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.

Mintages

How much is a 1946 Wheat Penny worth?

This section is more of a layman's guide, for those new to collecting.

In Average Circulated (AC) condition it's worth around 15 cents, one in certified mint state (MS+) condition could bring as much as $25 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. *** [?].

If you are a fan of coin roll hunting or just want to learn more about wheat pennys then search or scroll below to find the most valuable and rarest in this series.

Overall 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.