1911 Wheat Penny Coin Value: Errors List, “D”, “S” & No Mint Mark Worth

1911 Wheat Penny value can surprise you — most trade for a few dollars, but a 1911-D graded MS-67 Red brought $66,000 at Heritage Auctions back in August 2022. That kind of spread makes it worth taking a closer look at what you’ve got. Upload a photo of yours below and get a quick value range, then scroll down to see what similar coins are actually selling for on eBay right now.

 

1911 Wheat Penny Value By Variety

Here’s how the four 1911 varieties stack up across conditions. If you already know your coin’s grade, jump to the Value Guides section for exact pricing.

Also Read: Top 100 Most Valuable Modern Pennies Worth Money (1959 – Present)

 

Top 10 Most Valuable 1911 Wheat Penny Worth Money

The king of the 1911 series is a 1911-D MS67 RD that hammered for $66,000 at Heritage Auctions in August 2022. Denver and San Francisco coins own every top slot at gem grades. Philadelphia pieces only show up in premium MS66+ positions — there are just so many more survivors that you need perfect color to compete.

The big takeaway from this list? Color designation crushes raw grade in this series. A 1911 Philadelphia MS68 Red can top $110,000. That same grade in Brown barely touches $500. That’s a 220-to-1 gap, and it’s all about whether the original copper color survived.

Also Read: Lincoln Wheat Penny Value (1909-1958)

 

History of the 1911 Wheat Penny

By 1911, Victor David Brenner’s Lincoln cent was in its third year — still a novelty as the first U.S. coin to put a real president’s portrait on a regular-issue piece. That move in 1909 broke a tradition going back to George Washington, who thought putting his face on money was too king-like.

1911 was a wild year politically. President Taft watched the Supreme Court break up Standard Oil, and Progressive Republicans were already plotting the party split that would blow up in 1912. Against that backdrop, three mints were cranking out pennies that collectors still chase hard today.

The headline for 1911 numismatics: Denver struck its very first Lincoln cent. According to CoinWeek, the first 1911-D examples rolled off the press on May 20, 1911, using dies shipped from Philadelphia. Denver produced 12,672,000 cents that year — nearly triple San Francisco’s output, but a drop in the bucket compared to Philly’s 101 million-plus.

According to Stack’s Bowers Galleries, coinage of cents at Denver began in 1911, marking the facility’s entry into minor coin production. That “first year” status is a permanent demand driver. Every Lincoln set builder needs a 1911-D to represent Denver’s debut.

Also Read: Top 100 Rarest Pennies Worth Money (1787 – Present)

 

Is Your 1911 Wheat Penny Rare?

You can instantly check any coin’s current rarity assessment using our Coin Value Checker APP to make informed collecting decisions.

 

Key Features of the 1911 Wheat Penny

Victor David Brenner designed the Lincoln cent — the first American coin to carry a real person’s portrait in regular circulation. The two wheat stalks on the reverse gave these coins their nickname. The Mint struck them from 1909 through 1958 before swapping in the Lincoln Memorial reverse.

One thing to watch for on 1911: there are no VDB initials on Lincoln’s shoulder. Brenner’s initials were yanked after 1909 because the public thought they were too prominent. They didn’t come back until 1918. Any 1911 cent showing VDB is either a fantasy piece or has been altered.

The Obverse of the 1911 Wheat Penny

Lincoln’s right-facing portrait dominates the obverse, reaching almost to the lower rim. Three inscriptions surround it: IN GOD WE TRUST arches above, LIBERTY sits to Lincoln’s left, and the date 1911 appears to his right.

Branch mint coins have a small letter right below the date — D for Denver, S for San Francisco. Philadelphia coins carry no mint mark, which was standard practice back then. Quick grading tip from CoinStudy.com: check the separation between Lincoln’s bow tie and his shirt collar. That detail wears away first and gives you a fast read on condition.

The Reverse of the 1911 Wheat Penny

Flip it over and you’ll see two wheat ears framing the rim. E PLURIBUS UNUM (“Out of many, one”) arches above, with UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and ONE CENT in the center. This reverse design ran unchanged from 1909 to 1958.

Other Features of the 1911 Wheat Penny

Philadelphia pumped out over 101 million cents. San Francisco made just 4,026,000. That makes the 1911-S roughly 25 times scarcer by original mintage alone. But after 110-plus years of pocket wear, cleaning, and loss, the gap in high-quality survivors is even wider.

