Copper Collection assembled by Stewart Blay, this is the only Wheat item ever graded MS-69 by PCGS.
$421,875
S PCGS MS66 RD
What is a 1919 penny worth according to the S rare mint mark? There are 139 million San Francisco mint items that had terrible quality control in 1919, making high-grade, sharply struck examples incredibly rare. Most S pennies are mushy or brown.
$43,200
D PCGS MS66 RD
While common in worn condition, the Denver mint's planchets (the metal discs) were often oily or dirty, leading to streaks and spots on the finished coins. Finding a 1919 D Wheat penny value from this era that is Spot-Free and Full Red is the ultimate challenge for Registry Set collectors.
$31,200
1919 Wheat Penny Error List
How much is a penny from 1919 worth in an online numismatic auction? While common errors (woodies) are common, some of the highest item varieties can turn an insignificant find.
Error Type | Value Range USD |
Doubled Die (DDO) Defect | $125–$500+ |
Major Lamination | $40–$250+ |
Off-Center Strike Defect | $50–$400+ |
Clipped Planchet | $15–$150+ |
“Woody” Toning Defect | $5–$100+ |
As dies reach the end of their lifespan, pieces of steel may break off. These broken pieces are called CUDs (short for chipped die). A CUD is a smooth, raised piece of metal that is attached to the rim of the die.
It may be found on the S mintmark (creating a filled S appearance) or on Lincoln's shoulder (known as the chip on shoulder error). While larger CUDs can fetch $100+ USD at auction, smaller chips add between $5 and $15 USD to the value of 1919 Wheat penny.
How to Grade a 1919 Lincoln Wheat Penny
The Lincoln item requires a thorough examination of the front and back designs. On the front, the areas that show the most wear are:
Lincoln's cheekbone
The hair above his ear
The back of his hair
An uncirculated coin shows:
No signs of wear
Has a shiny appearance on all surfaces
An Extremely Fine coin has only minor wear on the highest points, with all the main design elements remaining sharp. A Fine coin has moderate wear, but still retains the separation of Lincoln's hair strands and the full outline of his jaw.
On the other side, the wheat plants serve as indicators for grading. The highest points are the tips of the wheat heads and the center of the plants. An Uncirculated condition exhibits only a slight indication of wear on the tips of the wheat.
Always check the reverse side of the coin. If the wheat ears have clear, distinct lines and the coin still looks shiny and new, it's likely uncirculated and worth a professional appraisal. If the coin is dark brown and smooth, it's a standard circulated coin, worth less than a dollar.
Is a 1919 Penny Worth Anything in Circulation?
The value of 1919 penny discovered in circulation depends on its condition. A dark brown item without a mint mark, which is worth between $0.50 and $1.50 USD.
Moreover, to know the 1919 penny value today in circulation is an interesting process because the United States Mint has not produced Lincoln cents with the wheat reverse since 1958.
The question of the value of a 1919 Wheat penny becomes more discussable when it is discovered that the coin has a mint mark. A worn D or S piece found in change could be worth anywhere from $2 to $5 in good condition. The real potential lies in finding a coin that has somehow escaped heavy wear. A cent in Fine to Very Fine condition, discovered in circulation.
Online Marketplaces eBay/Whatnot are Great for ungraded coins. In 2026, many collectors use the Whatnot app for live auctions, which is excellent for selling mid-range coins to a hobbyist audience.
Where to Sell or Buy a 1919 Wheat Penny
Online Auction Platforms
Is a 1919 Wheat penny worth anything among numismatists? The market for purchasing and selling Wheat Pennies features a variety of options, each with its own set of advantages and disadvantages. For unworn, circulated examples with a value of less than $50, online auction platforms such as eBay offer the broadest reach.
Professional Auction Houses
GreatCollections: Currently the most active platform for Lincoln cents in 2026. They recently handled the famous Stewart Blay P MS-69 RD.
Heritage Auctions: Ideal for rare mint marks like the S or D in high grades. They provide extensive Auction Archives to help you see what similar coins have sold for in the last few months.
Stack’s Bowers Galleries: Best for elite collections or if you have a significant error coin (like a major off-center strike). They have major Showcase Auctions scheduled throughout April 2026.
Which coin auction platform is better in 2025 auctions?
FAQ
How much is a 1919 penny worth now?
The value of an item can range from $0.50 to over $10,000 for a rare coin. The real market value depends on the mintmark and condition of the coin.
Is a 1919 penny copper?
The gem has 95 % Cu and 5 %mix of the metals. This bronze composition gives the coin its distinctive red and brown surface.
How to grade a 1919 penny?
To evaluate a 1919 Wheat penny value no mint mark and inspect Lincoln's facial features for signs of wear, you should scrutinize the wheat stalks for their level of detail.
Where is the mint mark on a 1919 penny?
The mint mark on a piece from the year is on the front, under the date and above the edge. A D letter means Denver, and an S letter means San Francisco. And 1919 penny value no mint mark means Philadelphia.
What is rare about 1919 penny?
The rarest thing is a date. Coins that have never been in circulation are really rare.
How do I know if my 1919 penny is worth anything?
Denver and San Francisco marks make the coin more valuable. Then look at how worn the coin is. Coins with all the details and the old brown color are more valuable. Look for mistakes like wrong marks or cracks. Compare your coin with the chart in this book to find out how much it is worth.
What are the errors on 1919 pennies?
The list of errors from the year includes mistakes on the Wheat piece. There are mistakes with the mint marks on the coins from Denver and San Francisco.
How much is an old 1919 penny worth?
The numismatic price depends on how good it is. A good item can be worth $1 to $15. A very good one can be worth more than $1,000. The best ones are worth more than $10,000.
Is a 1919-D penny rare?
The Denver Mint made more than 57 million pieces. But only a few are good. They are red and in good condition. The value of this item is 800 dollars or more.
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