Lincoln Wheat Cents

Victor David Brenner designed the Lincoln cent, and the story of how it came about is unusually well documented for a coin design. President Theodore Roosevelt, who had already pushed through the Saint-Gaudens gold redesign, wanted to put Abraham Lincoln on a coin for the centennial of his birth in 1909. Roosevelt sat for Brenner in 1908 for a portrait plaque and was impressed enough with the Lithuanian-born sculptor's work to recommend him for the cent redesign. Brenner had studied at the Académie Julian in Paris and established himself in New York as a medalist and sculptor of considerable skill. He was not a Mint employee, which made the arrangement somewhat unusual, and Chief Engraver Charles Barber resented the intrusion. Barber had controlled the Mint's design work for decades and did not appreciate outsiders, a pattern that had played out before with Saint-Gaudens and would continue to be a source of friction at the Mint for years afterward.

Key Dates & Notable Varieties

KEY

1909 S VDB

Key date Semi-key Variety Proof Regular

Date	Variety	Mintage	Price Guide Estimates							Classification	CK #
Date	Variety	Mintage	G	VG	F	VF	EF	AU	MS	Classification	CK #
1909	Lincoln	72,702,618	$2.50	$3.00	$4.00	$4.50	$6.50	$10	$14	REGULAR	CK-423
1909	VDB	27,995,000	$4.50	$5.50	$8.00	$10	$13	$15	$25	SEMI-KEY	CK-425
1909	VDB Doubled Die Obverse	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	VARIETY	CK-427
1909-S	—	1,825,000	$67	$80	$94	$116	$126	$183	$285	SEMI-KEY	CK-428
1909-S	S/S Horizontal S	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	VARIETY	CK-430
1909-S	VDB	484,000	$560	$605	$690	$770	$875	$1,040	$1,320	KEY	CK-431
1910	—	146,801,218	$0.40	$0.50	$0.80	$1.00	$3.00	$8.00	$15	REGULAR	CK-432
1910-S	—	6,045,000	$13	$15	$17	$25	$45	$67	$86	SEMI-KEY	CK-434
1911	—	101,177,787	$0.40	$0.55	$1.00	$2.00	$6.50	$10	$17	REGULAR	CK-436
1911-D	—	12,672,000	$4.50	$6.50	$10	$25	$53	$67	$86	REGULAR	CK-437
1911-S	—	4,026,000	$25	$33	$40	$53	$67	$94	$162	SEMI-KEY	CK-438
1912	—	68,153,060	$1.00	$2.00	$3.00	$4.50	$13	$25	$28	REGULAR	CK-439
1912-D	—	10,411,000	$8.00	$10	$13	$28	$67	$94	$141	REGULAR	CK-441
1912-S	—	4,431,000	$15	$18	$20	$36	$65	$94	$146	SEMI-KEY	CK-442
1913	—	76,532,352	$0.80	$1.00	$2.50	$3.00	$20	$28	$33	REGULAR	CK-443
1913-D	—	15,804,000	$2.50	$3.00	$4.00	$8.00	$48	$60	$94	REGULAR	CK-445
1913-S	—	6,101,000	$8.00	$11	$15	$28	$53	$94	$162	SEMI-KEY	CK-446
1914	—	75,238,432	$0.80	$1.00	$1.50	$4.50	$17	$36	$53	REGULAR	CK-447
1914-D	—	1,193,000	$135	$146	$183	$225	$515	$1,135	$1,745	KEY	CK-449