PCGS CoinFacts reports that approximately 400 total 1911 Matte Proof Lincoln cents have been graded across all conditions combined — most in PR64, fewer in PR65, under 100 in PR66, and only a handful in PR67. To put that in perspective, you could seat every known graded proof in a single row of a small movie theater. That’s genuinely scarce for the early Lincoln series.

Also Read: 100 Most Valuable Indian Head Penny Coins Worth Money (1859 – 1909)

 

The Easy Way to Know Your 1911 Wheat Penny Value

Grab a 5x–10x loupe and some good natural light. Start with the surfaces — any signs of wiping, cleaning, or rim dings will hurt value right away. Then check Lincoln’s hair above the forehead. In Good condition it’ll be nearly flat. Uncirculated coins show every strand with zero wear.

The 1911-D is tricky. PCGS notes this issue is “extremely difficult to locate in grades above MS65 RD” because Denver was using worn dies and producing weak strikes. Even a slabbed MS65 can look underwhelming if the strike is soft. Well-struck 1911-D examples in high grades pull dramatic premiums beyond what the number on the holder suggests.

I’d recommend third-party certification from PCGS or NGC for any 1911 cent you think is worth $100 or more. A slab gives you an authenticated grade, color designation, and variety attribution — all of which directly affect what buyers will pay.

When uncertain about authenticity or grade, utilize our Coin Value Checker APP for instant professional evaluation and market positioning.

 

1911 Wheat Penny Value Guides

1911 Wheat Penny Varieties:

• 1911 No Mint Mark (Philadelphia)
• 1911-D (Denver)
• 1911-S (San Francisco)
• 1911 Proof

Each variety follows its own value curve based on mintage, strike quality, and color preservation. The sections below cover all three color designations — BN (Brown), RB (Red-Brown), and RD (Red) — because these labels from PCGS and NGC graders can swing a coin’s value by hundreds or thousands of dollars. BN means most original copper color is gone. RB means some red luster remains alongside brown toning. RD means 95% or more of the original red is still there.

Also Read: Value Of Old Pennies By Year (1959-Present)

 

1911 No Mint Mark Wheat Penny Value

With over 101 million struck, the 1911 Philadelphia penny is the easiest and cheapest way into early Lincoln cent collecting. Worn examples typically run $1–$5. No surprises there.

But here’s where it gets interesting. In top Mint State grades, the color premium is staggering. Red MS68 specimens have reached over $110,000. Red-Brown tops out around $500. Brown coins rarely crack $500 no matter the grade. That 220-to-1 ratio between Red and Brown at the highest levels makes this the most color-sensitive variety of the year. PCGS’s all-time auction record for the 1911 Philadelphia cent is $21,850 for an MS67 example sold at Heritage Auctions on September 27, 2007.

This auction records table shows recent sales performance for 1911 wheat pennies across different platforms and grades.

The market activity chart displays monthly collector engagement levels throughout the past year.

Market activity score: 46/100 as of Oct 2026 — up 8 points from Jul 2026. 12-month peak: 57 (Dec 2025).

 

1911-D Wheat Penny Value

Did you know the 1911-D was Denver’s very first Lincoln cent? According to CoinWeek, the first pieces were struck on May 20, 1911, using dies shipped from Philadelphia. Only 12,672,000 were made, and weak strikes plagued Denver’s early cent production. High-grade survivors are genuinely hard to find.

PCGS explicitly states this issue is “extremely difficult to locate in grades above MS65 RD.” The auction record backs that up: a PCGS MS67 RD sold for $66,000 at Heritage Auctions in August 2022 — the highest price for any 1911 cent. Red specimens in MS68 have reached $55,200, while Red-Brown peaks around $1,280 and Brown around $1,190.

Watch out for altered dates. A 1941-D with the “4” partially scraped away can look like a 1911-D at first glance. Always check that the digit spacing is even before you buy.

Bidding wars frequently emerge when collectors discover well-struck examples.

Market activity spikes whenever quality specimens surface at major houses.

Market activity score: 40/100 as of Oct 2026 — up 2 points from Jul 2026. 12-month peak: 57 (Dec 2025).

 

1911-S Wheat Penny Value

At just 4,026,000 struck, the 1911-S has the sixth-lowest mintage in the entire 49-year Wheat Penny series. Even heavily worn examples pull $17–$38. This coin commands a premium in every grade, not just Mint State.

San Francisco generally turned out better-struck cents than Denver did in 1911. The real problem is color. Full red survivors are exceptionally tough to track down, and the PCGS all-time auction record of $27,600 for an MS66 example sold at Heritage Auctions in May 2007 shows what collectors will pay for one. Same warning as the D: removing part of the “4” from a 1944-S is a known counterfeit trick. Check for even digit spacing on any 1911-S you’re considering.

