The 1917 wheat penny is part of Lincoln pennies that were first made in 1909 to celebrate the birthday of the 16th president. The wheat pennies were made as replacements for Indian head pennies. The 1917 wheat pennies were made at a time when the USA entered World War I. In this post, we will detail the 1917 penny and the replacement factor for finding the value. So let’s get started with what is the value of the 1917 wheat penny.
1917 Wheat Penny Value Chart
| 1917 penny | Good | Fine | Extremely Fine | AU | Uncirculated (MS 60) |
Mint State (MS 63)
|
|
1917 (P) No Mint Mark Wheat Penny Value
|
$1 | $1.00 | $5 | $12 | $30 | $50 |
|
1917 (P) No Mint Mark DDO Wheat Penny Value
|
$180 | $315 | $1,134 | $1,600 | $3,127 | $8,250 |
|
1917 (P) No Mint Mark Matte Proof Wheat Penny Value
|
$0 | $0.40 | 0..40 | $40.00 | $2,500 | |
|
1917-S Wheat Penny Value
|
$2 | $6 | $11 | $32 | $125 | $200 |
|
1917-D Wheat Penny Value
|
$4 | $12 | $39 | $48 | $91 | $150 |
1917 Wheat Penny Spec
| Category | Lincoln Cents |
| Mint |
Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco
|
| Mintage | 284,169,785 |
| Face value |
One cent ($0.01)
|
| Shape | Round |
| Coin thickness |
1.52 millimeters (0.0598 inches)
|
| Coin weight |
0.11 ounces (3.11 grams)
|
| Edge | Smooth (plain) |
| Coin diameter |
19.05 millimeters
|
| Compound |
95% copper with zinc or tin
|
| Designer |
Victor D. Brenner
|
| Metal Composition |
95% Copper, 5% Tin or Zinc
|
| Fineness | 95 |
| Diameter | 19 mm |
| Weight | 11 grams |
| ASW | 1734 oz |
1917 (P) No Mint Mark Wheat Penny Value
There were 196,429,785 wheat pennies made in 1917, and these pennies do not have a mint mark. The value of these coins is based on conditions and color combinations. The 1917 brown penny with no mark, MS66 grade, has a value range of up to 1100 dollars.
Good condition coins are about one dollar, and uncirculated condition coins are about 25 dollars.
The 1917 error wheat penny MS68 red color sold in 2006 for 38813 dollars, and in 2007 MS66 red coins sold for 48300 dollars.
The 1917 Brown MS66 coins sold in 2021 for 1125 dollars.
Red-brown 1917 penny sold in 2013 for 1293 dollars, MS66 grade
The value of a red 1917 wheat penny for different grades is as
| Grade |
1917 wheat penny no mint mark red coin value
|
| MS 63 | $125 |
| MS 64 | $260 |
| MS 65 | $525 |
| MS 66 | $1,250 |
| MS 67 | $5,000 |
| MS 68 | $78,000 |
| Special Record |
MS 68 Red Wheat Penny sold $38,813 in 2006
|
1917 Matte Proof P Wheat Penny value
The proof coins are made with the use of pre-burnished planchets for adding shine to coins. The coins have been frosted for use of a special die. The proof coins come with good contrast and have deep cameo or ultra cameo.
The 1917 (P) Matte Proof Wheat Penny sold for 2500 dollars in 2022.
1917 D Wheat Penny Value
The Denver mint made 55,120,000 wheat pennies in 1917 with a D mint mark. These coins were mostly low quality, and high-quality ones were not easy to find. The uncirculated coins are difficult to find and have a value of up to 55 dollars. The brown 1917 D penny has a value of 100 dollars, and MSS66+grad sold for 2750 dollars.
Red-brown 1917 pennies MS62 have a value of about 185 dollars, and MS66 can be up to 2850 dollars.
The Red MS66 grade 1917 D penny sold for 1100 dollars. The average value of D 1917 pennies for MS grade is almost 450 dollars.
