- Key: Key Date
- Year: 1931
- Mint Mark: S
- Type: Wheat Penny
- Price: $102.00-$750.00+
- Face Value: 0.01 USD
- Produced: 866,000
- Edge: Smooth
Notes: The 1931 San Fran minted Wheat Penny is one of a handful of pennies that could be considered to be key dates. Just 866 thousand of these were ever minted. While 866 thousand sounds like a large number it is small compared to the 34 million minted in 1930. That is supply and demand at work. Another S minted Wheat Penny would not be issued for another 4 years.
Copper Penny Color Guide
As with other pennies RD is worth more than RB, and RB is worth more than BN
Mintages
Questions & Comments
Admin: Prices for the 1931 S Wheat Cent have been updated as well as a new higher quality image attached, The top price listed was based on the average price of the 1931 S Penny in MS65 condition with a designated color of RD (red). Price fairly accurate on the date of this post in 2023. Image attached is of a 1931 penny with a Red color designation. Posted: May 9, 2023 8:07 pm
How much is a 1931 S Wheat Cent worth?
In Average Circulated (AC) condition it's worth around $102.00, one in certified mint state (MS+) condition could bring as much as $750 at auction. This price does not reference any standard coin grading scale. So when we say Average Circulated, we mean in a similar condition to other coins circulated in 1931, and mint state meaning it is certified MS+ by one of the top coin grading companies. *** [?].
What are your coins really worth?
Use the handy-dandy calculator below to find the real value of any wheat penny in your collection.
Specs & Design
This coin has a total mass of 3.11 g, a diameter of 19.05 mm, and a thickness of 1.55 mm. It's edge is smooth, and the coins are composed of 95% copper and 5% tin and zinc..
Designer: Victor D. Brenner
Front (Obverse): The front or obverse of this coin contains the bust of Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States. If a mint mark is present it will be on the bottom right just under the year. If no mint mark is present the coin was minted in Philadelphia. With D standing for Denver, and S standing for San Francisco. The words IN GOD WE TRUST follow the top arch of the coin nicely framing Lincolns head, and the word LIBERTY sits just left of President Lincolns Colar.
Back (Reverse): The reverse of the Wheat Penny, also known as the Wheat Cent contains two wheat stalks, the words One Cent, and the Latin phrase E PLURIBUS UNUM which means Out of many, one. The reverse image would later change in 1959.
Most Valuable
The most valuable Wheat Penny's. Prices listed are for MS-65 certified. Visit the link to learn more about each coin.
| Image | Year | Mint | Worth |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
1924 | S | $12k |
 |
1922 | D | $6k |
 |
1914 | D | $5.6k |
 |
1914 | S | $3.2k |
 |
1913 | S | $2k |
 |
1918 | S | $2k |
 |
1924 | D | $2k |
 |
1925 | S | $1.8k |
 |
1912 | S | $1.5k |
 |
1913 | D | $1.5k |
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| Image | Name | Mint | Worth |
Want more? Click here to see the most valuable coins ever minted.
***Price subject to standard supply and demand laws, dealer premiums, and other market variations. Prices represent past values fetched at online auctions, estate sales, certified coins being sold by dealers, and user submitted values. While we wholeheartedly try to give honest price estimates there are many factors besides appearance, metal content, and rarity that help make up the coins overall value. Call or visit your local coin dealer for more information.
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