The 1944 Lincoln wheat penny is among the most common wheat pennies today. Most collectors are ready to choose it over several other coins minted between 1909 and 1958 because of its numismatic value and attractive design.
The 1944 Wheat penny is a copper coin with no silver or tin content. Its value ranges from 20 cents to 50 cents, but it could be worth way more than that, depending on its qualities.
For instance, a 1944 wheat penny in certified mint state (MS+) condition can fetch between $6 and $8 at an auction. In 2018, bidders were ready to part with up to $24,000 for a rare 1944-D/S Lincoln cent.
1944 wheat pennies are old coins minted in the United States decades ago. There’s a variety of them, depending on the mint marks they bear. These inscriptions also affect how they are priced. This article discusses every crucial detail worth knowing about the 1944 Wheat penny.
1944 Wheat Penny Value Chart |
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| Mint mark | Good | Fine | Extremely Fine | Uncirculated |
| 1944 no mint mark Wheat Penny Value | $0.20 | $0.20 | $0.4 | $0.89 |
| 1944 “D’ Wheat Penny Value | $0.20 | $0.20 | $0.4 | $1.14 |
| 1944 “S” Wheat Penny Value | $0.30 | $0.30 | $0.5 | $2.31 |
| 1944 Steel Wheat Penny Value | $10,000.00 | $50,000.00 | $100,000.00 | $500,000.00 |
What is the 1944 wheat penny?
The 1944 Penny is one of the cents Victor David Brenner designed. It was manufactured from recycled ammunition shell metal. It marked the comeback of Lincoln pennies with copper material.
Unlike the previous wheat coins with copper, zinc, and tin, this cent came with copper and zinc only.
1944 “D”, “S” & “No Mint Mark” Wheat Penny
The Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Denver Mints in the US minted over 2.1 billion 1944 pennies.
The Philadelphia mint produced 1,435,400,000 pieces without a mintmark. The Denver mint struck 430,578,000 units with the mint mark “D.” At the San Francisco mint, 282,760,000 1944 pennies were made, and these came with the “S” mintmark.
It’s worth noting that the 1944 wheat penny was one of the most minted coins in US history. Many others did not exceed the 1 billion mark.
Reason for Minting the 1944 Penny
The 1944 Penny was minted during World War II. A year before the production of this coin began, people used the 1943 Lincoln penny, which came with a zinc-coated steel composition. The government did not use copper because it wanted to save it for making ammunition for the war.
However, most people complained that the 1943 penny corroded too fast and was not an ideal currency. There was also another lot that couldn’t distinguish this coin from a dime.
The government responded to these outcries by minting the 1944 Wheat penny and deliberately using copper. This coin would not rust as fast as the 1943 penny, plus Americans could quickly identify it.
1944 wheat penny Features
Before you determine the value of your 1944 penny, first confirm that what you have is indeed a 1944 Lincoln cent. The following are the features your penny must-have.
Portrait
An Abraham Lincoln portrait dominates the obverse of the 1944 Wheat penny.
Head and Tail Features of the 1944 Lincoln Penny
The head of the 1944 Penny comes with an Abraham Lincoln profile. The year “1944” is engraved to the right of the portrait. To the left of the image is an inscription that reads “LIBERTY.”
Arching overtop the 1944 Wheat penny is another inscription reading “IN GOD WE TRUST.”
On the 1944-penny’s reverse side, you’ll find two inscriptions: “The United States of America” and “One Cent.” There are two wheat stalks situated on the right and left outer edge of this coin’s tail. Arching overtop is the phrase “E Pluribus Unum.”
Mint Mark
1944 pennies minted at the Philadelphia mint bear no mintmark.
Those produced at the Denver mint come with a “D” mintmark right under the year “1944”.
1944 pennies minted at the San Francisco mint have the mintmark “S” under the date.
Metals Used to Make the 1944 Penny
The 1944 penny was made with copper (95%) and zinc (5%).
Weight and Dimensions
The diameter of the 1944 penny is 19 millimeters, while its weight is 3.1 grams.
