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1958

Small Cents · Lincoln Wheat Cents · 1909–1958
Regular
Weight3.11 g
Diameter19 mm
MintPhiladelphia
StrikeCirculation strike
Mintage 253,400,652 Combined mintage for all 1958 Philadelphia varieties
EdgePlain
Alignment↑↓ Coin
Composition95% Copper, 5% Tin & Zinc
DesignerVictor D. Brenner
Collector's Key IDCK-597

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About this coinHistory

The 1958 Lincoln cent from Philadelphia is the final regular-issue Wheat cent. After 1958, the reverse would change to Frank Gasparro's Lincoln Memorial design. The Wheat reverse, introduced by Victor David Brenner in 1909, had been on the cent for fifty years. The two wheat stalks framing ONE CENT were as familiar as any design element in American coinage. The 1958 is common (over 253 million struck), but its status as the last Wheat cent gives it sentimental value that transcends its market price.

For collectors, the 1958 is the endpoint. Every Wheat cent collection ends here. The coin that Lincoln's centennial had inaugurated in 1909 was retired on the sesquicentennial of his birth in 1959 (when the Memorial reverse appeared). A 1909 VDB and a 1958 Philadelphia cent, placed side by side, bracket half a century of American history on a one-cent coin.

Price guideReference

Reference data only — not an appraisal.

GradeDescriptionLowHigh
G-4 Good (G)
VG-8 Very Good (VG)
F-12 Fine (F) $0.05 $0.05
VF-20 Very Fine (VF) $0.10 $0.10
EF-40 Extremely Fine (EF) $0.10 $0.10
AU-50 About Uncirculated (AU) $0.10 $0.15
MS-60 Uncirculated (MS) $0.25 $0.25
MS-63 Choice Uncirculated (MS) $1 $1
Frequently Asked QuestionsFAQ
How much is a 1958 Lincoln Wheat Cent worth?
In Fine condition it runs about $0.05, rising to roughly $0.25 in Uncirculated. These are reference values, not an appraisal.
How many 1958 Lincoln Wheat Cents were minted?
253,400,652 were struck (Combined mintage for all 1958 Philadelphia varieties).
What is a 1958 Lincoln Wheat Cent made of?
95% Copper, 5% Tin & Zinc, weighing 3.11 g.
What is the melt value of a 1958 Lincoln Wheat Cent?
Its melt value is its metal content multiplied by the current spot price. See our melt calculator on the metals pages for a live figure.
Is the 1958 Lincoln Wheat Cent a key date?
It's a more common date overall, though scarcer die varieties may carry a premium — see the varieties list.