Like other wheat pennies, the 1919 Lincoln penny contains the 16th American President centrally positioned on the obverse. The obverse of the 1919 Lincoln wheat penny On the other hand, finding those in perfect condition can be tricky, so such pieces are highly collectible. Lincoln pennies are common coins, and virtually every American has a few in their pockets. Unlike the modest 1919 Lincoln wheat penny, these coins can be worth a fortune.

1909 S VDB and 1909 S Lincoln wheat pennies.

The only key dates in the series are scarce and unique specimens, such as: On the other hand, you can’t find rare and highly appreciated pennies minted that year. Beginner collectors particularly appreciate these pieces because of their affordable price. Lincoln wheat pennies produced in 1919 are among the most collectible American coinage. Since the US Mint restored VDB letters after a few years, you can see them under Lincoln’s shoulder on coins struck in 1919.

Unfortunately, he ruined his reputation by placing oversized initials of the very first cents minted in 1909, and the US Mint removed them. Lithuanian-born American engraver and sculptor Victor David Brenner designed this unique coin. His idea was to mint a coin with the Lincoln profile, despite initial opposition from traditionalists. In 1959, their reverse was replaced with the Lincoln Memorial in honor of the respected President’s 150th birth anniversary.Įven though American coins never depicted a real person by then, President Theodore Roosevelt looked for a unique way to commemorate the memory of this extraordinary man.

The first Lincoln wheat pennies appeared in 1909, and their mintage lasted until 1958.

*by USA Coin Book History of the 1919 Lincoln Wheat Penny Finding those struck in San Francisco and Denver can be challenging, but their price is typically low. Interestingly, you can still find pieces minted in Philadelphia in use, meaning these incredible coins survived the Great Depression, WWII, and modern times. Even though each piece is a century old, those that spent years in circulation are practically worthless. The 1919 wheat penny value depends on the mint mark and preservation level, so most collectors look only for those in the mint state.

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