1944 wheat penny value
1944 Wheat Penny Value Chart |
||||
| Mint mark | Good | Fine | Extremely Fine | Uncirculated |
| 1944 no mint mark Wheat Penny Value | $0.20 | $0.20 | $0.4 | $0.89 |
| 1944 “D’ Wheat Penny Value | $0.20 | $0.20 | $0.4 | $1.14 |
| 1944 “S” Wheat Penny Value | $0.30 | $0.30 | $0.5 | $2.31 |
| 1944 Steel Wheat Penny Value | $10,000.00 | $50,000.00 | $100,000.00 | $500,000.00 |
The 1944 Penny was minted in large quantities and is readily available. Therefore, its value is lower than that of other less common coins such as the 1943 copper-alloy cent and the 1914-S Lincoln cent.
Denominational value of the 1944 wheat Penny
The face value of the 1944 Penny is one cent or $0.01.
How much is the 1944 wheat Penny worth at a pawn shop?
The price of a 1944 penny at a pawnshop will vary because pawnbrokers consider elements such as condition and rarity when working out the price of a particular piece. The average price of a 1944 penny at the pawnshop is 20 cents.
Factors influencing the 1944 Wheat Penny Value
Various elements affect how 1944 Pennies are priced today. Some of these are as follows:
Rarity
1944 pennies are not that rare due to their high figure production. Therefore, unless this coin possesses extremely scarce features, its standard price remains $0.15 – $0.35.
Error Coin
A misstruck 1944 Penny falls under the ‘rare’ coin category. Although billions of these pennies were minted, only several of them came with errors, massively increasing their value.
Some of the typical 1944 penny errors known to exist are:
- Clipped coin errors
- Double strikes
- Off-center strikes
- An S over D mint mark error
- 1944 S Die Break Obverse
The 1944 Steel penny is a scarce coin, which was presumably minted by accident. Less than 24 of them were produced.
These steel pennies were created due to remnant steel planchets used to make pennies in the previous year (1943).
How can you differentiate a 1944 steel penny from a 1944 copper cent? Steel coins stick to magnets, and they are not easy to come by. This makes them more valuable than 1944 copper pennies.
While the price tag of a 1944 copper coin can read only 20 cents, one made from steel could sell for up to $100,000+.
Grade
1944 wheat pennies are graded according to their condition. Let’s check out the coin grades for these cents, what they mean and how they affect the penny value.
- Good: A 1944 penny in this condition looks its worst due to heavy damage. It’s hard for anyone to see the lettering and imagery on it. Its market value is considerably low.
- Fine: 1944 pennies in fine condition have been in circulation for a long time, but they have not suffered much damage. This coin’s major features are visible, and its price is higher than that of a cent in good condition.
- Extremely fine: A 1944 penny with extremely fine grading is close to perfection. It may have one scratch or flaw that is difficult to spot. Its value is more than that of coins in good and fine conditions.
- Uncirculated: This is the best grade a 1944 penny can have. It means the coin has only been through a few hands, and it looks almost new, save for a slight discoloration. Uncirculated 1944 pennies are more expensive than all others in the conditions mentioned above.
How new the 1944 Penny is
Let’s assume, for instance, you have two 1944 pennies; a clean/new and an old one. The former is in better condition and unquestionably worth more than the latter.
1944 wheat penny value FAQ
Is the 1944 Wheat penny worth anything?
Yes. The 1944 Wheat penny without a mint mark is worth about 15 cents. One with a “D” mintmark in Extremely Fine condition could sell for about twenty cents. If it’s Uncirculated, expect it to be priced at around 35 cents. 1944 Wheat pennies with distinctive attributes could be worth thousands of dollars.
Are 1944 Lincoln wheat pennies rare today?
No. 1944 Lincoln pennies are not scarce because the US Mint produced over 2 billion of them. Today, you could find many of them with passionate numismatists who appreciate their value.
Many pawnshops also keep these wheat pennies and are willing to sell them at the right price, depending on their actual worth.
Even so, there are some rare 1944 Wheat pennies, such as those with errors.
Do collectors like the 1944 wheat penny?
Yes. Countless collectors like the 1944 penny because it could be worth as much as $8 or more. Notably, coin dealers don’t accept all pieces. They prefer graded ones because it’s easier to price them.
