1929 Wheat Penny Value Checker: Errors List, “D”, “S” & No Mint Mark Worth

1929 Wheat Penny value ranges from $0.01 face value to $36,000. That record belongs to a 1929-S graded MS67 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 real buyers are paying for 1929 Wheat Pennies on eBay right now.

 

1929 Wheat Penny Value By Variety

If you already know your coin’s grade, jump straight to the **Value Guides** section below for exact pricing by mint mark and color.

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

 

Top 10 Most Valuable 1929 Wheat Penny Worth Money

San Francisco coins own the top of this list. That shouldn’t surprise anyone who’s tried to find a 1929-S in full Red at MS66 or better.

The $36,000 sale — a 1929-S MS67 Red at Heritage Auctions in January 2025 — set the all-time record for any 1929 Lincoln cent. It’s the only example ever graded that high. Fifty million were struck, and exactly one survived in MS67 Red. That’s condition rarity at its most extreme.

Denver holds its own, too. An MS66+ Red 1929-D hit $11,400 at Heritage in January 2025, blowing past the old record of $5,290 for an MS66 Red back in 2004. Twenty years of market appreciation packed into one coin.

One grading point can multiply the price by ten. That pattern holds across all three mints.

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

 

History Of The 1929 Wheat Penny

The 1929 penny was struck during the last gasp of the Roaring Twenties. The Dow peaked on September 3, 1929. Less than two months later, Black Tuesday wiped it all out.

According to PCGS CoinFacts, Lincoln cent production that year hit levels not seen since 1919–1920 — a sign of just how confident the economy felt before the crash. The U.S. Mint produced 277,140,000 pennies across three facilities. No proofs were made; the Mint had suspended proof production from 1916 to 1936.

Philadelphia struck roughly 185,262,000 — about two-thirds of the total — without mint marks. Denver contributed 41,730,000 with the “D” mark, the lowest output of the three. San Francisco added about 50,148,000 bearing the “S.”

All 1929 cents used the standard 95% copper, 5% tin and zinc composition. Victor David Brenner’s Lincoln portrait, commissioned by Theodore Roosevelt for Lincoln’s centennial in 1909, remained unchanged. Brenner’s “VDB” initials — removed from the first 1909 issues after public backlash, then quietly restored in tiny letters below Lincoln’s shoulder in 1918 — appear on every 1929 example.

Here’s a fun detail: most of these pennies went straight into Depression-era pockets and stayed there. They circulated hard for years, which is exactly why gem survivors are so tough to find today.

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

 

Is Your 1929 Wheat Penny Rare?

Determine the precise rarity classification and current market status for your wheat penny variety with our Coin Identifier and Value App‘s detailed wheat cent analysis.

 

Key Features of The 1929 Wheat Penny

Knowing what to look for on a 1929 penny helps you spot fakes, judge condition, and — most importantly — figure out the color designation. Color is the single biggest price driver for uncirculated examples.

The Obverse Of The 1929 Wheat Penny

Flip it to heads. You’ll see Lincoln’s right-facing portrait taking up most of the coin — Victor David Brenner’s design honoring Lincoln’s 100th birthday. This broke a long tradition of using allegorical Liberty figures on U.S. coinage.

IN GOD WE TRUST runs along the top rim. LIBERTY sits to the left, behind Lincoln’s back. The date is on the right. Look just below the date for the mint mark: “S” for San Francisco, “D” for Denver. No letter? That’s Philadelphia.

The Reverse of The 1929 Wheat Penny

Flip it over. Two durum wheat stalks frame the reverse — that’s where the “Wheat Penny” nickname comes from. ONE CENT is centered between them, with UNITED STATES OF AMERICA below.

E PLURIBUS UNUM arches across the top rim. When you’re grading, look closely at the individual wheat stalk lines. Any flattening there means wear, and wear means a lower grade.