Premium specimens consistently attract fierce competition among major collectors.

Interest has surged dramatically since early 2025, reflecting broader wheat penny market momentum.

Market activity score: 40/100 as of Oct 2026 — down 3 points from Jul 2026. 12-month peak: 64 (Nov 2025).

 

1911 Proof Wheat Penny Value

If you’re expecting a mirror-bright proof, think again. The 1911 is a Matte Proof — part of the style used for Lincoln cents from 1909 through 1916. The surfaces are satiny and subdued, not reflective. Look for a sharper-than-normal strike and squarer rims to tell a proof from a business strike.

Mintage is recorded at approximately 1,725 pieces, though some sources cite figures up to 2,411. According to PCGS CoinFacts, approximately 400 total 1911 Matte Proof Lincoln cents have been graded at PCGS across all grades combined — most in PR64, fewer in PR65, under 100 in PR66, and only a handful in PR67. Q. David Bowers, the celebrated numismatic author, categorized surviving examples into two unofficial sub-varieties based on degree of satin surface appearance. Recent auction results tell the story: a PR-67 RD specimen achieved $6,600 in July 2023, while Brown examples at PR-66+ have reached $5,760 at Heritage Auctions.

Top-grade examples regularly push into five figures at auction.

Collector enthusiasm peaked dramatically in early 2025 before moderating through summer months.

Market activity score: 38/100 as of Oct 2026 — unchanged since Jul 2026. 12-month peak: 61 (Dec 2025).

Also Read: Top 100 Most Valuable Modern Pennies Worth Money (1959 – Present)

 

Rare 1911 Wheat Penny Error List

Beyond the four standard varieties, 1911 wheat pennies have several documented minting errors that can add serious value. The two most cataloged are Repunched Mint Mark (RPM) errors — where the mint mark letter was hand-punched into the working die more than once at slightly different positions, leaving visible overlapping impressions under magnification.

1. 1911-D/D RPM Error (FS-501 to FS-504)

At least four distinct repunched mintmark varieties exist from Denver’s first year of Lincoln cent production, cataloged as FS-501 through FS-504. Back then, mint workers punched each mint mark by hand into every working die. That manual process wasn’t replaced by automated hub-punching until 1990. Mistakes were inevitable.

On genuine FS-502 and related examples, you can see both the original and repositioned “D” impressions under 10x magnification — the mint mark looks doubled or offset. These RPM specimens combine the 1911-D’s semi-key status with a documented error premium. Always check for this when cherrypicking 1911-D examples. It can bump the value well above the base coin.

2. 1911-S/S RPM FS-501 Error

Only 13 examples certified. That’s it. The 1911-S/S RPM FS-501 is one of the scarcest repunched mintmark varieties in the early Lincoln series, spanning MS62+ through MS65. A San Francisco Mint worker punched the “S” off-target, then repositioned and struck it again, leaving overlapping impressions visible at 10x.

Auction results confirm the demand: MS64 specimens (7 known) have realized $800–$875, while MS65 examples (only 2 certified) have commanded $960–$1,320. With this variety sitting on top of the already-scarce 1911-S base coin, authentication is critical. Genuine pieces show a characteristic double-impression “S” under magnification — completely different from an added or altered mint mark.

3. Other 1911 Wheat Penny Errors to Watch For

Beyond the cataloged RPMs, keep your eyes open for a few other error types on any 1911 cent you examine. Off-center strikes are the most dramatic visually. A wheat penny struck 10%–15% off-center is worth $20 or more. Push that to 40%–60% off-center with the date still showing and you’re looking at $200+.

Clipped planchets happen when the blank-cutting punch overlapped a previously punched area, leaving a curved bite out of the edge. These sell for $15–$150 depending on clip size. Die clashes — where obverse and reverse dies smacked each other with no planchet in between — leave ghost impressions of the opposite design. Minor clashes bring $2–$8; strong ones can reach $50 or more. Any of these errors on a 1911-D or 1911-S base coin carries a compounded premium from both the underlying rarity and the error designation.

Also Read: 42 Rare Penny Errors List with Pictures (By Year)

 

Where to Sell Your 1911 Wheat Penny

The 1911 wheat penny series offers collectors a unique blend of historical significance and investment potential across all budget levels. Online platforms offer convenience and competitive prices, but each has its quirks.

