These pennies are commonly called “wheaties” or “wheat backs.” The coin was designed by Victor David Brenner and replaced the design for the Indian Head penny. In 1909, there were only 284,000 1909 S VDB wheat pennies produced. This is the cream of the crop in the series and has a base value of around $550. Even low grades are worth $100 or more.
All Wheat Pennies are worth more than their face value of.01 cent. A good rule of thumb is that they are worth at least 3 or 4 cents even in poor condition, but those in good condition (not including special years) are worth at least double digit dollars ($10 or more) when purchased or sold in MS-63 condition.
Where can you find wheat pennies?
While wheat pennies are getting increasingly hard to find with each passing year, they are still located in pocket change occasionally, and many people have wheat pennies by the hundreds — and even thousands — in penny rolls, food jars, clothes drawers, attic boxes, and coin collections.
When I was researching we ran into the question “Are wheat pennies still in circulation?”.
On a personal note we just love searching penny rolls for wheat and indian head pennies. Wheat pennies are still readily found in circulation and because of the relative price of just $25 for a box of these coins, they are cheap and will keep the coin roll searcher on his or her toes. The Wheat Penny is also known by colelctors as the Wheat Cent.
How much is a wheat penny worth?
Although a wheat penny’s face value is one cent, all wheat pennies are worth more than their face value . Even those in poor condition are worth at least 3 or 4 cents, and some can be worth six figures.
The first Wheat Penny coins minted were produced with the initials of designer Victor D. Brenner at the bottom of the reverse. Among these, the rarest are those minted at the San Francisco Mint.
The initials would be brought back in 1918, but they were much smaller and were placed on the front of the coin near Lincoln’s shoulder. Although a wheat penny’s face value is one cent, all wheat pennies are worth more than their face value. Even those in poor condition are worth at least 3 or 4 cents, and some can be worth six figures.
What is the back of a wheat penny called?
The back of the coin has “ONE CENT” surrounded by wheat stalks on either side. These pennies are commonly called “wheaties” or “wheat backs.” The coin was designed by Victor David Brenner and replaced the design for the Indian Head penny. In 1909, there were only 284,000 1909 S VDB wheat pennies produced.