Other Features Of The 1929 Wheat Penny

The 1929 wheat penny measures 19.00 millimeters in diameter and weighs 3.11 grams. Composition is 95% copper, 5% tin and zinc — the same formula used from 1909 through 1982, except for the 1943 steel cents. The edge is plain (smooth).

For color designation, PCGS and NGC use three tiers: Red (RD) means 95% or more original mint copper color remains. Red-Brown (RB) means between 5% and 95% red survives. Brown (BN) means less than 5% original color is left. Red always commands the highest prices. Always.

Also Read: 100 Most Valuable Wheat Pennies Worth Money (1909 to 1958)

 

1929 Wheat Penny Mintage & Survival Data

Philadelphia struck over 185 million. Denver made about 41.7 million. San Francisco added 50 million. Grand total: over 277 million pennies.

Now here’s the shocking part. Out of Philadelphia’s 185,262,000 coins, only about 5,600 are known to survive in any grade. That’s a 0.003% survival rate. Denver fares slightly better at roughly 0.0053%. Put another way — for every 33,000 Philly pennies struck, one exists today.

The Depression destroyed these coins. People spent them, re-spent them, and never thought to save them. For the 1929-S specifically, PCGS CoinFacts reports only about 600 examples in MS65 Red, roughly 100 in MS66, and none confirmed at MS67 or above — until that lone $36,000 specimen surfaced in 2025.

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

 

The Easy Way to Know Your 1929 Wheat Penny Value

Your 1929 penny could be worth 35 cents or several thousand dollars. Mint mark and color designation matter most after grade.

Check Lincoln’s hair detail above and behind the ear. Look at the wheat stalk sharpness. Then assess the color — Red, Red-Brown, or Brown. The 1929-D and 1929-S both tend toward weaker strikes on average, so sharply struck examples carry extra premiums.

For a quick, accurate assessment, use our Coin Identifier and Value App to get a grade and current market value instantly.

 

1929 Wheat Penny Value Guides

Three mints, three different collecting stories. Here’s what each variety looks like in today’s market.

1929 Wheat Penny Types:

• 1929 No Mint Mark Wheat Penny (Philadelphia)
• 1929-D Wheat Penny (Denver)
• 1929-S Wheat Penny (San Francisco)

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

 

1929 No Mint Mark Wheat Penny Value

Most common of the three — but “common” is relative. With 185,262,000 struck, you’d think nice ones would be everywhere. They’re not. Depression-era circulation chewed through the vast majority.

The good news: PCGS CoinFacts notes that Philadelphia strikes from 1929 generally came well-struck with strong luster and good eye appeal. That makes this the easiest of the three mints to find in attractive condition.

Color designation drives the pricing. Brown MS65 examples run about $55, and MS66 Brown sits around $100. Red-Brown coins push to roughly $250 at MS66. Full Red specimens — 95% or more original copper luster — are where the real money is. In circulated grades, a Good-4 runs $0.15 to $0.35, and an Extremely Fine-40 brings $3 to $5. The all-time record is $5,581.25 for an MS67+ Red sold through Heritage Auctions in April 2014. Population data at MS67 is thin, so I wouldn’t expect that record to fall anytime soon.

Recent auction results show steady collector demand for premium examples.

The Philadelphia variety sees consistent market activity.

 

1929-D Wheat Penny Value

At 41,730,000 struck, this is the lowest mintage of the three 1929 varieties. That alone gets collectors’ attention. But here’s the real tip: Denver cents from this era are notorious for weaker strikes. If you’re cherrypicking at shows or online, a sharply struck 1929-D commands a meaningful premium over a mushy one.

Worn examples trade for modest money — $0.35 to $1 in Good, up to $20 in Extremely Fine. Uncirculated Red coins at MS65 bring $150 or more, and MS66 examples push past $400.

The January 2025 Heritage sale of an MS66+ Red at $11,400 shattered the previous record of $5,290 for an MS66 Red set back in 2004. There’s also a known Doubled Die Obverse variety showing doubling in IN GOD WE TRUST — those trade in the $50–$100 range depending on strike and grade.

Auction records confirm the sustained premium this low-mintage variety commands.

