1919 Wheat Penny Coin Value: Errors List, “D”, “S” & No Mint Mark Worth

1919 Wheat Penny value ranges from $0.01 face value to $43,200. That record belongs to a 1919-S graded MS-66 Red, sold at Heritage Auctions in January 2025. If you’re curious what yours might be worth, upload a photo of your coin below and get a quick value range. Then scroll down to see what 1919 Wheat Pennies are actually selling for on eBay right now.

 

1919 Wheat Penny Value By Variety

Mint state coins and key varieties carry the biggest premiums. 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 1919 Wheat Penny Worth Money

The $43,200 record belongs to a 1919-S MS66 Red that crossed the block at Heritage Auctions in January 2025. San Francisco’s dies were notoriously rough in 1919, so when a sharply struck coin somehow survived in full red, collectors went after it hard. That coin outpaced even higher-graded Philadelphia pieces — proof that strike quality and eye appeal can trump mintage every time.

Denver’s top coin, an MS67 Red, brought $31,200. PCGS has slabbed only *two* 1919-D coins at that grade. San Francisco? Just *six* coins at MS66 Red, with nothing higher on the population report. These are true top-pop coins, and registry set collectors drive the bidding. Color matters enormously here — RD (Red) specimens routinely sell for 300–500% more than their BN (Brown) counterparts at the same grade. The jump from MS64 to MS65 is where the money gets serious.

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

 

History of the 1919 Wheat Penny Value and Its Era

By 1919, the Lincoln cent was ten years old and finally past all the drama. Victor David Brenner’s “VDB” initials had been yanked off the reverse in 1909, then quietly restored in tiny form near Lincoln’s shoulder in 1918. The 1919 issue was the first full production year with those initials back in place.

This was post-WWI America. Soldiers were coming home, factories were switching from shells to consumer goods, and the humble cent was the coin everyone used daily. Hundreds of millions moved through cash registers and pockets, which is exactly why so few survived in nice shape.

One thing collectors forget: the Mint stopped making proof cents after 1916 and didn’t start again until 1936. That means *no genuine 1919 proof wheat pennies* exist. If someone offers you one, walk away.

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

 

Is Your 1919 Wheat Penny Rare? 1919 Wheat Penny Value Rarity Chart

Here’s what trips people up: the 1919-S had a middle-of-the-road mintage (140 million), yet it’s the hardest to find in gem condition. Bad dies at San Francisco meant most coins left the press looking soft. Denver struck the fewest (57 million), but its better die quality actually makes nice examples easier to locate than you’d guess from the mintage alone. Philadelphia made nearly 392 million — common as dirt in low grades, but try finding one in MS67 Red.

Use our Coin Value Checker APP to instantly verify current rarity assessments and make informed acquisition decisions.

 

Key Features of the 1919 Wheat Penny Value Coin

Knowing what to look for on a 1919 wheat penny helps you spot the coins worth real money. Here’s a quick tour of the design.

The Obverse of the 1919 Wheat Penny

Lincoln faces right, just like every cent since 1909. Along the top edge you’ll see IN GOD WE TRUST.

The date 1919 sits to the right, and LIBERTY appears behind Lincoln’s head on the left. Now look closely under Lincoln’s shoulder, right near the rim — you’ll find the tiny initials VDB. That’s Brenner’s mark, restored in 1918 after the famous controversy.

Branch mint coins carry a small mint mark below the date: “D” for Denver, “S” for San Francisco. No letter? That’s Philadelphia.

The Reverse of the 1919 Wheat Penny

Flip it over and you’ll see the two wheat ears that give this series its name. They frame ONE CENT and UNITED STATES OF AMERICA in the center. Along the top rim sits E PLURIBUS UNUM. Brenner designed these wheat ears to symbolize prosperity, and they stayed on Lincoln cents from 1909 all the way through 1958.

Other Features of the 1919 Wheat Penny

Philadelphia cranked out nearly 392 million pennies in 1919. That sounds like a lot — and it is — but almost all of them got spent into oblivion. Only about 90 San Francisco coins survive in MS65 or better across all color designations. Ninety coins out of 140 million. That’s a completely different kind of rare.