How do I discover the value of my 1944 Wheat penny?
Interested in knowing the value of your 1944 penny? Here’s what you should do first:
- Identify its mint mark
- Grade it according to its current condition
- Check if it has some unique qualities, such as errors. Some attributes will either increase or minimize its value.
It’s best to follow these steps with a professional collector or coin dealer if you’re a novice.
How many 1944 wheat pennies were minted, and where were they produced?
Over 2 billion 1944 Lincoln pennies were produced at the Denver, San Francisco, and Philadelphia mints.
Final Thoughts: Is the 1944 Lincoln Penny Worth Collecting?
Abraham Lincoln is an iconic figure in our politics- and coins, too! The 1944 wheat penny is part of a larger series of Lincoln series that bear the president’s portrait on the obverse and a pair of wheat stalks at the reverse.
While the face value of a 1944 penny is 1 cent, the coin is worth about 15 cents. The mint struck about a billion Lincoln pennies in 1944, and that’s why they are not rare.
If you are a numismatic enthusiast with any burning questions about the 1944 Lincoln penny, be sure to tell us!
how can you sell your coins 1944/one cent
How much can I get for it
I have a 1944 penny how much is it worth?
I have some of these coins and I would like to know where can I change them in for cash
I have a 1944 no mint penny how can I sell it
I have a 19 44 Lincoln penny that I want to sell how do I spell it?
I have a 1944 penny with no letter mark and it has a small dark stain slightly over the first word In god we trust. Maybe yes or maybe not, but is a keeper for me. I also have a 1941 ,1942, 1945,1946,and 50 all keepers for me. Just interested in them maybe my nephew kids will do something with them when they grow if they’ll are good coins some day.
cuánto me ofresen por eyas son varias
Where can u go to sell my pennies
I have one with errors on (L)iberty and (In God We Trust) is uncirculated but the back is fine it has the lines on the wheat
I AM TRYING TO FIND SOMEONE INTRESTED IN 1943 WHEAT PENNY , 1943 D WHEAT PENNY?
TRYING TO GET IN CONTACT WITH THESE RIGHT PEOPLE!!!??
Hi there how are you
Are you trying find some
One to buy 1943 penny from
Are to sell to ifso please let me
Know
I don’t have website
I’ve got a Lincoln steel can’t and also a Lincoln copper cent
How mush do you want
Yes it copper or zinc let me know at ridemyharley@hotmail.com
If you’ve got a 1943 wheat penny contact me ASAP BUT YOU NEED TO BE SURE WHETHER ITS A STEEL PENNY OR COPPER PENNY CAUSE THEY IS DIFFERENCE
I don’t have website I was looking at it on something borrowed sorry for any confusion
I have 1943steel pennies. 1944brown pennies.
Can I have your Steel pennies my kid loves collecting rare pennies
I have a.1943.and44 wheat pennies
Hi David I have a 1944 Steel penny
Can I please have it?
If it’s a still penny 1944 you literally have over 100 grand depending on grade
Hi Michael , I will be interested on both of your coins.
I have a 1944 copper penny that was double struck off center by different dye and several errors in lettering if you’re interested
I am uncertain on this I have a 1944 d/s I can’t make that out clearly but it’s not magnetic the r in trust is bigger and offset the last 4 on 1944 is different should I have a professional look at this if so how do I go about it
Ive got two one cent Lincon penny’s 1944 and 1999 the one is a split A from the name America what and how can I go about to sell them
I have 1944 unminted wheat penny and others and silver coins also
I have a bunch of old coins wheat pennies and other things trying to find someone interesting old coins to tell them to
How can I send you a picture of a 1944 D and 1944 S wheat Penny, to get a estimate on what they are worth?
i have a 1944 one cent penny no state,and a queen elizabeth coin also
its a wheat penny..
I have a wheat one cent Lincoln penny how much
I have a 45 d inwonderful condition what are you looking for
I have a 45 d inwonderful condition what are you looking for sorry mean 44
Yes i have a 1943 Penny and;1939 1937,and a 1936 one as well if you are interested.?
I have a 1944s steal wheat penny who do I contact to sell it?
