1¢ face value
One-cent coins have hidden gems — wheat cents, copper-era Lincolns, and famous error coins.
Common date with no special features identified — circulated value is essentially face. Always worth a quick inspection in case you spot an error.
in circulated condition
what it spends as
in this estimate
Estimates reflect typical retail values for the noted condition. Actual sale prices vary with grade, eye appeal, and authentication. Confirm valuable finds with PCGS or NGC.
This is a Lincoln Shield Cent. For this date and mint, it's a common issue typically worth face value in circulated condition. Mint-state examples or future error spotting could change that.
✦ Reference table ✦ Key dates & varieties
12 catalogued entries sorted by year. Values shown across condition tiers — heavy wear is rare, so most circulated finds will sit in the lower half of each range.
| Specimen | Series | Why it's notable | Circulated | Uncirculated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1877 | Indian Head Cent | Lowest mintage of the regular series — a major key date for Indian Head collectors. | $800 – $1,500 | $4,500 – $10,000 |
| 1909-S | Indian Head Cent | Final-year San Francisco issue with low mintage. | $350 – $550 | $1,050 – $1,700 |
| 1909-S | Lincoln Wheat Cent | 1909-S VDB is one of the most famous key dates in U.S. coinage. Look for 'V.D.B.' on the reverse bottom rim. | $1,100 – $1,500 | $2,500 – $6,000 |
| 1914-D | Lincoln Wheat Cent | Low Denver mintage; one of the most counterfeited key dates. | $400 – $800 | $3,000 – $7,000 |
| 1922 | Lincoln Wheat Cent | 1922 'No D' (Plain) — a die filling produced cents with no visible mint mark. Genuine examples are valuable; weak D's are not. | $1,000 – $2,000 | $5,000 – $25,000 |
| 1931-S | Lincoln Wheat Cent | Low Depression-era mintage at San Francisco. | $60 – $95 | $150 – $350 |
| 1943 | Lincoln Wheat Cent | 1943 Bronze Cent — a famed transitional error struck on leftover 1942 copper planchets after the Mint switched to zinc-coated steel. Fewer than 25 authenticated examples are known across all three mints; the common steel 1943 cent is worth less than a dollar. | $200,000 – $400,000 | $400,000 – $1,700,000 |
| 1944 | Lincoln Wheat Cent | 1944 Steel Cent — a famed transitional error struck on leftover 1943 steel planchets after the Mint reverted to copper. Fewer than 30 authenticated examples are known across all three mints; the common copper 1944 cent is worth a few cents. | $25,000 – $45,000 | $90,000 – $200,000 |
| 1955 | Lincoln Wheat Cent | 1955 Doubled Die Obverse — dramatic doubling on LIBERTY, IN GOD WE TRUST, and the date. | $1,800 – $2,800 | $4,500 – $18,000 |
| 1969-S | Lincoln Memorial Cent | 1969-S Doubled Die Obverse — strong doubling on LIBERTY and the date. | $10,000 – $16,000 | $35,000 – $90,000 |
| 1972 | Lincoln Memorial Cent | 1972 Doubled Die Obverse — bold doubling visible on the obverse lettering. | $300 – $500 | $700 – $2,000 |
| 1995 | Lincoln Memorial Cent | 1995 Doubled Die Obverse — visible doubling on LIBERTY and IN GOD WE TRUST. | $5.00 – $15 | $25 – $60 |
Indian Head Cent
Lowest mintage of the regular series — a major key date for Indian Head collectors.
Indian Head Cent
Final-year San Francisco issue with low mintage.
Lincoln Wheat Cent
1909-S VDB is one of the most famous key dates in U.S. coinage. Look for 'V.D.B.' on the reverse bottom rim.
Lincoln Wheat Cent
Low Denver mintage; one of the most counterfeited key dates.
Lincoln Wheat Cent
1922 'No D' (Plain) — a die filling produced cents with no visible mint mark. Genuine examples are valuable; weak D's are not.
Lincoln Wheat Cent
Low Depression-era mintage at San Francisco.
Lincoln Wheat Cent
1943 Bronze Cent — a famed transitional error struck on leftover 1942 copper planchets after the Mint switched to zinc-coated steel. Fewer than 25 authenticated examples are known across all three mints; the common steel 1943 cent is worth less than a dollar.
Lincoln Wheat Cent
1944 Steel Cent — a famed transitional error struck on leftover 1943 steel planchets after the Mint reverted to copper. Fewer than 30 authenticated examples are known across all three mints; the common copper 1944 cent is worth a few cents.
Lincoln Wheat Cent
1955 Doubled Die Obverse — dramatic doubling on LIBERTY, IN GOD WE TRUST, and the date.
Lincoln Memorial Cent
1969-S Doubled Die Obverse — strong doubling on LIBERTY and the date.
Lincoln Memorial Cent
1972 Doubled Die Obverse — bold doubling visible on the obverse lettering.
Lincoln Memorial Cent
1995 Doubled Die Obverse — visible doubling on LIBERTY and IN GOD WE TRUST.
Authenticate any high-value find with a professional grading service (PCGS, NGC). Altered dates and added mint marks are common in older key dates — strong third-party authentication protects your investment.