The Mint’s own records show a 97.33% “good coin produced” ratio for bronze cents, so genuine errors were scarce from the start. Denver’s 57 million mintage is the lowest of the three, but better strike quality means you can actually find nice 1919-D coins without too much trouble. San Francisco is the opposite story — weak dies made gem survivors almost nonexistent.

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

 

The Easy Way to Know Your 1919 Wheat Penny Value

Grade is everything. Check Lincoln’s cheek and jaw first — that’s where wear shows up earliest. Then look at the wheat stalks on the reverse. On an uncirculated coin, you shouldn’t see any smoothness or color change in those areas.

Before you spend money on professional grading, try our Coin Value Checker APP for quick error detection and condition guidance. It’ll help you figure out if your coin is worth the grading fee.

 

1919 Wheat Penny Value Guides by Mint

Three mint varieties exist for the 1919 wheat penny:

• 1919 (No Mintmark) – Philadelphia Mint production
• 1919-D – Denver Mint production
• 1919-S – San Francisco Mint production

Philadelphia’s 392 million mintage makes it the easiest to find. Denver’s 57 million is the lowest by far. San Francisco sits in the middle at 140 million but has the worst strike quality of the three. Each mint’s quirks shape both availability and price.

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

 

1919 No Mint Mark Wheat Penny Value (Philadelphia)

Most people assume a coin with a 392,021,000 mintage can’t be worth much. They’re wrong — at least at the top end. Philadelphia maintained excellent die quality throughout 1919, producing the cleanest strikes of all three mints. That mintage figure wasn’t surpassed until 1940.

The auction record sits at $18,000 for an MS68 Red, sold at Heritage Auctions in January 2019. PCGS had certified only 19 coins at that grade, with just one known higher. Another MS68 RD brought $12,000 in August 2022, and yet another hit $16,800 at Heritage in May 2023. Most remarkably, one top-certified Philadelphia 1919 cent reportedly sold for approximately $412,500 in early 2023. That’s what extreme condition rarity does to a “common” coin.

One thing to watch for on circulated examples: the VDB initials wear down fast. On lower-grade coins they’re nearly invisible, which can actually help with authentication — if you can still read them clearly, your coin is in better shape than most.

Collectors pay serious premiums when quality Philadelphia examples hit the market.

Steady monthly auction activity shows sustained demand — dealers are always sourcing nice examples of this date.

Market activity score: 79/100 as of Oct 2026 — up 28 points from Jul 2026. 12-month peak: 84 (Aug 2026).

 

1919-D Wheat Penny Value (Denver Mint)

Only 57,154,000 struck — the lowest of the three mints by a wide margin. Denver had occasional quality control issues with early wheat pennies, so strikes can be uneven. But when the dies were fresh, this mint produced some of the sharpest 1919 cents you’ll ever see. Cherrypicking pays off here.

PCGS has certified just *two* coins at MS67 Red. One of them brought $31,200 at Heritage Auctions in January 2019. At MS66, PCGS calls the 1919-D “very scarce, with less than a few dozen known.” Circulated pieces run $1–$42, while mint state coins start around $100–$500+ depending on color and grade.

When scarce Denver coins surface, bidding gets competitive fast.

This semi-key date draws consistent collector attention across multiple grade levels all year long.

Market activity score: 40/100 as of Oct 2026 — up 2 points from Jul 2026. 12-month peak: 50 (Dec 2025).

 

1919-S Wheat Penny Value (San Francisco Mint)

$43,200. That’s what a PCGS MS66 Red 1919-S brought at Heritage Auctions on January 19, 2025 — the all-time record for any 1919 Lincoln cent. And I think it was still a bargain. PCGS has certified only *six* coins at MS66 Red, with *none graded higher* on the entire population registry. Where do you go from here? There’s literally nothing better to buy.

San Francisco struck 139,760,000 coins in 1919, but the dies were terrible. PCGS CoinFacts describes “numerous poor quality dies resulting in coins with a low-quality strike.” The 1919-S “becomes scarce in MS65 grade or higher,” and “examples displaying full red surfaces are much harder to locate.” Survival estimates put roughly 90 coins at MS65 or better across all color designations. Ninety coins from a mintage of nearly 140 million — that’s a survival rate that makes your head spin.