1914-S	—	4,137,000	$14	$20	$22	$33	$76	$121	$265	SEMI-KEY	CK-450
1915	—	29,092,120	$2.00	$3.00	$4.00	$15	$45	$57	$80	REGULAR	CK-452
1915-D	—	22,050,000	$2.00	$3.00	$6.00	$13	$28	$45	$67	REGULAR	CK-453
1915-S	—	4,833,000	$13	$17	$25	$28	$65	$100	$183	REGULAR	CK-454
1916	—	131,833,677	$0.40	$0.50	$0.65	$2.50	$7.00	$13	$17	REGULAR	CK-455
1916-D	—	35,956,000	$0.80	$1.50	$2.50	$4.50	$13	$28	$80	REGULAR	CK-457
1916-S	—	22,510,000	$1.50	$2.00	$3.00	$13	$25	$53	$94	REGULAR	CK-458
1917	—	196,429,785	$0.40	$0.50	$0.60	$1.50	$4.00	$13	$15	REGULAR	CK-459
1917	Doubled Die Obverse	—	$121	$135	$205	$325	$990	$1,320	$2,760	VARIETY	CK-460
1917-D	—	55,120,000	$0.80	$1.00	$3.00	$4.00	$40	$48	$65	REGULAR	CK-461
1917-S	—	32,620,000	$0.80	$1.00	$1.50	$2.00	$13	$25	$67	REGULAR	CK-462
1918	—	288,104,634	$0.40	$0.50	$0.60	$1.00	$4.00	$8.00	$13	REGULAR	CK-463
1918-D	—	47,830,000	$0.80	$1.00	$2.00	$3.00	$17	$33	$65	REGULAR	CK-464
1918-S	—	34,680,000	$0.40	$0.80	$1.50	$3.00	$13	$33	$67	REGULAR	CK-465
1919	—	392,021,000	$0.20	$0.30	$0.30	$0.80	$2.50	$4.00	$13	REGULAR	CK-466
1919-D	—	57,154,000	$0.80	$1.00	$1.50	$3.00	$8.00	$28	$57	REGULAR	CK-467
1919-S	—	139,760,000	$0.40	$0.50	$1.00	$2.00	$4.50	$17	$48	REGULAR	CK-468
1920	—	310,165,000	$0.20	$0.25	$0.35	$0.80	$2.00	$4.50	$17	REGULAR	CK-469
1920-D	—	49,280,000	$0.80	$1.50	$2.50	$4.00	$13	$33	$67	REGULAR	CK-470
1920-S	—	46,220,000	$0.80	$1.50	$2.50	$4.00	$13	$33	$96	REGULAR	CK-471
1921	—	39,157,000	$0.40	$0.60	$1.00	$1.50	$10	$20	$45	REGULAR	CK-472
1921-S	—	15,274,000	$1.50	$2.00	$4.00	$5.50	$33	$60	$114	REGULAR	CK-473
1922	No D Strong Reverse	7,160,000	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	KEY	CK-474
1922-D	—	7,160,000	$17	$20	$25	$28	$36	$60	$94	REGULAR	CK-475
1923	—	74,723,000	$0.30	$0.40	$0.50	$0.80	$4.00	$8.00	$13	REGULAR	CK-476
1923-S	—	8,700,000	$3.00	$4.50	$5.50	$8.00	$33	$73	$172	REGULAR	CK-477
1924	—	75,178,000	$0.20	$0.40	$0.50	$0.80	$4.50	$8.00	$20	REGULAR	CK-478
1924-D	—	2,520,000	$25	$33	$40	$45	$100	$135	$245	SEMI-KEY	CK-479
1924-S	—	11,696,000	$1.50	$2.00	$3.00	$4.50	$33	$67	$100	REGULAR	CK-480
1925	—	139,949,000	$0.20	$0.30	$0.40	$0.50	$2.50	$5.50	$8.00	REGULAR	CK-481
1925-D	—	22,580,000	$0.80	$1.00	$2.00	$4.00	$17	$28	$60	REGULAR	CK-482
1925-S	—	26,380,000	$0.80	$1.00	$2.00	$3.00	$13	$28	$94	REGULAR	CK-483
1926	—	157,088,000	$0.20	$0.25	$0.30	$0.40	$1.50	$4.00	$8.00	REGULAR	CK-484
1926-D	—	28,020,000	$1.00	$1.50	$3.00	$6.00	$13	$28	$100	REGULAR	CK-485
1926-S	—	4,550,000	$8.00	$10	$13	$17	$36	$60	$175	REGULAR	CK-486
1927	—	144,440,000	$0.20	$0.25	$0.30	$0.50	$1.50	$4.00	$8.00	REGULAR	CK-487