1917 D red brown penny value
| Grade | 1917 D red brown penny alue |
| MS 60 to MS 65 | $100 to $550 |
| Auction Record | $1,725 |
| MS 63 | $275 |
| MS 64 | $475 |
| MS 65 | $750 |
| MS 66 |
$1,900 to $3,000
|
| Auction Record | $3,600 sold for RB Penny (2021) |
1917 D red penny value
| Grade |
1917 D red penny alue
|
| MS 63 | $350 |
| MS 64 | $850 |
| MS 65 | $1,800 |
| MS 66 | $10,500 |
| Auction Record | $21,275 |
1917 S Wheat Penny Value
In 1917, the San Francisco mint made about 32,620,000 Wheat Cents, and these pennies have an S mint mark. There were not proof coins made by S mint.
The value of MS62-grade red coins is 370 dollars, and MS66 can be 80,000 dollars.
1917 “S” Wheat penny in perfect condition, MS65 grade, sold for $36,800.
The 1917 S wheat penny based on colors
| Grade | Value |
| Circulated Brown | $2 to $60 |
| Uncirculated Brown | $135 to $550 |
| Auction value | $8,225 |
| Red-Brown Cents | $125 to $1,200 |
| MS 65+ (Red-Brown) | $3,600 |
| Auction Record MS 66 Red-Brown Penny (2013) | $3,850 |
| 1917 S Red Penny | $63 |
| 1917 S Red Penny | $700 |
| 1917 S Red Penny | $1,200 |
| 1917 S MS 65 Red Wheat Cent (2007) | $36,800 |
History of the 1917 Wheat Penny
According to collectors, it is believed that Lincoln wheat pennies are important coins that made USA history. With that, these coins are important for the historical background since they were made for celebrating the birthday of Abraham Lincoln. Before the 194 coins were made by an in-house mint designer. The coin’s creation was done hereditarily, such as 6th Chief Engraver, Charles E. Barber, who succeeded his father, William Barber, after his death in 1879.
In-house engravers used the simple design that was used as a symbolic representation. But it has not been liked by anyone, so it was referred to get the service of a professional artist. That was also a suggestion of President Theodore Roosevelt.
In 1904 the 26th USA president asked Leslie Mortier Shaw to get the service of a designer for changing the design of coins. SO mint gets the services of new designer Augustus Saint-Gaudens for making new design of coins.
From 1904 to 1907, different designs of coins were made by Saint-Gaudens. but he died in 1907 before submitting his design for pennies or cents. After his death, the designer Victor David Brenner started work on designing the coin, so in 1909 the penny design was made and the first penny was made for celebrating the 100th birthday of Lincoln, president.
On 2 August 1909, coin minting started, and 20 million Lincoln pennies were made by the Philadelphia mint. There was a controversy started for the coin’s design, and the initials of the designer were added to the coins, which were then removed and in 1918 again added after the death of the designer.
1917 Wheat penny Types
| Mint mark | Mintage |
| 1917 no mint mark penny | 196,429,785 |
| 1917 S penny | 32,620,000 |
| 1917 D penny | 55,120,000 |
| Total | 284,169,785 |
Features of the 1926 Wheat Penny
obverse of the 1917 Wheat penny
The front side of the 1917 wheat penny has a photo of the 16th US president, Lincoln, and the minting date, 1917, is also written. With that word LIBERTY also written and the motto IN GOD WE TRUST can be seen there. The mint mark D or S is also added. P minted coins do not have mint marks.
Reverse of the 1917 Wheat penny
The back side of the 1917 wheat penny has two wheat stalks, so these pennies are called wheat pennies. The country name, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, is also written, and one CENT DENOMINATION is on this side with the motto EPLURIBUS·UNUM.
Some other features of the 1917 wheat penny are.
- Its face value is one cent, and it has a round shape.
- Thickness is 1.52 mm, and weight is 0.11 ounces.
- The edge of coins is smooth, and the diameter is 19.05 mm.
- The thickness is 19.05 millimeters, and the composition is an alloy of 95% copper with zinc or tin.
