1917 Lincoln Wheat Cent Value Guide

The 1917 Lincoln Wheat Cent is a significant early issue in the series, minted just eight years after the design's historic 1909 debut. As one of the first regular US coins to feature a real person, this bronze cent represents a pivotal shift in American numismatic history.

What affects the value of 1917 Lincoln Wheat Cent?

• The presence of a mint mark, with San Francisco (S) and Denver (D) issues often carrying higher premiums.
• Overall strike quality and the amount of wear on Lincoln's cheek and the wheat lines.
• The preservation of original red luster versus brown oxidation common in circulated copper coins.
• The absence of environmental damage, such as corrosion or heavy scratching, which significantly lowers the $3-$6 base value.

How to Identify 1917 Lincoln Wheat Cent?

• Verify the 1917 date located on the lower right side of the obverse below the 'In God We Trust' motto.
• Check the reverse for the two stalks of wheat flanking the words 'ONE CENT' and 'UNITED STATES OF AMERICA'.
• Confirm the composition is the original bronze alloy consisting of copper, tin, and zinc.
• Look for the 'S' or 'D' mint mark below the date, or no mark for the Philadelphia mint.

History of 1917 Lincoln Wheat Cent

The Lincoln cent, first minted in 1909 to celebrate the centenary of Abraham Lincoln's birth, was a groundbreaking coin as the first regular US issue to feature a portrait of an actual person. Designed by Victor David Brenner, the coin's initial reverse featured two stalks of wheat, leading to its popular nickname, the 'Wheat Penny.' The 1917 issue is part of the early bronze composition years of this long-running series, preceding the composition changes during the World War years.