How Much is a 1913 Wheat Penny Worth (Price Chart)

The 1-cent coin with the image of the 16th President of the United States is a vital part of the history of American numismatics. Therefore, it is worth much more than its face value.

The US Mint produced so-called wheat pennies for almost half a century, from 1909 to 1958. You can find most specimens in good condition for a couple of dollars, but you can also earn a fortune from a perfectly preserved one. Let’s see what the 1913 Penny value is and what it depends on.

1913 Penny History

The history of Wheat pennies begins with the decision of then-President Theodore Roosevelt to redesign American money.

As the 100th anniversary of Lincoln’s birth approached, the President directed engraver Victor David Brenner to design a coin with the image of the 16th American President.

1913 Penny

Location Year Minted Value
Philadelphia 1913 76,532,352 $0.94 to $61
San Francisco 1913 S 15,804,000 $16 to $250
Denver 1913 D 6,101,000 $3.22 to $193
Proof 1913 2,848 $350+
Total / 98,440,200 /

At the time, it was not common practice for the image of prominent people to be on the coin. The only similar piece was a commemorative half-dollar minted in 1892 with the Christopher Columbus image on the obverse. In 1909, three US mints released the first Lincoln pennies.

1913 Penny

Face value 1 cent ($0.01)
Compound 95% copper and 5% tin or zinc
Coin weight 0.1097 ounces (3.11 grams)
Coin diameter 0.7480 inches (19 mm)
Coin thickness 0.0768 inches (1.95 mm)
Shape Round
Edge Plain

Initially, VDB initials appeared on the reverse coin side, but that changed later. The 1913 penny doesn’t have a designer mark, and the simple design shows ONE CENT denotation with the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA inscription below it.

Two stalks of wheat surround the letters, hence the name of the coin.  Plus, you can see engraving E PLURIBUS UNUM on the reverse side top.

As I have already mentioned, Lincoln’s bust takes up most of the obverse side. There is also IN GOD WE TRUST engraving and the mintage year. You can see the word LIBERTY inscription on the President’s left side.

 

1913 Penny Types

1913 Penny Types
Image

Three mints produced the 1913 Penny, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Denver. As usual, coins that came from Philadelphia lack the mint mark.

1913 Penny value*

Year Quality
Good Fine Extra fine Uncirculated
1913 $0.36 $1.07 $16 $24
1913 S $4.92 $12 $40 $146
1913 D $0.96 $2.11 $41 $71

*By Coin Study

You can recognize Denver coins by the D mark on the reverse side, while San Francisco mint labeled their mintage with an S letter. There were minted 98,440,200 1913 pennies in total, including 2,848 proof coins.

1913 Penny value*

Quality 1913 1913 S 1913 D
Good $0.95 $16 $3.2
Very good $1.1 $19 $3.8
Fine $2.2 $22 $5
Very fine $4.4 $34 $11
Extra fine $20 $65 $54
About uncirculated $30 $109 $77
MS 60 $38 $193 $118
MS 63 $61 $250 $193

*By USA Coin book

The 1913 proof pennies value is way higher than the other coins. As always, mints released these pennies for collectors only, so they were never released in circulation.

 

1913 Penny Value

1913 Penny Value

If you have one or more 1913 pennies, you can quickly discover that online research won’t help you in their value determination.

1913 Penny value*

Coin Quality
Good Fine Extra fine Uncirculated
1913 $0.50 to $1 $2 to $2.5 $11 to $12 $25+
1913 S $8.00 to $10 $17.5 to $20 $40 to $45 $165+
1913 D $1.50 to $2 $2 to $2.5 $27 to $30 $80+

*By Coinflatation

A 1913 penny can bring you only 50 cents or an impressive $47,150. That was a record value one of these pennies reached at auction in 2008. Generally, the average 1913 penny can bring you up to $30.

Your coin value depends primarily on its condition and other crucial factors like color, mint, and dealer you choose.

1913 Penny value*

Year Quality
MS 63 MS 64 MS 65 MS 66
1913 BN $70 $130 $180 $500
1913 S BN $350 $525 $1,350 $7,500
1913 D BN $240 $285 $700 $1,150
1913 BR $90 $130 $265 $775
1913 S BR $375 $575 $1,450 $8,250
1913 D BR $325 $350 $750 $1,150
1913 RD $130 $200 $475 $1,400
1913 S RD $500 $800 $3,500 $26,000
1913 D RD $425 $825 $1,750 $3,500

*By PCGS

Red-brown pennies cost more than brown ones. However, the pure red specimens are the most desirable among collectors, especially those in a mint condition. In fact, one auctioned 1913 S Red mint state penny reached a magnificent sum of $63,250.