Collector interest stays strong, especially for condition-sensitive pieces.

 

1929-S Wheat Penny Value

How does a coin with 50,148,000 mintage become the toughest of the three to collect in high grade? Bad dies. San Francisco’s dies were heavily eroded, and most survivors show it. Sharply struck examples are genuinely hard to find.

PCGS CoinFacts confirms only about 600 examples in MS65 Red, approximately 100 in MS66 Red, and zero certified at MS67 or higher — until that lone specimen broke through in January 2025 for $36,000 at Heritage Auctions. Before that, an MS66+ Red brought $18,600 in 2022, and another MS66+ Red hit $14,400 in January 2019. All Heritage sales.

Circulated pieces are affordable. A Good-4 runs $0.50–$1.10, and Extremely Fine-40 brings $8–$15. But if you’re building a Red set, we think the 1929-S is clearly the hardest coin in the entire 1929 date-and-mintmark group.

Top-grade examples have brought serious money at major auctions.

Market activity runs hot for this variety, especially in Red designations.

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

 

Rare 1929 Wheat Penny Error List

Not all errors are created equal. Some add real money. Others add nothing. Here’s what to actually look for on your 1929 cents.

1. 1929-S/S RPM FS-501 Error

This is a Repunched Mint Mark variety. Before 1990, mint workers hand-punched each mint mark into individual working dies. Sometimes the punch landed twice at slightly different angles, leaving overlapping impressions. That’s what happened here — two “S” impressions, slightly offset.

The “FS-501” designation comes from the Fivaz-Stanton Cherrypickers’ Guide to Rare Die Varieties, the go-to reference for Lincoln cent varieties. You’ll need at least 10x magnification to see the separation between the primary and secondary “S.”

The PCGS auction record is $3,565 for an MS65 example sold by Bowers & Merena on June 17, 2010 — and it’s held for over a decade. An MS64 Brown brought $295 in January 2019. Circulated pieces typically trade in the $45–$90 range depending on how visible the repunching is.

2. 1929 Doubled Die Obverse (DDO)

A DDO happens when the hub strikes a working die twice at slightly different angles. Every coin from that die shows doubled design elements. Don’t confuse this with machine doubling — that flat, shelf-like effect is worthless. Genuine DDOs show rounded, clearly separated doubling.

All three 1929 mints have known DDO varieties. The 1929-D DDO is the most valuable, with doubling visible in IN GOD WE TRUST — those trade for $50–$100 in circulated grades. The 1929-S DDO shows doubling in the date and LIBERTY, worth $25–$75 depending on strength. Philadelphia DDOs are the most common, typically $10–$50 circulated. Grab a 10x loupe and compare against published images in the Cherrypickers’ Guide before you get too excited.

3. 1929 Off-Center Strike Error

These happen when the planchet isn’t centered between the dies during striking. Part of the design gets cut off, and you see blank metal on the opposite edge. Minor shifts of 1%–5% don’t add much value.

Once you hit 10%–20% off-center, values jump to $50 or more. At 25%–50% off-center with the full date still visible, you’re looking at $100–$500. The sweet spot is 50%+ off-center with a readable date — the date is everything for attribution and buyer appeal.

4. 1929 BIE Die Crack Error

This is a collector favorite. A die crack develops between the “B” and “E” of LIBERTY, raising a vertical line that looks like the letter “I” — so the coin appears to read “LIBIERTY.” Die cracks form as the steel die fractures from repeated use, and the coin’s metal fills those cracks during striking.

Over 1,500 BIE varieties are documented across the full wheat cent series. Known 1929 examples are relatively scarce. Values typically run $5–$15, with dramatic die breaks pulling more from specialists who collect these as a niche.

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

 

Where to Sell Your 1929 Wheat Penny?

To ensure you receive top dollar for your valuable 1929 wheat penny, explore our comprehensive comparison of today’s most trusted selling venues.