1927-D	—	27,170,000	$1.00	$1.50	$2.00	$3.00	$6.00	$25	$53	REGULAR	CK-488
1927-S	—	14,276,000	$1.00	$1.50	$2.50	$4.00	$17	$40	$94	REGULAR	CK-489
1928	—	134,116,000	$0.20	$0.25	$0.30	$0.50	$1.50	$4.00	$8.00	REGULAR	CK-490
1928-D	—	31,170,000	$0.60	$0.80	$1.50	$2.50	$4.50	$17	$40	REGULAR	CK-491
1928-S	—	17,266,000	$0.80	$1.50	$2.00	$3.00	$8.00	$28	$80	REGULAR	CK-492
1929	—	185,262,000	$0.20	$0.25	$0.30	$0.60	$2.50	$4.00	$6.50	REGULAR	CK-493
1929-D	—	41,730,000	$0.40	$0.70	$1.00	$2.00	$5.50	$13	$25	REGULAR	CK-494
1929-S	—	50,148,000	$0.40	$0.75	$1.50	$2.00	$5.50	$13	$20	REGULAR	CK-495
1930	—	157,415,000	$0.20	$0.25	$0.30	$0.40	$1.00	$2.50	$4.50	REGULAR	CK-496
1930-D	—	40,100,000	$0.20	$0.25	$0.30	$0.45	$2.00	$3.00	$10	REGULAR	CK-497
1930-S	—	24,286,000	$0.20	$0.30	$0.50	$1.00	$1.50	$4.50	$8.00	REGULAR	CK-498
1931	—	19,396,000	$0.80	$1.00	$1.50	$2.00	$3.00	$7.00	$17	REGULAR	CK-499
1931-D	—	4,480,000	$5.50	$6.50	$7.00	$8.00	$13	$28	$48	REGULAR	CK-500
1931-S	—	866,000	$60	$67	$76	$80	$100	$116	$141	KEY	CK-501
1932	—	9,062,000	$1.50	$2.00	$2.50	$3.00	$4.50	$13	$17	REGULAR	CK-502
1932-D	—	10,500,000	$1.50	$2.00	$2.50	$3.00	$3.50	$11	$15	REGULAR	CK-503
1933	—	14,360,000	$1.50	$2.00	$2.50	$2.50	$5.50	$11	$17	REGULAR	CK-504
1933-D	—	6,200,000	$4.00	$4.50	$5.00	$6.50	$13	$17	$19	REGULAR	CK-505
1934	—	219,080,000	$0.10	$0.15	$0.15	$0.25	$0.80	$3.00	$5.50	REGULAR	CK-506
1934-D	—	28,446,000	$0.15	$0.20	$0.40	$0.60	$2.00	$6.00	$17	REGULAR	CK-507
1935	—	245,388,000	$0.10	$0.15	$0.15	$0.20	$0.40	$0.80	$2.50	REGULAR	CK-508
1935-D	—	47,000,000	$0.10	$0.15	$0.15	$0.20	$0.40	$1.50	$4.00	REGULAR	CK-509
1935-S	—	38,702,000	$0.10	$0.15	$0.20	$0.40	$1.50	$4.00	$10	REGULAR	CK-510
1936	—	309,637,569	$0.10	$0.15	$0.20	$0.40	$1.00	$2.00	$2.50	REGULAR	CK-511
1936	Doubled Die Obverse, Type 1	—	$22	$33	$60	$100	$162	$285	$400	VARIETY	CK-513
1936-D	—	40,620,000	$0.10	$0.15	$0.25	$0.40	$0.80	$1.50	$2.50	REGULAR	CK-515
1936-S	—	29,130,000	$0.10	$0.20	$0.30	$0.45	$0.80	$2.50	$4.00	REGULAR	CK-516
1937	—	309,179,320	$0.10	$0.15	$0.25	$0.40	$0.80	$1.50	$2.50	REGULAR	CK-517
1937-D	—	50,430,000	$0.10	$0.15	$0.20	$0.30	$0.80	$2.50	$4.00	REGULAR	CK-519
1937-S	—	34,500,000	$0.10	$0.15	$0.25	$0.30	$0.80	$2.50	$4.00	REGULAR	CK-520
1938	—	156,696,734	$0.10	$0.15	$0.25	$0.30	$0.80	$1.50	$3.00	REGULAR	CK-521
1938-D	—	20,010,000	$0.15	$0.25	$0.40	$0.65	$1.00	$2.50	$3.00	REGULAR	CK-523
1938-S	—	15,180,000	$0.30	$0.40	$0.50	$0.60	$0.90	$2.50	$3.00	REGULAR	CK-524
1939	—	316,479,520	$0.10	$0.15	$0.15	$0.20	$0.40	$0.80	$1.50	REGULAR	CK-525
1939-D	—	15,160,000	$0.40	$0.50	$0.50	$0.70	$1.00	$2.50	$3.00	REGULAR	CK-527