 

1913 Penny Grading

1913 Penny Grading

As you know, coins are worn out during circulation. So, the less your penny was used, the more it is worth. However, a professional can spot scratches or contact marks even on the 1913 penny in a mint state.

That is why many numismatics handle their valuable coins with special care, including specific preservation conditions and wearing gloves before touching a penny.

1913 Penny value*

Quality 1913 1913 S 1913 D
About good $0.35 to $0.4 $6.75 to $8 $2.15 to $2.45
Good $0.55 to $0.7 $8.1 to $11.5 $2.40 to $2.9
Very good $0.75 to $1.4 $12.15 to $16.2 $2.65 to $3.65
Fine $2.15 to $2.75 $16.2 to $25.9 $3.38 to $6.5
Very fine $3.7 to $19.45 $27 to $55 $8.78 to $38.9
Extra fine $21.6 to $29.15 $55 to $89 $54 to $68
About uncirculated $31.15 to $42 $115 to $179 $68 to $110
MS 60 $34.65 to $43.75 $202 to $262 $108 to $130
MS 61 $44.55 to $53 $230 to $265 $139 to $167
MS 62 $49.95 to $60 $248 to $286 $164 to $195
MS 63 $65 to $78 $286 to $329 $208 to $239
MS 64 $81 to $97 $422 to $486 $264 to $299
MS 65 $115 to $133 $1,090 to $1,250 $585 to $673

*By Greysheet

Uncirculated – The coin that went from a mint to a collector’s case is the only one with this grade. It was never used for any transaction, so it has no fading or other damage.

Be careful when it comes to proofs. It is almost impossible for an untrained eye to spot a difference between an uncirculated 1913 proof penny and the regular coin.

The trick is in proof coin surface and squared-off rims. Plus, mints always struck these coins sharper, so the design details were always finer.

1913 Penny value*

Quality 1913 1913 S 1913 D
Good $0.6 $6.25 $2.25
Very good $0.75 $7.5 $2.75
Fine $1.4 $9 $4
Very fine $3.15 $14.5 $9.25
Extra fine $15 $34.5 $32.5
Uncirculated $23 $74 $60
Brilliant uncirculated $32.5 $125 $95

*By Hobbizine

If your 1913 penny has luster, all fine details are preserved, and it shows no visible damage or flaws, you probably have a mint state coin.

In that case, other factors like color define its value, so you can typically count on more than $50 per piece. On the other hand, the 1913 S MS 65 penny can be worth over $1.000. 

1913 Penny value

Quality Year
1913 1913 S 1913 D
About good $0.25 $10 $1
Good $0.5 $14 $2
Very Good $0.75 $16 $3
Fine $1 $18 $4
Very fine $2 $22 $8
Extra fine $3 $33 $40
About uncirculated $20 $48 $50
MS60 $60 $70 $90
MS63 $85 $200 $175

*By Coin HelpU

Extra fine – This grade means your coin only circulated for a short time. It looks almost perfect to the naked eye, and only expert judgment can accurately determine its value. You can effortlessly spot every detail on this penny, including fine lines in the wheat stalks.

Fine – If your coin is seemingly well-preserved yet shows some scratches and chips, it is probably in fine condition. A careful observer can notice that the wheat heads are faded, or the lines on Lincoln’s face are less distinctive.

1913 Penny value*

Year Quality
Good Fine Extra fine Uncirculated
1913 $0.85 $2 $18 $27
1913 S $14 $20 $60 $100
1913 D $3 $4.5 $50 $70

*By JM Bullion

Good – This penny went through many hands while it circulated. The surface shows abrasions, stains, and letters on both coin sides are worn and faded. The value of this particular coin is anywhere between $0.50 and $15.

1913 Penny value*

Quality Year
1913 1913 S 1913 D
Very Good $1.3 $15 $4
Fine $2.25 $20 $6.40
Very fine $3.55 $28 $12
Extra fine $17 $56 $49
About uncirculated $35 $165 $105
MS60 $37 $184 $113
MS63 $58 $268 $206

*By All Coin Values

Whatever low this value seems, you shouldn’t forget that three mints produced millions of 1913 pennies. Finding one in good condition is not a challenge, despite its age.

 

Summary

The 1913 Lincoln penny is a part of the wheat collection. As usual, the coin condition is a prime factor determining its value. Most of these coins are inexpensive, but rare specimens in the mint state can be worth several hundred dollars.

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