Two repunched mint mark varieties are documented: RPM-001 (S/S South, listed in the Top 100 Lincoln Cent RPMs by CONECA) selling for $25–$100, and RPM-002 (S/S tilted). Both are attributed in Wexler’s RPM files.

When quality examples surface, the results speak for themselves.

Collector interest stays steady despite — or maybe because of — the strike quality challenges.

Market activity score: 49/100 as of Oct 2026 — up 11 points from Jul 2026. 12-month peak: 61 (Nov 2025).

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

 

Rare 1919 Wheat Penny Value Error List

Errors can turn a $1 coin into a $500 coin — but not all errors are created equal. Here’s every known 1919 wheat penny error worth money, including varieties that older guides missed:

1. 1919-D “L on Rim” Doubled-Die Obverse Wheat Penny Error

This one carries two errors on a single coin. First, the “L” in LIBERTY got punched onto the rim instead of the coin’s face — a die alignment problem unique to Denver’s 1919 run.

Second, it’s a doubled-die obverse (DDO). The die struck at slightly different angles, leaving overlapping lettering on both LIBERTY and the date. You can see it without a loupe on strong examples. Collectors pay as much as $265 for this combined variety.

2. 1919 Doubled-Die Reverse (DDR) Wheat Penny Error

This is a separate variety from the DDO above — the doubling is on the reverse die. Look for it in E PLURIBUS UNUM and in the wheat stalk lines.

Real doubled-die doubling looks rounded and raised. If it’s flat and shelf-like, that’s mechanical doubling — worthless. Grab a 5x–10x loupe and check multiple letters. Circulated examples sell for $100–$200, with nicer coins bringing more.

3. 1919-D Repunched Mint Mark (RPM-001) Error — “D/D North”

Back in 1919, mint workers hand-punched each mint mark into the working die. On RPM-001, the second “D” punch landed slightly above the first, leaving a visible shadow extending upward from the primary letter.

This is catalogued as CONECA RPM-001 and trades for $25–$75 in circulated grades. Use a loupe on the “D” below the date. Look for an extra serif, notch, or ghost image above the main letter.

4. 1919-S Repunched Mint Mark (RPM-001 and RPM-002) Error

San Francisco produced two documented RPM varieties. The RPM-001 (“S/S South”) is a big deal — it’s listed among the *Top 100 Lincoln Cent RPMs* by CONECA. The RPM-002 shows the secondary “S” at a slight tilt.

Both are cross-referenced in Wexler’s RPM files (WRPM-001 and WRPM-002). The RPM-001 typically brings $25–$100 in circulated grades, with higher-grade examples exceeding that at auction.

5. 1919 Broadstrike Wheat Penny Error

A broadstrike happens when the retaining collar isn’t in place during striking. That collar normally holds the planchet to its standard 19mm diameter. Without it, the metal spreads outward freely, producing a wider, thinner coin that still shows the complete design.

Nice broadstruck 1919 pennies sell for approximately $235. Heritage Auctions sold one graded NGC MS65 Brown for $431 back in 2006 — and that same coin would likely bring more today. Got a coin wider than 19mm with full design and smooth, irregular edges? Take a closer look.

6. 1919 Misaligned Die Wheat Penny Error

When a die sits at the wrong angle in the press, the design comes out rotated. Minor rotations (30–60 degrees) are less exciting. A full 180-degree rotation — called a “coin turn” — is the prize.

A 1919 misaligned die error can fetch up to $200. Mint state examples bring more.

7. 1919 Obverse Lamination Crack Wheat Penny Error

Lamination errors happen when impurities in the alloy cause the metal to split or peel. You’ll see voids, flakes, or cracks on the surface where layers separated.

A 1919 penny with an obverse lamination crack sells for about $110, depending on condition and how dramatic the peeling looks. Bigger laminations covering major design elements bring the best premiums.

8. 1919 Off-Center Strike Wheat Penny Error

When the planchet doesn’t seat properly in the press, the design shifts to one side. The Mint’s own 97.33% “good coin produced” ratio confirms these were genuinely rare occurrences.