1939-S	—	52,070,000	$0.10	$0.15	$0.25	$0.60	$0.80	$2.00	$2.50	REGULAR	CK-528
1940	—	586,825,872	$0.10	$0.15	$0.15	$0.30	$0.50	$0.80	$1.50	REGULAR	CK-529
1940-D	—	81,390,000	$0.10	$0.15	$0.20	$0.50	$0.60	$1.50	$2.50	REGULAR	CK-531
1940-S	—	112,940,000	$0.10	$0.15	$0.15	$0.40	$0.80	$1.50	$2.50	REGULAR	CK-532
1941	—	887,018,000	$0.10	$0.15	$0.15	$0.25	$0.50	$1.00	$1.50	REGULAR	CK-534
1941	Doubled Die Obverse	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	VARIETY	CK-535
1941-D	—	128,700,000	$0.10	$0.15	$0.15	$0.40	$0.80	$2.50	$3.00	REGULAR	CK-536
1941-S	—	92,360,000	$0.10	$0.15	$0.25	$0.40	$0.80	$2.50	$3.00	REGULAR	CK-537
1942	—	657,796,000	$0.10	$0.15	$0.15	$0.20	$0.40	$0.60	$0.80	REGULAR	CK-538
1942-D	—	206,698,000	$0.10	$0.15	$0.15	$0.20	$0.40	$0.70	$0.80	REGULAR	CK-540
1942-S	—	85,590,000	$0.15	$0.20	$0.25	$0.70	$1.00	$4.50	$5.50	REGULAR	CK-541
1943	—	684,628,670	$0.10	$0.15	$0.25	$0.30	$0.30	$0.40	$2.00	REGULAR	CK-542
1943-D	—	217,660,000	$0.15	$0.25	$0.30	$0.30	$0.40	$0.60	$2.50	REGULAR	CK-543
1943-S	—	191,550,000	$0.20	$0.25	$0.30	$0.50	$0.60	$0.80	$4.50	REGULAR	CK-544
1944	—	1,435,400,000	—	—	$0.05	$0.10	$0.15	$0.30	$0.80	REGULAR	CK-545
1944	Steel	—	—	—	—	—	$20,110	$24,225	$40,715	KEY	CK-546
1944-D	—	430,578,000	—	—	$0.05	$0.10	$0.15	$0.30	$0.70	REGULAR	CK-547
1944-D	D/S	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	VARIETY	CK-548
1944-D	D/S D/S	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	VARIETY	CK-549
1944-S	—	282,760,000	—	—	$0.10	$0.10	$0.15	$0.30	$0.70	REGULAR	CK-550
1945	—	1,040,515,000	—	—	$0.05	$0.10	$0.15	$0.30	$0.70	REGULAR	CK-551
1945-D	—	266,268,000	—	—	$0.05	$0.10	$0.15	$0.30	$0.70	REGULAR	CK-552
1945-S	—	181,770,000	—	—	$0.10	$0.10	$0.15	$0.30	$0.70	REGULAR	CK-553
1946	—	991,655,000	—	—	$0.05	$0.10	$0.15	$0.30	$0.50	REGULAR	CK-554
1946-D	—	315,690,000	—	—	$0.05	$0.10	$0.15	$0.30	$0.50	REGULAR	CK-555
1946-S	—	198,100,000	—	—	$0.10	$0.10	$0.15	$0.30	$0.50	REGULAR	CK-556
1947	—	190,555,000	—	—	$0.05	$0.10	$0.15	$0.30	$0.80	REGULAR	CK-557
1947-D	—	194,750,000	—	—	$0.05	$0.10	$0.15	$0.30	$0.50	REGULAR	CK-558
1947-S	—	99,000,000	—	—	$0.10	$0.15	$0.20	$0.40	$0.70	REGULAR	CK-559
1948	—	317,570,000	—	—	$0.05	$0.10	$0.15	$0.30	$0.70	REGULAR	CK-560
1948-D	—	172,637,500	—	—	$0.05	$0.10	$0.15	$0.30	$0.50	REGULAR	CK-561
1948-S	—	81,735,000	—	—	$0.10	$0.15	$0.25	$0.30	$0.80	REGULAR	CK-562
1949	—	217,775,000	—	—	$0.05	$0.10	$0.15	$0.30	$0.80	REGULAR	CK-563
1949-D	—	153,132,500	—	—	$0.05	$0.10	$0.15	$0.30	$0.80	REGULAR	CK-564
1949-S	—	64,290,000	$0.05	$0.10	$0.10	$0.20	$0.25	$0.30	$1.50	REGULAR	CK-565
