The Lincoln penny is a very famous type of coin in US currency history, but the 1920 penny is very important for collectors. At first glance, this penny will look like a modern-day coin. But if we see it in detail, there is a clear difference in the features. Its clear design and old age make it attractive for coin lovers. The 1920 penny is rare and has a composition of 95 percent copper and the remaining five percent tin and zinc. Its front side is like the modern penny, where it has a photo of Abraham Lincoln. Here we see its prices, features, and error list. Let’s get started with the 1920 Wheat Penny Value.
How much is a 1920 wheat penny worth?
In average circulated condition, its value is about 35 cents. and in the mint state can have about 700 dollars in action.
- Its weight is 3.11 grams and its diameter is 19.05 mm and its thickness is 1.5mm.
- It has a smooth edge and its composition is 95% copper, 5% tin, and zinc.
- Design is made by Victor D. Brenner.
Features of 1920 Wheat Penny
1920 penny front (obverse):
The front side of the 1920 penny comes with a photo of Abraham Lincoln, who was the 16th president of the USA. If it has a mint mark below the year, it does not have a mint mark means made in P mint D mint means to make it Denver, and the S mint mark is used for San Francisco. Over the photo of Lincoln’s head, there is the word IN GOD WE TRUST written.
1920 penny back (reverse):
The back side of the 1920 penny comes with two wheat stalks with the words One Cent, and the Latin phrase E PLURIBUS UNUM means out of many one. The back photo was changed in 1959.
In 2010, the 1920 wheat penny was changed in design. The new design made by Lyndall Bass comes with a union shield with the slogan E PLURIBUS UNUM. The denominational value is below the shield, and the word UNITED STATES OF AMERICA is over the shield.
1920 Lincoln Penny Prices
| DATE | GOOD | EXTREMELY FINE |
|---|---|---|
| 1920 Lincoln Penny | 0.20 Dollars | 2.25 Dollars |
| 1920 Lincoln Penny (D) | 1 Dollar | 19 dollars |
| 1920 Lincoln Penny (S) | 0.50 Dollars | 10 Dollars |
Varieties of the 1920 Penny
1920 Lincoln Penny
It is made at P.M. and does not have a mint mark. It has a larger number of coins that are easily accessible today. In good condition, it is easy to find. The rough condition penny will be about one dollar, and the found condition will have a high value. One to seventy scales are used for coin grading; one is used for poor conditions, and a grade greater than 60 is mint state. Coins graded 65 or above are called gems.
- Grade 2 value= 1 Dollar
- F12=2 Dollars
- Grade 40-45= 10 Dollars
- MS60 (brown) = 24 Dollars
- MS65 (brown) = 130 Dollars
- MS60 (red/brown) = 25 Dollars
- MS62 (red) = 45 Dollars
- MS66 (red/brown) = 350 Dollars
- MS67+ (red)= 16000 Dollars
1920s Lincoln Penny
The 1920 D penny was made in Denver and comes with a D mint mark. The increases in demand for minor coins in 1920 caused the mint to operate for a long time. Poor-condition coins come with less value, and extremely fine grades have high value. Based on PCGS details, brown XF45 has a value of about 28 dollars, and for having different colors, prices will be different.
The brown 1920 D penny of grade MS60 has a value of 95 dollars and increases to 160 dollars at MS63 and 450 dollars at MS65. Red and
A brown 1920 Denver penny graded MS60 is valued by the PCGS at $95, rising to $160 at MS63 and $450 at MS65.
| Coin Grade | Red and brown coins | Red 1920 Denver Pennies |
|---|---|---|
| MS62 | 215 Dollars | $215 |
| MS63 | 240 Dollars | $220 |
| MS65 | 680 Dollars | $225 |
| MS66 | 2655 Dollars | $21500 |
1920s Lincoln Penny
It was made at the San Francisco Mint and has an S mint mark. branch mint is famous due to less coin striking than minted in Philadelphia. S mint in 1920 made less than 1/7 (46,220,000) in P mint. According to PCGS, there are about five hundred coins. Either condition or color they have, their prices are more than their face value.
| Grade |
1920 penny S Value
|
| Brown | |
| XF45 | $26 |
| MS60 | $100 |
| MS63 | $235.00 |
| MS65 | $825 |
| Red and brown | |
| MS60 | $140 |
| MS63 | $340 |
| MS65 | $2,100 |
| Red | |
| MS60 | $325 |
| MS65 | $20,000 |
| MS65+ | $50,000 |
1920 Lincoln Penny Grading
Uncirculated Condition
The coin that is in uncirculated condition means it has not been sped at any time, meaning it is still new. So coins look like the day they were made. Maybe the coin’s color has changed but is also in good condition.