I have a 1944 with the “1” in “1944” is almost gone. It appears to be half the height of the other numbers. Some could be from wear but there’s no sign of the other numbers having as much wear. Curious if there were any 1944s with strike errors in the “1”.
No, there is nothing rare about that. That is how that penny’s date was struck on all of them. Sorry.
I also have the same one with half of a 1 and rest of the numbers are perfect.
I have a 1944 s penny.
Think I have 1944 and 1952 Lincoln pennies.
I have like around 90 penny from 1917 18 22 27 30 36 37 38 39 40 to 49 50 to 59 60 to 69 70to 79
How much you want for those pennies check the date and how many of each date my name is Wilbert my number 3185429357 my Gmail is wilbertanderson2021@mail.com
How much u want??? Offer 20.00
I will pay $20.00 for each of the 1922 pennys u have
Anyone interested in buying wheat pennies email me at shafferbonnie9@gmail.com I have a few thousand about 300 1944 and from 1910 to 1958 thank you
I very interest
I have plenty of wheat pennies for sale from 1909 up
Hi I have a 1944 san Fransisco minted wheat penny are you interested in it and if so how much would you give me for it?
I have alot of pennys the collector coin guy says the back were it says America the And m are touching .also ingot we trust the last t is like shadow .liberty is all stamped wrong and. You can see it stamped over the date see a s few other things. have some to sell also silver
I have 1944s also Denver penny’s how much they word
I have two 1944 Penny’s how can I find out the true value of them?
I have Indian head and wheat pennies
I’m interested in your coins call me at 7316210926 terry
Hi I have a 1944 Philadelphia minted wheat penny with die adjustment marks on the reverse. What do you think the value is on this?
I have a 1944 Philadelphia minted Lincoln cent with die adjustment marks covering the whole reverse. Can anyone tell me if this is valuable?
Hello I have some 1937 up to 1972 mint s
I have a 1944 Steele penny how much is it worth
I’ll give you $100 if it’s really a 1944 steel penny
I have 3. You want them for 250
I will pay you good money ,If you wanted to sell
I Have a 1944,1961,1948,and1956 pennies
I have a 1944 wheat penny with no mint mark and the one is reversed can someone tell me how much it’s worth. Excellent condition detail on reversed 1 in date is remarkable
I have a1944 wheat penny in good condition looking to sell
I have 15 or 16 weat pennys 2 are 1944 the oldest i have is believe the 1919 and also have alot of sliver coins and forn paper money would like to sell for right price just Email if interested fuston59@gmail.com thanks
Mary, if you can take some picture of the coin you have a paper bills email me. Thank you
I have a 1944 penny no mint. It is cooper looking. On front on back like silver. I can’t find anything on this coin. Where do I find out what it is worth
I get 1927 and 1944 penny how much it worth
I have several 1944 D pennies D.Johnson
I found a 1944 no mint mark, but I notice that the word liberty only says “berty” is it worth more than .15cents
I have a 1944 wheat penny
I have 1909 threw 1956 wheat pennies I also have the sacewagea gold doll 2001 1944 half penny silver dimes quarters silver dollars teddy resevelt dollars and I want prices every other sellers get for there coins
I have several 1944 d an s where can I sell them or their worth.
I do have a 1944 penny metal plate are gone 19 mm 2.83 grams not certified though.
I have 1944 wheat penny with a upside down letter M stamped with two punch marks, is this ringing a bell with anyone?
I have a 1944 wheat penny with a mm of s. What’s it worth?
I have a 1944 S wheat penny with an misprint in “in god we trust” it says “in god be trust” how do i find the value there isnt anything online anhwhere about it.
I have a 1945S wheat penny
I have a 1945 S wheat penny also
I have a 1944 wheat penny with no mint mark. Is it worth anything?
I have 1944 UNC no mint mark already graded steal planchet reads 11spjh.how much value who to call?
I have a 1943 wheat penny in hood condition and it’s the copper one
How much.
I will buy it
Do you buy foreign paper money?it’s a500,000 besyuz bin Turk lirasi.
I’ve got 44 steel and copper wheat pennies for sell….to the highest bidder bids start at $100
I have 5 1944 wheat pennys one of them are 44 D how much is it worth an who wants to buy them