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

 

1929 Wheat Penny Market Trend

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

 

FAQ About The 1929 Wheat Penny

1. How Rare Is A 1929 Wheat Penny?

In circulated grades? Not rare at all. Over 277 million were struck, and you can find worn examples for under $1. Gem Mint State Red is a completely different story. The 1929-S in MS66 Red has only about 100 PCGS-certified examples, and the single MS67 Red that sold for $36,000 in 2025 is the only one known at that grade.

2. What Makes A 1929 Wheat Penny Valuable?

Four things: mint mark (D and S beat Philadelphia), grade (MS60 and above), color designation (Red > Red-Brown > Brown), and errors (RPM, DDO, off-center). A beat-up Philly example might be worth $0.35. An MS67+ Red of the same coin sold for $5,581 at Heritage Auctions in 2014.

3. How Much Does A 1929 Wheat Penny Weigh?

Exactly 3.11 grams. Diameter is 19.00 millimeters (about 0.75 inches), thickness is 1.55 millimeters, and the edge is plain. If your coin doesn’t match these specs, you might have a counterfeit or altered piece.

4. What Is The Difference Between A 1929 Red, Red-Brown, And Brown Penny?

These are official PCGS and NGC color designations for uncirculated copper coins. Red (RD) means 95%+ original bright copper luster — highest prices. Red-Brown (RB) means 5%–95% red survives. Brown (BN) means less than 5% original color remains. In MS65, a 1929-S Red is worth dramatically more than the same coin in Brown. Color designation matters enormously when buying or selling.

5. Which 1929 Wheat Penny Is Worth The Most?

The 1929-S owns every top record. The all-time high is $36,000 for a PCGS MS67 Red at Heritage Auctions in January 2025 — the first and only 1929-S ever certified at that grade. Before that, an MS66+ Red brought $18,600 in 2022 and another MS66+ Red hit $14,400 in 2019, all at Heritage.

6. What Is The 1929-S/S RPM FS-501 Error And What Is It Worth?

It’s a Repunched Mint Mark variety where the “S” was punched into the die twice at different positions. “FS-501” is the catalog number from Bill Fivaz’s Cherrypickers’ Guide. Circulated examples trade for $45–$90. The PCGS auction record is $3,565 for an MS65 sold through Bowers & Merena in June 2010.

7. Should I Clean My 1929 Wheat Penny?

Never. Not even gently. Cleaning strips the natural patina that grading services expect to see. PCGS and NGC can detect cleaning under light magnification and will label the coin “details” grade. That typically cuts resale value by 50%–80% compared to an uncleaned example at the same grade level.

8. Is It Worth Getting A 1929 Wheat Penny Professionally Graded?

Grading through PCGS or NGC runs roughly $100–$150 per coin once you add membership, fees, shipping, and insurance. It makes sense if your coin looks Mint State with strong Red color, has a visible error like an RPM or DDO, or you’re targeting a major auction house that requires slabbed coins. For circulated pieces worth under $50, you probably won’t recoup the cost.

9. What Are BIE Errors On A 1929 Wheat Penny?

A die crack between the “B” and “E” of LIBERTY creates a raised line that looks like an extra “I” — so the coin reads “LIBIERTY.” That’s where the B-I-E name comes from. Over 1,500 BIE varieties exist across the full wheat cent series. Known 1929 examples are scarce and collected as a fun Lincoln cent niche. Values run $5–$15, with dramatic breaks worth more.

10. How Do I Know If My 1929 Wheat Penny Has A Doubled Die?

Grab a 10x loupe. Check the date “1929,” the motto IN GOD WE TRUST, and the word LIBERTY. A genuine DDO shows clear, rounded, separated impressions offset from the main design. If the doubling looks flat and shelf-like, that’s machine doubling — worth nothing. All three 1929 mints have documented DDO varieties. A 1929-D DDO can bring $50–$100 circulated, while a 1929-S DDO may fetch $25–$75 depending on doubling strength. Always compare to attributed images in the Cherrypickers’ Guide or PCGS CoinFacts before calling it genuine.