A 1%–3% off-center strike? Not worth much. At 5%–10% off center, you’re looking at $10–$20+. A 50%+ off-center strike with the full date visible can reach several hundred dollars. Documented sales include a 1919-S struck 35% off-center graded MS65 Brown that sold for $432 in December 2022, and a 1919-D struck 40% off-center graded MS64 Brown that fetched $660 at Heritage Auctions in September 2019. The wildest one? A 1919 cent that got struck *three times* — with the third strike spinning the coin off-center — sold for $468 at Heritage Auctions in June 2023, graded XF-40. That’s extraordinary money for that grade.

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

 

Where to Sell Your 1919 Wheat Penny

Now that you know the value of the 1919 penny, do you know where to sell those coins online easily? Don’t worry — there’s a comprehensive resource to guide you through the best options.

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

 

1919 Wheat Penny Value Market Trend

Market interest: 34,640 collectors tracking this coin as of Oct 2026 — up 1,000 from Mar 2026. 12-month peak: 38,120 (Jan 2026).

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

 

FAQ About 1919 Wheat Penny Value

1. What is the current record price for a 1919 wheat penny?

$43,200, set on January 19, 2025 at Heritage Auctions for a 1919-S graded PCGS MS66 Red. The Philadelphia record is $18,000 (Heritage, January 2019, MS68 Red), and Denver’s is $31,200 (Heritage, January 2019, MS67 Red). One exceptional Philadelphia cent also reportedly sold for approximately $412,500 in early 2023.

2. What makes a 1919 wheat penny rare?

The coins themselves aren’t rare — three mints struck nearly 589 million of them. High-grade survivors are a different story. PCGS has certified only two 1919-D examples in MS67 Red and only six 1919-S examples in MS66 Red, with none graded higher for San Francisco. Error coins are also uncommon given the Mint’s 97.33% “good coin produced” ratio for bronze cents.

3. What is a 1919 wheat penny worth in circulated condition?

A circulated 1919 no-mint-mark penny in Good condition (G-4) starts at around $0.35 and reaches about $2–$3 in Fine. The 1919-D starts at roughly $1–$2 in Good, and the 1919-S at approximately $1–$7 depending on grade. Nothing gets exciting below Extremely Fine (EF-40).

4. What do the color designations RD, RB, and BN mean on a 1919 penny?

RD (Red) means 95%+ of the original mint color remains — that’s the money designation. RB (Red-Brown) is a mix of red and brown toning. BN (Brown) means fully oxidized to chocolate brown. A Red coin at the same grade can be worth 300–500% more than a Brown one. Color designation is a huge price driver on these.

5. Is a 1919 wheat penny made of silver?

No. It’s 95% copper and 5% tin and zinc. Weighs 3.11 grams, 19mm diameter. If your coin sticks to a magnet, you’ve got a 1943 steel cent, not a 1919 copper penny.

6. Are there any proof 1919 wheat pennies?

No. The Mint stopped making proofs after 1916 and didn’t resume until 1936. Any coin sold as a “1919 proof penny” is suspect.

7. What is the 1919-S RPM-001 and why is it valuable?

It’s a repunched mint mark variety where the “S” was punched twice, with the secondary impression appearing below the primary (catalogued as “S/S South”). It earned a spot on CONECA’s *Top 100 Lincoln Cent RPM varieties* list — that’s a big deal in the hobby. Circulated examples sell for $25–$100.

8. How can I tell if my 1919 penny has a repunched mint mark (RPM)?

Grab a 5x–10x loupe and focus on the mint mark below the date. For the 1919-D RPM-001, look for a notch, shadow, or extra serif above the main “D.” For 1919-S RPM-001, check for traces of a secondary “S” below the primary mark; for RPM-002, the secondary “S” appears tilted. Always cross-reference with CONECA attribution images or Wexler’s WRPM files before calling it confirmed.

9. What is the 1919 wheat penny made of?

Copper (95%) and an alloy of zinc and tin (5%). That composition held until 1943’s zinc-plated steel cents. In the 1980s it changed again to the copper-plated zinc we still use today.

10. Should I clean my 1919 wheat penny before selling it?

Never. Cleaning destroys original surfaces and luster permanently. PCGS and NGC will flag a cleaned coin as “Details” grade, cutting its value by 50% to 90%. Even a brown, beat-up 1919 penny in original condition is worth more than a polished one. We can’t stress this enough — put down the polish.