The Lincoln Wheat penny production era was more than 100 years long, and these coins are probably among the most recognizable pennies ever produced. Most of them ended up in the collectors’ hands, and their price is often higher than expected.
Be prepared that these pennies are pretty valuable nowadays because those in excellent condition are not very common anymore. In other words, they are not that rare because of the number of produced pieces, but well-preserved ones have become scarce over time. Let’s discover everything about the 1950 Penny value depending on its condition.
1950 Lincoln Penny Value
Victor David Brenner designed this beautiful coin made of 95% copper and 5% zinc and tin. It weighs 0.1 troy ounces (3.11 g) with a diameter of 0.75 inches (19 mm).
The value of the 1950 Lincoln pennies is conditional, meaning you need to determine it according to its condition. Coins that have cleaner and more detailed surfaces are always better graded and can bring you more money.
1950 Lincoln penny value |
|||
| Location | Year | Minted | Value |
| Philadelphia | 1950 | 272,635,000 | 3 to 15 cents |
| Philadelphia | 1950 proof | 51,386 | $50 and $75 |
| San Francisco | 1950 S | 118,505,000 | 3 to 25 cents |
| Denver | 1950 D | 334,950,000 | 3 to 15 cents |
| Total | 1950 | 726,141,386 | / |
Unique coins or those with specific details often have a higher value because of their rareness. Remember that you should have some experience for a more precise determination of the Lincoln penny value. Unfortunately, you can quickly make a wrong value decision if you don’t have much experience in this field.
1950 Lincoln Penny Condition
As always, coin grade will define its condition and value. You should be aware of different aspects that can help to increase or decrease its price.
For instance, you can notice the amount of wear without a single day of the experience. Crucial points are surfaces that show specific details, and their condition will define the overall coin quality.
Uncirculated Lincoln penny
By the 1950s, the ultimate collector grade was a mint state coin in uncirculated condition. A high amount of minted units and large savings at the minting time place these coins in this desired category. The crucial point of their grading is to determine the surface condition that needs to be with no wear indications.
It is also crucial to take a closer look at the high protrusions at the coin reverse. You need to notice its luster, a fine and smooth texture, and look that is the same as when the penny came out of the mint.
The surface blending usually represents the first sign of wear. When inspecting the coin, one of the crucial points is the line that goes from Lincoln’s collar towards the shoulder. It needs to be sharp and attractive.
Color change in uncirculated 1950 penny
The 1950 Lincoln penny was very brilliant when it came out of the mint. Some coins can start to change color on the board and show some signs of wear.
The material used for the production of the 1950 Lincoln penny was primary copper. Since this metal is prone to change colors due to air exposure, any color change is not a crucial sign of wear. In most cases, you can see a slight color variation at the top of the coin surface, giving it a smudged appearance..
The essential thing is to see a high brilliance underneath the surface color change for each examined coin. The best way is to look at your penny through the magnifying glass and rotate it to find the right angle that will help you determine its brilliance. The coin luster will show you any existing signs of wear.
The next step is to determine the blending and color change levels to determine the correct coin grade. Since the 1950 Lincoln penny is a collectible piece, the most sought-after coins are those that still have a full brilliance.
Extra fine Lincoln penny
You can see evident indications of wear equally distributed over the surface while looking at this coin. Some details remain, but many of them have vanished over time.
It is necessary to check the line that follows Lincoln’s coat. It is still present but slightly blended with the surface. Additionally, lines that go over the coat are pretty smoothened with the back surface.
You can notice various phases of wear on the coin, but the differences between them are not always significant. Remember that not every coin wears the same way, and not every line blending makes the surface flat.
Coins that are still collectible show some color-changing and darkening over the surface, but it is not crucial for determining its value. These coins have no visible damages.
You can start your collection with one of these pennies because they are affordable and easy to find. They spent some time in use, but most of them are still pretty preserved.
Average circulated Lincoln penny condition
Loads of these coins are available today, and you can find them quickly. They usually have significant damages, such as blending the upper and lower surfaces or significant color changings. Plus, many of the engraved letters are pretty worn out.