Check out now: Best Places To Sell Coins Online (Pros & Cons)

 

1911 Wheat Penny Market Trend

Market interest: 7,200 collectors tracking this coin as of Oct 2026 — up 1,000 from Mar 2026. Currently at its 12-month peak.

*Market Trend Chart showing the number of people paying attention to this coin.

 

FAQ About 1911 Wheat Penny Value

1. What makes a 1911 Wheat Penny rare?

The 1911-S has the sixth-lowest mintage in the entire Wheat Penny series at only 4,026,000 coins. The 1911-D is Denver’s first-ever Lincoln cent, struck from May 20, 1911 onward. Both branch mint issues often have weak strikes, and color preservation is the real value driver — full red specimens can be worth 50–100 times more than brown examples at the same numerical grade.

2. How much is the 1911 No Mint Mark Wheat Penny worth?

It depends on grade and color. Brown circulated examples trade for $1–$13. Red-Brown specimens range from $30 to $400. Red examples climb from roughly $100 in lower uncirculated grades to over $6,600 in MS67. At the top — MS68 Red — the PCGS auction record is $21,850 at Heritage Auctions, with current price guide estimates at $75,000–$110,000.

3. How do I tell if my 1911 penny is the Denver or San Francisco variety?

Look directly below the date on the front of the coin. A small “D” means Denver. A small “S” means San Francisco. No letter means Philadelphia. Use at least a 5x loupe. Watch for altered dates — a 1941-D or 1944-S with part of the “4” removed can mimic a 1911 branch mint coin. Always verify even digit spacing.

4. What is the 1911 Wheat Penny color designation and why does it matter?

PCGS and NGC assign one of three color designations to copper coins: BN (Brown) means most original color is gone; RB (Red-Brown) means partial red luster remains; RD (Red) means 95%+ of the original copper color is preserved. For 1911 cents, color makes a bigger value difference than almost anything else — a 1911 Philadelphia MS68 RD is worth roughly 220 times more than the same coin designated BN.

5. What is the most valuable 1911 Wheat Penny ever sold?

A 1911-D MS67 Red graded by PCGS sold for $66,000 at Heritage Auctions on August 28, 2022. The Philadelphia variety’s auction record is $21,850 for an MS67 sold at Heritage in September 2007, and the 1911-S record stands at $27,600 for an MS66 sold at Heritage Auctions in May 2007.

6. What is the 1911 Proof Penny worth, and how is it different from a regular coin?

The 1911 Proof is a Matte Proof with a satiny, non-reflective finish — nothing like modern mirror proofs. Only about 1,725 were made. PCGS has graded approximately 400 total across all grades combined, with fewer than 100 surviving in PR66 and only a handful in PR67. Values range from roughly $300–$500 for lower proof grades up to $5,760 for PR66+ Brown and $6,600 for PR67 Red, based on recent Heritage Auctions results.

7. Are there any 1911 Wheat Penny errors worth money?

Absolutely. The best-documented errors are Repunched Mint Mark (RPM) varieties on both the D and S coins. The 1911-D/D RPM comes in at least four catalog varieties (FS-501 through FS-504), while the 1911-S/S RPM FS-501 has only 13 certified examples with MS65 specimens selling for $960–$1,320. Off-center strikes (worth $20–$200+), clipped planchets ($15–$150), and die clash errors ($2–$50+) also show up on 1911 cents.

8. What penny is the most expensive in the Wheat Penny series overall?

The 1943-D bronze cent — struck by mistake on a copper planchet during wartime steel coinage. An MS64 Brown example sold for $840,000 at Heritage Auctions in 2021. The 1944-S steel cent (wrong metal, opposite direction) reached $408,000 that same year. For proofs, a 1909 VDB PR67+ changed hands for $258,500 in 2014.

9. Should I clean my 1911 Wheat Penny before selling it?

Never. Cleaning destroys the original surface, and graders spot it immediately. A cleaned 1911 penny loses its color designation and any premium it carried. Even a gentle water rinse can leave hairline scratches under magnification. Store your coins in inert Mylar flips or acid-free holders instead.

10. What grade should I target when buying a 1911 Wheat Penny for a collection?

Depends on your budget. For a complete Lincoln Wheat set without breaking the bank, aim for Fine to Very Fine (F12–VF35) — clear design details, still affordable. For investment-oriented collecting, we think the MS64–MS65 range offers the best value. These coins show no wear but sit below the exponential price jumps that start at MS66. In all cases, prioritize the best original color (RB or RD) you can afford. Color designation has more impact on long-term value than a single grade point.