THE WHEAT PENNY
1909 – 1958 • every year, every mint
“From wheat ears to copper memories”
Designed by Victor David Brenner, the Lincoln Wheat cent replaced the Indian Head in 1909. The reverse features two durum wheat stalks — a symbol of prosperity. Minted for half a century, it witnessed two world wars, the Great Depression, and America’s rise. Collectors chase dates, mintmarks, and errors; but every year from 1909 through 1958 carries a piece of history.
Below we walk through all 50 years of the wheat reverse, with images of key rarities and a complete year-by-year breakdown of mint marks.
✨ KEY DATES & ICONIC VARIETIES ✨
1909-S VDB
1914-D
1922 no D
1931-S
1955 DDO
1943 steel
Images: Wikimedia Commons (public domain / CC) — representative examples.
📆 ALL YEARS · 1909–1958 50 issues
Each wheat cent year and its regular mint marks (P = Philadelphia, D = Denver, S = San Francisco). Note: some years have variations or errors not listed. Click on any year to inspect — but here’s the full set.
| Decade | Highlights / notable years |
|---|---|
| 1909–1919 | 1909 VDB (P & S), 1909-S, 1914-D, 1918-D/S overmintmarks |
| 1920–1929 | 1922 no D (Denver only), 1924-D, 1926-S, 1927-S |
| 1930–1939 | 1931-S, 1932 & 1932-D (low mintage), 1938-D/S |
| 1940–1949 | 1943 steel (all mints), 1944–1946 shell case copper, 1948-S |
| 1950–1958 | 1955 doubled die, 1958 (last wheat cent, only P & D) |
a numismatic treasure
Wheat pennies are often found in old bank rolls, family collections, or attic jars. Even common dates carry the charm of early 20th‑century design. Check your pocket change before 1959 — you might still find one!
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