1917 Wheat Penny Errors List
Double die error
The doubling effect occurs on coins when two-time coin designs are printed once, and if there is a doubling effect on the backside, make 1917 double-die obverse pennies error coins. The circulated coins with this error are worth about 2640 dollars, and mint state can be sold for 7000 dollars. Doubling effect can be seen in the mottled front side of coins. “IN GOD WE TRUST
Penny Struck-through Error
The struck-through error occurs when a penny striking faces some external marks at the time of minting and makes an impression on the coin’s surface. The mark and impression seen on coins and coins this error has value for 1000 dollars.
Off-Center Error
At the time of coin design striking, the design of coins was not accurately printed in the center, and some parts of the coin missed that making the off-center 1917 penny error. The value of error coins is based on the percentage of off-center coins, and ten to fifteen percent of off-center coins are low value, while more than 50 percent of off-center error coins are high value.
Die Crack Error
The die rack error is also called the die cud error. Coins with this error have bumps on the surface. The error is the result of using the damaged or older die, and the 1917 penny with die crack error sold for 150 dollars based on grade.
Most valuable 1927 Wheat penny Ever Sold
| Grade/Condition | Mint mark | SOLD IN | vALUE |
| Red MS 67+ DDO | – | 2,019 | $120,000 |
| 1917 Wheat DDO Red MS 67 | – | 2,018 | $84,000 |
|
Red-Brown MS 65 DDO
|
2018 | $8,700 | |
|
Brown MS 63 DDO
|
2023 | $8,400 | |
| Brown MS 66+ | S | 2018 | $8,225 |
|
Brown MS 61 DDO
|
2022 | $3,951 | |
| Red-Brown MS 66 | S | 2013 | $3,850 |
| Red-Brown MS 66 | D | 2021 | $3,600 |
| Brown MS 66 | D | 2010 | $1,725 |
|
Red-Brown MS 66
|
2013 | $1,293 | |
| Brown MS 66 | 2021 | $1,125 | |
| Red MS 68 | – | $2,006 | $38,813 |
| Red MS 65 | S | 2007 | $36,800 |
| Red MS 66 | D | 2005 | $21,275 |
|
Red-Brown MS 65 DDO
|
2010 | $14,950 |
FAQS
Is 1917 Penny Rare?
There were a larger number of 1917 pennies made that make these coins less rare, but some high-grade error coins are rare. The 1917 double die obverse error coins are rare that sold for 6500 dollars in 2022.
What is the value of a 1917 copper penny?
The value of a 1917 copper penny is about 100 dollars high, and the lowest is 20 dollars for an MS60 grade. MS65+ grade can be about 2000 dollars. IN 2007 sold for 48,300 dollars
What is the mintage of the 1917 penny?
More than 280 million wheat pennies were made in 1917 by three different mints.
- Philadelphia mint: 196,426,785
- Denver mint: 55,120,000
- San Francisco mint: 32,620,000
What is the value of a 1917 wheat penny?
The color and conditions define the value of 1917 pennies and other wheat pennies. Brown 1917 wheat pennies are about 15 dollars, and uncirculated pennies can sell for 145 dollars.
The red-brown 1917 penny’s highest value is about $360, and the red penny MS68 grade has a high value of about $60,000.
What is the most valueable Lincoln penny?
| Mostvaluebale Penny Type | Condition | Value |
| 1943 D Penny | MS 64 Brown (Bronze) | $840,000 |
| 1909 VDB Proof Penny | PR 67+ | $258,500 |
| 1943 S Penny | MS 63 Brown (Bronze) | $504,000 |
| 1944 S Penny | MS 66 (Steel) | $408,000 |
| 1958 Penny | MS 64 Red DDO | $336,000 |
| 1944 Penny | MS 64 (Steel) | $180,000 |
Read also
- How much is a 2007 Bicentennial Quarters? Error, Types, Mint mark
- What Is A 1907 Indian Head Penny Worth Today?
- What is the 1964 penny worth? Mint Mark, Error,Types
- What is a penny from 1945 worth?