In most cases, damaged parts are the lines that follow Lincoln’s face. Look at lines around his jaw, cheek, and hair and check if they blend with the back surface to the maximum and whether they are poorly visible.
1950 Lincoln Penny Types
1950 Lincoln penny with no mint mark
At the beginning of 1950, Lincoln penny entered its sixth and last era of production as well. More than 270 million pieces left the mint only that year.
Therefore, you can find these coins everywhere, and it is only a question of how well preserved and desirable they are for collectors. That is also the first time to see proof version coins after the seven-year-long break.
1950 Lincoln penny value by USA Coin book |
|||
| Quality | 1950 | 1950 S | 1950 D |
| Good | / | / | / |
| Very good | / | / | / |
| Fine | $0.05 | $0.07 | $0.05 |
| Very fine | $0.11 | $0.16 | $0.11 |
| Extra fine | $0.22 | $0.27 | $0.22 |
| About uncirculated | $0.38 | $0.38 | $0.38 |
| Mint state 60 | $0.94 | $0.94 | $0.66 |
| Mint state 65 | $2.22 | $2.22 | $2.22 |
| Proof 63 | $77 | / | / |
1950 Lincoln pennies are usually very easy to track down and not expensive due to the high mintage. Therefore, you can find and buy some of the circulated units for about 10 cents each. If you decide to spend $5 more, you can get a beautiful and complete Lincoln penny set with a high grade.
On the other hand, you need to pay somewhere between $50 and $75 for a 1950 proof Lincoln penny. It is crucial to try avoiding damaged or discolored units since they are without any value.
1950 Lincoln penny value by JM Bullion |
||
| Coin | Extra fine quality | Uncirculated quality |
| 1950 Lincoln penny | $0.20 | $0.35 |
| 1950 D Lincoln penny | $0.20 | $0.35 |
| 1950 SÂ Lincoln penny | $0.25 | $0.35 |
Although plenty of 1950 proof Lincoln pennies exist, only a few are in perfect condition, and you need to set aside $100 for such a coin. The rule of thumb for buying the Lincoln penny says you should always buy the best piece you can afford. It will surely pay off over time.
1950 S Lincoln penny
The mint mark S below the production year engraved on the coin represents the San Francisco mint state. Uncirculated coins are very popular on a rarity scale for collectors, while the circulated ones are much more common.
In 1950, San Francisco mint produced fewer Lincoln pennies than usual, but they still minted about 120 millions of these coins. Therefore, 1950 S Lincoln pennies are still trendy, making their value stable and firm.
Collectors are primary into those coins that are without much damages and signs of wear. The rule of thumb is that a coin with clear details on the surface is the best choice.
1950 Lincoln penny value by CoinStudy, 9/6/2021 |
||||
| Coin | Quality | |||
| Good | Fine | Extra fine | Uncirculated | |
| 1950 Lincoln penny | $0.02 | $0.02 | $0.04 | $1.74 |
| 1950 D Lincoln penny | $0.02 | $0.02 | $0.04 | $0.74 |
| 1950 S Lincoln penny | $0.03 | $0.03 | $0.05 | $1.38 |
1950 D Lincoln penny
1950 D Lincoln pennies are widespread among collectors, and you can find them with ease. These coins come from the Denver mint that set some really high mintage scores this particular year with an impressive 335 million minted coins. That year was the first one when the Philadelphia mint wasn’t the most productive one.
Nowadays, you can find plenty of 1950 D Lincoln pennies available on the market, from the mint state to other circulated grades. Therefore, each collector looks for the best possible piece, and even the coin color can sometimes increase or decrease its value.
Summary
The 1950 Lincoln penny has its value due to many reasons. Keep in mind that the mint mark, mintage levels, and coin condition significantly affect its price. This coin is highly desirable among collectors and American history admirers, plus you can make a gorgeous and collectible set for a reasonable amount of money.
