The Lincoln penny, also called the Lincoln cent, was first made in 1909 to celebrate the birthday of Lincoln’s president. These pennies, also called wheat pennies, come with two wheat stalks on the backside that were used until 1959 and replaced with the Lincoln Memorial.
Here we will discuss the value and conditions of the 1945 penny and its related factors that affect value. So let’s get started with what a 1945 penny is worth.
1945 Penny Value Chart
| Grade | 1945 No mint mark penny | 1945 D penny |
1945 S penny
|
| Fine | $0.06 | $0.06 | $0.12 |
|
Very fine
|
$0.15 | $0.15 | $0.20 |
|
Extra fine
|
$0.25 | $0.25 | $0.25 |
| AU | $0.45 | $0.45 | $0.45 |
|
MS 60
|
$1.02 | $1.02 | $1.02 |
|
MS 63
|
$2.45 | $2.45 | $2.50 |
| MS-67 | $260 | $100 | $175 |
1945 Wheat Penny History
The 1945 Lincoln pennies are part of the penny series. The first time was made in 1909 and was made for celebrating the 100th anniversary of President Lincoln, so it is called the Lincoln penny. These pennies were used until 1959, and their backside changed with the Lincoln Memorial.
From 1909 to 1935, the US Mint made regular pennies that became collectible. So the manufacturing of proof coins was made in 1926 from the Philadelphia Mint.
The 1945 wheat pennies made for circulation were the last year of World War II. Due to a shortage of copper at the time of WWI, the composition of pennies changed, and zinc-plated steel pennies made in 1943 and 1945 pennies also had the same composition.
The mintage of 1945 pennies is based on different mints.
| Mint | Mint Mark |
Quantity
|
| Philadelphia | 1945 No mint mark penny | 1,040,515,000 |
| San Francisco | 1945 S penny | 181,770,000 |
| Denver | 1945 D penny | 266,268,000 |
| Total | – | 1,488,553,000 |
Features of 1945 Penny
| Grading | $0.15 | $0.15 | $0.20 |
|
Extra fine
|
$0.25 | $0.25 | $0.25 |
| AU | $0.45 | $0.45 | $0.45 |
|
MS 60
|
$1.02 | $1.02 | $1.02 |
|
MS 63
|
$2.45 | $2.45 | $2.50 |
| MS-67 | $260 | $100 | $175 |
1945 Wheat Penny History
The 1945 Lincoln pennies are part of the penny series. The first time was made in 1909 and was made for celebrating the 100th anniversary of President Lincoln, so it is called the Lincoln penny. These pennies were used until 1959, and their backside changed with the Lincoln Memorial.
From 1909 to 1935, the US Mint made regular pennies that became collectible. So the manufacturing of proof coins was made in 1926 from the Philadelphia Mint.
The 1945 wheat pennies made for circulation were the last year of World War II. Due to a shortage of copper at the time of WWI, the composition of pennies changed, and zinc-plated steel pennies made in 1943 and 1945 pennies also had the same composition.
The mintage of 1945 pennies is based on different mints.
| Mint | Mint Mark |
Quantity
|
| Philadelphia | 1945 No mint mark penny | 1,040,515,000 |
| San Francisco | 1945 S penny | 181,770,000 |
| Denver | 1945 D penny | 266,268,000 |
| Total | – | 1,488,553,000 |
Features of 1945 Penny
Obverse of the 1945 Penny
The front side of the 1945 penny comes with a photo of Abraham Lincoln and a design made by sculptor Victor David Brenner. The motto IN GOD WE TRUST is also written there. The word LIBERTY is also written on this side.
Reverse of the 1945 Penny
The reverse side of the 1945 penny comes with the county name UNITED STATES of AMERICA and the denomination ONE CENT. The minting date, 1945, is also written there.
Some other features of 1945 pennies are
- The diameter of the coin is 19.05 mm, and its weight is 3.11 grams.
- its face value is about one cent and round shape.
- It is made with use of 95% copper with zinc or tin
- The thickness of coins is one millimeter with a plain edge.
1945 Penny Details
| diameter |
19.05 mm
|
| weight | 3.11 g |
| Face value |
One cent
|
| Shape |
Round
|
| Compound |
95% copper with zinc or tin
|
| Coin thickness | 1 mm |
| Edge | Plain |
| Category |
Lincoln Wheat Penny
|
| Mint |
Philadelphia, Denver, San Francisco
|
| Obverse Designer |
Victor D. Brenner
|
| Reverse Designer |
Lyndall Bass
|
1945 No Mint Mark Wheat Penny Value
The Philadelphia Mint made 1,040,515,000 pennies without a mint mark. There is a larger mint and many coins still in circulation, making these coins low value.
Their value is not only based on conditions but also colors define their value.
The value of a 1945 wheat penny without a mint mark from different grades is as
| brown |
$0.25 to $45
|
| red-brown |
$32.40. to 55
|
| MS 68 grade. |
$5,000 to $6,000
|
| MS 67 | $260 |
1945 S Wheat Penny Value
The San Francisco mint made about 181,770,000 coins in 1945 with the S mint mark. The value of 1945 S pennies is also based on color and condition.
| 1945 S Lincoln Red penny | |
| Grade | Value |
| MS 63 | $7 |
| MS 64 | $10 |
| MS 65 | $20 |
| MS 66 | $35 |
| MS67 | $150 |
| MS 67+ | $2,174 |
Red brown 1945 S penny is about 57 dollars according to conditions and brown pennies are about 50 dollars
1945 D Wheat Penny Value
There were 266,268,000 Lincoln Wheat pennies made by the Denver Mint in 1945. These coins also come in a different color combination that defines their value. The 1945 D brown pennies are worth about 47 dollars at the highest, and red-brown has a value of up to 56 dollars.