1950	—	272,635,500	—	—	$0.05	$0.10	$0.15	$0.30	$0.70	REGULAR	CK-566
1950-D	—	334,950,000	—	—	$0.05	$0.10	$0.15	$0.30	$0.50	REGULAR	CK-568
1950-S	—	118,505,000	—	—	$0.05	$0.10	$0.20	$0.30	$0.70	REGULAR	CK-569
1951	—	284,633,500	—	—	$0.05	$0.10	$0.20	$0.30	$0.55	REGULAR	CK-570
1951-D	—	625,355,000	—	—	$0.05	$0.10	$0.10	$0.30	$0.50	REGULAR	CK-572
1951-S	—	136,010,000	$0.05	$0.10	$0.10	$0.20	$0.25	$0.40	$0.80	REGULAR	CK-573
1952	—	186,775,000	—	—	$0.05	$0.10	$0.10	$0.30	$0.80	REGULAR	CK-574
1952-D	—	746,130,000	—	—	$0.05	$0.10	$0.10	$0.20	$0.60	REGULAR	CK-576
1952-S	—	137,800,004	—	—	$0.05	$0.10	$0.15	$0.30	$1.50	REGULAR	CK-577
1953	—	256,883,800	—	—	$0.05	$0.10	$0.10	$0.15	$0.40	REGULAR	CK-579
1953-D	—	700,515,000	—	—	$0.05	$0.10	$0.10	$0.15	$0.40	REGULAR	CK-580
1953-S	—	181,835,000	—	—	$0.05	$0.10	$0.10	$0.15	$0.50	REGULAR	CK-581
1954	—	71,873,350	$0.05	$0.10	$0.10	$0.20	$0.30	$0.35	$0.50	REGULAR	CK-582
1954-D	—	251,552,500	—	—	$0.05	$0.10	$0.10	$0.15	$0.40	REGULAR	CK-584
1954-S	—	96,190,000	—	—	$0.05	$0.10	$0.10	$0.15	$0.40	REGULAR	CK-585
1955	—	330,958,200	—	—	$0.05	$0.10	$0.10	$0.10	$0.30	REGULAR	CK-586
1955	Doubled Die Obverse	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	VARIETY	CK-588
1955-D	—	563,257,500	—	—	$0.05	$0.10	$0.10	$0.10	$0.30	REGULAR	CK-589
1955-S	—	44,610,000	—	—	$0.10	$0.15	$0.25	$0.30	$0.70	REGULAR	CK-590
1956	—	420,745,000	—	—	$0.05	$0.10	$0.10	$0.10	$0.30	REGULAR	CK-591
1956-D	—	1,098,201,100	—	—	$0.05	$0.10	$0.10	$0.10	$0.25	REGULAR	CK-593
1957	—	283,787,952	—	—	$0.05	$0.10	$0.10	$0.10	$0.25	REGULAR	CK-594
1957-D	—	1,051,342,000	—	—	$0.05	$0.10	$0.10	$0.10	$0.25	REGULAR	CK-596
1958	—	253,400,652	—	—	$0.05	$0.10	$0.10	$0.10	$0.25	REGULAR	CK-597
1958	Doubled Die Obverse	253,400,652	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	KEY	CK-599
1958-D	—	800,953,300	—	—	$0.05	$0.10	$0.10	$0.10	$0.25	REGULAR	CK-600

1909 Lincoln 1909 VDB 1909 VDB Doubled Die Obverse 1909-S 1909-S S/S Horizontal S 1909-S VDB 1910 1910-S 1911 1911-D 1911-S 1912 1912-D 1912-S 1913 1913-D 1913-S 1914 1914-D 1914-S 1915 1915-D 1915-S 1916 1916-D 1916-S 1917 1917 Doubled Die Obverse 1917-D 1917-S 1918 1918-D 1918-S 1919 1919-D 1919-S 1920 1920-D 1920-S 1921 1921-S 1922 No D Strong Reverse 1922-D 1923 1923-S 1924 1924-D 1924-S 1925 1925-D 1925-S 1926 1926-D 1926-S 1927 1927-D 1927-S 1928 1928-D 1928-S 1929 1929-D 1929-S 1930 1930-D 1930-S 1931 1931-D 1931-S 1932 1932-D 1933 1933-D 1934 1934-D 1935 1935-D 1935-S 1936 1936 Doubled Die Obverse, Type 1 1936-D 1936-S 1937 1937-D 1937-S 1938 1938-D 1938-S 1939 1939-D 1939-S 1940 1940-D 1940-S 1941 1941 Doubled Die