1946 Wheat Penny

Notes:

1946 Wheat Cents are worth very little in the worst of conditions. In a nice Mint State the San Francisco minted versions of this coin are worth up to about $6 while the Denver is worth $5 and the Philadelphia one just $4.

As with other Wheat Cents the color means alot. Check our color guide image below. The Red is always worth more than the Red Brown, and for certain more than the Brown in similar conditions.

Copper Penny Color Guide

Did you know?

The 1946 cent was the last penny to be struck with 95% copper and 5% zinc. The composition was altered to conserve copper during the post World War 2 era. Because of this the 1946 Lincoln cent holds a special place in many coin collectors' minds.

Extra Information

The 1946 penny has a diameter of 19mm, a weight of 3.11 grams, and a composition of 95% copper and 5% zinc. The coin was minted in large numbers, with over 1.2 billion produced that year across all three U.S. Mint locations: Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco. While the 1946 penny is not particularly rare or valuable, it remains a popular coin for collectors who appreciate its design and historical significance.

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1946 1c Errors

Below you will find images and short descriptions as well as values for some of the most common 1946 Wheat Penny Errors. Happy coin roll hunting.

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Clipped Planchet Error $15-$90 USD

Clipped Planchet 1946 Penny Error

These errors are not as valuable as some and generally are worth around $15-$90 USD There are both curved and straight clipped planchet errors and the coin shown above shows both. Caused when the planchet is clipped before being struck by the die.

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Die Break / Major Die Break $5-$150 USD

Major Die Break 1946 Penny Error

Major die breaks are worth more than general die breaks but in general these are valued at somewhere between $5-$150 USD Caused by a partial or full break in the die that strikes the planchet.

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Struck on 10c Silver Planchet $500-$3,000 USD

Struck on 10c Planchet

These are some of the most valuable of the 1946 1c errors being worth between $500-$3,000 USD. This is an example of an improper planchet error, in this case a 10c silver dime planchet is instead struck by a 1946 penny die.

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Off Center Strike $8-$80 USD

30% Off Center Strike

Fairly common and affordable errors for collectors generally priced around $8-$80 USD. The off-center strike error is generally listed with a percentage of some sort, in this example the coin is 30% off center.

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Broad Struck Error $15-$90 USD

Broad Struck Error

Broad struck errors are usually valued around the $15-$90 USD range. Broad strike errors differ from off center strikes in that the design is fully present, while the off center design is missing a portion of the design.

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$16,800 1946 S Penny?

Price Chart

Rates listed here refer to professionally graded and slabbed coins. If new to collecting the prices below might not make sense.

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Prices below are for the 1946 P RD Wheat Cent. RD is the most coveted of the three color types.

• Grade MS63 = $8-$13
• Grade MS64 = $9-$15
• Grade MS65 = $11-$19
• Grade MS66 = $45-$75
• Grade MS67 = $74-$123

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Prices below are for the 1946 P RB Wheat Cent. RB is the most coveted of the three color types.

• Grade MS63 = $4-$6
• Grade MS64 = $6-$10
• Grade MS65 = $8-$13
• Grade MS66 = $30-$50
• Grade MS67 = $53-$88

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Is the list above a little overwhelming? If so, take 5 minutes to learn all about Coin Grading.

It's also important to note...Prices are subject to the same supply and demand laws as everything else. Coins sold at the same auction house 10x, would fetch drastically different bids each session. To raise your chances of receiving top dollar read How to Get the Most for your Coins.

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We've personally researched these values. If you enjoy our content please return the favor and share this page with your friends.

How much is a 1946 Wheat Penny worth?

In Average Circulated (AC) condition it's worth around 75 cents, one in certified mint state (MS+) condition could bring as much as $45 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 1946, 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.