The value of red 1945 D for different grades is as follows.
| 1945 D Lincoln Red penny | |
| Grade | Value |
| MS 63 | $2 |
| MS 64 | $3 |
| MS 65 | $8 |
| MS 66 | $30 |
| MS67 | $138 |
| MS 68 | $15,000 |
1945 Wheat Penny Error List
Clipped planchet error
During coin minting, metallic planchets come between the dies in an improper way that makes a clipped edge. The coins with this error have different values based on part cutting and grade; this error is called the 1945 clipped planchet error. Its value is about 100 dollars.
1945 Penny Cud Error
It is a common error and occurs when dirt breaks the touch edges of coins since it is struck. That resulted in the removal of some part of the image of coins. The MS65 red 1945 S-grade coins sold for 130 dollars with this error.
Lamination Error
In this error the upper part of the coins was removed from the base structure at the time of minting. These coins come with bubbles or lines on the surface, and a 1945 penny with a lamination error can be sold for 160 dollars.
Doubled die error
The double error occurs when die minting. It is struck many times for making the design of coins; if there is misalignment, that will take a photo to have double lines. Some doubling errors not easy to see come in good and uncirculated conditions. The front side of 1945 has a double die error that can be seen in the word LIBERTY, and a magnifying glass is used to see these errors clearly.
The doubling effect is common in the letter I MS65 red 1945, which has a value of about 500 with this error.
Broad strike error
This error is a result of coins striking without a collar. In this error, there are wider coins made without edge design. It is not a rare error but can have a value of about 200 dollars.
Clipped Planchet Error
A planchet is a metallic sheet that is put into die-striking machines. Two reverse dies to clash on this metallic sheet for making round-shaped coins. If metal is not put accurately, the coins come with clipped parts. That clipped planchet error can easily be seen in 1945 pennies based on condition and error type; has a high value. The 1945 MS66 penny sold for 92 dollars.
Most valuable 1945 Wheat Penny
- 1945 Wheat cent brown DDO MS 64 = sold for $1,410 in 2017
- 1945 Genuine Wheat cent brown=sold for $1,000 in 2020
- 1945 S Brown Wheat Penny XF 45 sold for $748 in 2007.
- 1945 red-brown wheat penny MS 67 = sold for $575 in 2011
- 1945 red wheat cent in MS 67+ grade sold for $20,400 in 2022.
- 1945 D red Wheat penny in MS 68 sold for $14,400 in 2019.
- 1945 D red-brown wheat penny MS 64 sold for $243 in 2020.
- 1945 S red-brown wheat penny MS 67 sold for $225 in 2018.
- 1945 D Genuine Wheat cent (brown) sold for $5,000 in 2020
- 1945 S red wheat cent in MS 67+ sold for $2,174 in 2015.
- 1945 Wheat cent red DDO MS 64 = Sold for $395 in 2019
Most Valuebable Wheat Pennies
- 1944 S steel penny in MS 66 = $408,000
- 1943 bronze-brown penny in MS 62 = $372,000
- 1909 VDB penny in MS 67+ = $258,500
- 1958 DDO red penny in MS 64 = $336,000
- 1943 D bronze brown penny in MS 64 = $840,000
- 1943 S bronze brown penny in MS 63 = $504,000
- 1943 S AU 58 penny in AU 58 = $138,000
- 1914 penny in PR 68 = $126,500
- 1943 penny in AU 58 = $218,500
- 1944 steel penny in MS 64 = $180,000
- 1909 S VDB RD penny in MS 67 = $168,000
1945 Wheat Penny Grading
| Number |
Grade
|
| 1 |
Basal State-1
|
| 2 | Fair |
| 3 |
Very Fair
|
| 4, 5, 2006 |
Good
|
| 7, 8, 10 |
Very Good
|
| 12, 15 | Fine |
| 20, 30 |
Very Fine
|
| 40 |
Extremely Fine
|
| 50 |
About Uncirculated
|
| 60 to 70 |
Mint State
|
FAQs
Is the 1945 wheat penny rare?
The 1945 pennies are not rare, but some 1945 S and 1945 D pennies are rare and not easy to find. The double die error 1945 pennies are also rare and have a value of about 1000 dollars.
What is the value of the 1945 No Mint Mark Wheat Penny?
The 1945 wheat penny made in the Philadelphia mint has a value of about 55 dollars; the highest and lowest can be 25 cents. High-grade coins with red toning can be about 230 dollars, but MS68 are rare and high-value coins. That is about 6000 dollars.
How much is a 1945 penny worth?
The value of a 1945 penny is about five cents to 15 cents, and in uncirculated condition, it can be of high value.
What wheat penny is worth $1,000,000?
The 1943 bronze Lincoln penny MS63 Red color sold for $840,000.
Read also
- How much is a 1924 penny worth?
- Rare 1926 Penny Worth Up To $100000
- How much is a 1893 Indian Head penny worth?
- How much is a 1890 penny worth? Features, Error & Mint Mark
- Is a 1966 US dime worth anything? Features, Type, Mint Mark
- 1996 Quarter Coin Value, Features, Types, & Mint mark