Obverse 1941-D 1941-S 1942 1942-D 1942-S 1943 1943-D 1943-S 1944 1944 Steel 1944-D 1944-D D/S 1944-D D/S D/S 1944-S 1945 1945-D 1945-S 1946 1946-D 1946-S 1947 1947-D 1947-S 1948 1948-D 1948-S 1949 1949-D 1949-S 1950 1950-D 1950-S 1951 1951-D 1951-S 1952 1952-D 1952-S 1953 1953-D 1953-S 1954 1954-D 1954-S 1955 1955 Doubled Die Obverse 1955-D 1955-S 1956 1956-D 1957 1957-D 1958 1958 Doubled Die Obverse 1958-D

Date	Variety	Mintage	Price Guide Estimates							Classification	CK #
Date	Variety	Mintage	G (PR)	VG (PR)	F (PR)	VF (PR)	EF (PR)	AU (PR)	MS (PR)	Classification	CK #
1909	Lincoln	1,194	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	KEY	CK-424
1909	VDB	1,194	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	KEY	CK-426
1910	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	KEY	CK-433
1911	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	KEY	CK-435
1912	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	KEY	CK-440
1913	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	KEY	CK-444
1914	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	KEY	CK-448
1915	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	KEY	CK-451
1916	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	KEY	CK-456
1936	Brilliant	5,569	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	KEY	CK-512
1936	Satin	5,569	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	KEY	CK-514
1937	—	9,320	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	KEY	CK-518
1938	—	14,734	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	KEY	CK-522
1939	—	13,520	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	KEY	CK-526
1940	—	15,872	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	KEY	CK-530
1941	—	21,100	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	KEY	CK-533
1942	—	32,600	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	KEY	CK-539
1950	—	51,386	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	KEY	CK-567
1951	—	57,500	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	KEY	CK-571
1952	—	81,980	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	KEY	CK-575
1953	—	128,800	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	KEY	CK-578
1954	—	233,300	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	KEY	CK-583
1955	—	378,200	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	KEY	CK-587
1956	—	669,384	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	KEY	CK-592
1957	—	1,247,952	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	KEY	CK-595
1958	—	875,652	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	KEY	CK-598