Friday, July 03, 2009

First day of the Fourth of July

Do you have a wheat cent and want to find out its value?

Since this Independence Day falls on a Saturday the official holiday is Friday July 3rd. To celebrate I will show an American coin each day. The fact is the only two recent finds have been classic United States coins, but still nice to see.

A quick reminder to all amateur collectors be safe this weekend and coins are money. I'm emptying out my coin jars for simple groceries no need to start hoarding now. (Had to roll them since no Coinstars around my area work, plus rolling gets me an even exchange at local stores.)

Back to the classic American Wheatie.

Not much as changed since this lone cent was minted 56 years ago. IN GOD WE TRUST is still on top, the bust of Lincoln is still facing right, and LIBERTY hangs out way too close to the rim.

The back has changed a lot. Victor D. Brenner's design included two stylized wheat stalks representing the vast wheat fields associated with America. ONE CENT was the most prominent feature on the back. Taking a semester of typography I can expertly say that the font used is really nice, the M in AMERICA in particular.

Have I stretched out this post enough, okay let's end it.

Here's the stats for the coin pictured...
Type/Country: 1 Cent/United States
Year: 1953
Mintage: 256,755,000
Metal: 95% Copper 5% Tin & Zinc
Value: $0.10 in VF-20

Do you have a penny and want to find out its value? Leave a comment and I will do my best to find out the price and history for you.

6 dollars worth, for Comments/Questions click here.:

Anonymous said...

hi i have a 1940 wheat cent how much would that be?

Man said...

1940 wheat cent about $0.15

Anonymous said...

i was remolding my house and between the chimney and plaster there was a penny and the date on is 184 there is no last number but if you shift it in the light you can see where the 2 was, the penny has some discoloration on it(i havnt cleaned it except with a t-shirt) and it has some ware but no scrapes or anything. the pictures i looked at on your website the number 1 is much further to the left under the neck lining up almost even with it. any ideas to why its missing last number?some one told me they used to remove the last number and put the new date on to mint them but that just didnt sound correct to me and why would it be next to my chimney?

Man said...

184 there is no last number but if you shift it in the light you can see where the 2 was, the penny has some discoloration on it...

Back in the days they would "recycle" more but this is probably just a late stage strike meaning a very weak strike.
That said it's about $18.00 maybe trying a quick dip in pure acetone and damp clean with distilled water.

maranyx said...

I have a 1972 D penny I have heard there was a lot of errors in that year but the one I have is odd. Lincoln is almost smooth and is cracked down the middle but the split doesn't show up on the opposite side on the building. i thought it was worn down but the other side is still very good condition (i can see the bushes and Lincoln in the building still.)

I cant find any info to tell if this is an error or not. If you can help I would be very appreciative.

mary ankenman

Man said...

1972 D penny I have heard there was a lot of errors in that year but the one I have is odd. Lincoln is almost smooth and is cracked down the middle but the split doesn't show up on the opposite side on the building. i thought it was worn down but the other side is still very good condition

Sounds like a major die crack error about $5.00 if rim to rim but a lot depends on eye appeal most do not have any extra value.