Extremely Fine:
The extremely fine condition means the coins have spent some time in circulation but still do not have any damage or marks on their faces. If there is a close inspection, then some scratches can be found, but if seen through the eye, there will be nothing and it will be in good condition.
Fine Condition
The 1920 Lincoln penny has a fine grade, which means it was used many times in circulation but still has good condition. There will be some marks on the external edges, but the overall condition looks good, and all the letters written on the coin can be seen easily.
Good Condition
The god grade is an indication of a coin that has been used and circulated many times and has different marks for circulation. The larger number of uses for these coins has many visible damage signs. In some cases, the letter and other details have been removed and damaged.
1920 Penny History
In 1909, the design of the 1920 penny was made by Lithuanian-American engraver Victor David Brenner. Its front-design coins have existed for a longer time and are mostly made in the US. On this penny in 1909, a photo of Abraham Lincoln was made, and it was the first time that photos of any personality were added to the coin. 1909 is the historical year in US history that was Lincoln’s birthday. In those years, different designs were made on the back side of the coin. The ear of wheat on the 1920 penny was on the back side the first time struck in 1909. This design was continued until 1959, when the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC, was made on coins. For the next fifty years, this design and a new design called the Union Shield were still used on Lincoln pennies.
Rare 1920 Penny Error List
1920 D Penny, Rotated Reverse, 15 Degrees
It is uncommon for errors to slip past the Mint’s quality control procedures. It means collectors will pay a high price to get the coins. The high price error was the 1920 penny struck in Denver. The coin rotated in the collar before the back design was made. As a result, the ear of wheat looks 15 degrees away from its original location. The coin was in good condition and graded AU58 by PCGS. It was sold in 2018 for 59 dollars.
1920 No-Mint Mark Penny, Clipped Planchet
In some conditions, the metallic part on which the coin is made is not in good condition when cut from metal. So a curved clip is cut from the planchet of the edge. As a result, a curved clip is cut from the edge of the planchet. The large coin losses increase the cost of the coin. A 1920 penny made at P.M. comes with a clipped planchet. The clip looks on the right side with the back facing up. 9 in date is sliced on the edge. It was graded by ANACS at AU53, and it was sold for about 114 dollars.
1920 penny metal composition
The Lincoln penny is made with copper, zinc, and tin alloys. Copper is a large quantity, about 95 percent, and the remaining are zinc and tin. Lincoln, made in 1982, comes with 97.5% zinc and 2.5% copper.
How Much Is The Metal In The 1920 Penny Worth?
The melt value of a coin is based on the alloy used for minting. Currently, mostly wheat pennies are made with 2.5 percent copper and 97.5 percent zinc. According to Lincoln, the coin-struck melt value can be greater than about twenty dollars for each penny.
How Much Is The Lincoln Coin At The Pawn Shop?
At pawnshops, Lincoln coins can have a high value based on their condition. If it is in bad condition, the price can be five to ten cents. In good condition, prices can be about seventy-five dollars.
1920 Penny Comparison Chart
| CoinCondition | 1920 | 1920 S | 1920 D |
| Good | 0.08 Dollars | .33 Dollars | 0.34 Dollars |
| Fine | 0.36 Dollars | .95 Dollars | 1.05 Dollars |
| XF | 2.05 Dollars | 11.25 Dollars | 11 Dollars |
| Uncirculated | 10 Dollars | 48 Dollars | 53 Dollars |
Read Also
- 1955 Wheat Penny Value
- What Are 1960 Pennies Worth?
- 1959 Wheat Penny Value
- 1903 Indian Head Penny Value, Red”, “Brown” Worth Money?
- 1994 Penny Value, Chart, Error , History & Mint Mark
- 1929 Wheat Penny Value: “D”, “S”, No Mint Mark, Error, Hitory?
- 1995 Quarter Value, Errors, Types, Features,“D”, “S” & “P” Mint Marks
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