Finding coins while metal detecting, browsing through your childhood house, or just accidentally on a street is an exciting experience. If you are not an experienced numismatist you may not know the value of the coins you find, which is why we are here to help you.
This article is for you if you are interested in learning everything you need to know about the 1914 wheat penny value, varieties, history, grading, errors, and more. Stick around and enjoy discovering new things about this wonderful coin.
1914 Wheat Penny Details
- Category – Lincoln wheat pennies
- Mint – Philadelphia, San Francisco, Denver
- Mintage – around 118 000 000
- Obverse designer – Victor David Brenner
- Reverse designer – Victor David Brenner
- Composition – 95% copper, 5% tin and zinc
- Weight – 3.11 grams (0.10 ounces)
- Diameter – 19.05 millimeters (0.75 inches)
A wheat penny made in 1914 belongs to the category of Lincoln cents. It was minted in three locations – Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Denver. The first one doesn’t have a mint mark, the second one has a D mint mark, and the third one is marked with the letter S.
The designer of this beautiful coin was Victor David Brenner, a Lithuanian engraver who is most famous for this particular work of art. He designed both the front and the back of this coin.
The Lincoln cent was produced containing 95% copper and 5% tin and zinc. It weighs just over 3 grams and is 19 millimeters in diameter.
The US mint produced around 118 million of these pennies. Most of them are not rare or difficult to find, except the ones produced in Denver.
Also Read: Top 20 Most Valuable Old Pennies Worth Money (Penny Collection)
1914 Wheat Penny Value Chart
The least valuable wheat pennies from 1914 are the ones minted in Philadelphia. Their price starts at just around ten cents in poor condition, rising to around $50 for the coins that are about uncirculated, and reaching more than a hundred dollars for the pennies in perfect condition.
The situation is completely different when it comes to the coins made in Denver. These are quite rare as a lot of them were lost over time.
If you have a Lincoln cent from 1914 with a D mint mark, you are lucky, especially if you have more than one. Even if it is in poor condition, this coin is worth at least $20. The price rises with the quality of the coin, reaching thousands of dollars for those in mint condition.
The Lincoln cents produced in San Francisco are somewhere in between the previous two when it comes to value. Coins in poor condition sell for several dollars, while the ones in mint condition with a grade over 65 surpass $500.
| Condition | 1914 Wheat Penny No Mint Mark Value | 1914 Wheat Penny D Mint Mark Value | 1914 Wheat Penny S Mint Mark Value |
| Poor | $0.10 – $0.30 | $20 – $50 | $2 – $5 |
| Fair | $0.30 – $0.50 | $50 – $100 | $5 – $10 |
| About Good | $0.50 – $1 | $100 – $150 | $10 – $15 |
| Good | $1 – $1.50 | $150 – $200 | $15 – $20 |
| Very Good | $1.50 – $2 | $200 – $250 | $20 – $25 |
| Fine | $2 – $10 | $250 – $300 | $25 – $50 |
| Very Fine | $10 – $30 | $300 – $500 | $50 – $100 |
| About Uncirculated | $30 – $60 | $500 – $1 500 | $100 – $200 |
| Mint State (60-64) | $60 – $100 | $1 500 – $3 000 | $200 – $500 |
| Mint State (65+) | $100 + | $3 000 + | $500 + |
1914 Wheat Penny Value & Varieties Guide
The wheat penny from 1914 comes in three different varieties, based on the location in which the coin was minted.
These are the coins with no mint mark, those with a D mint mark, and the ones with an S mint mark. They were produced in Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco, respectively.
Let’s learn more about these varieties individually so you can get a better sense of the value of this coin and the factors that affect it.
1914 No Mint Mark Wheat Penny Value
The Philadelphia mint produced around 76 million Lincoln cents in 1914. You will know that your coins were produced in this mint if you look at them and see no mint mark, or a letter indicating the location of the production.
These are the least valuable variety of 1914 wheat penny. A large number of coins was produced and a large amount of them was preserved throughout the years. Therefore, they are not particularly interesting or attractive to collectors.
If your coin is showing clear signs of usage and if it is in bad condition, you cannot expect to get more than a dollar for it. On the other hand, if it looks brand-new, you can get lucky and get more than a hundred dollars when selling it.
- Type – wheat penny
- Edge – plain
- Mint mark – no mint mark
- Place of minting – Philadelphia
- Year of minting – 1914
- Face value – one cent
- Price – $0.10 – $100 +
- Quantity produced – around 76 000 000
- Designer – Victor David Brenner
- Composition – 95% copper and 5% tin and zinc
- Weight – 3.11 grams (0.10 ounces)
- Diameter – 19.05 millimeters (0.75 inches)
1914 D Mint Mark Wheat Penny Value
The wheat penny from 1914 that was produced in Denver is very rare and valuable. While the mint produced a ton of these, around 38 million to be exact, most of them were lost over time.
This is why the wheat pennies with a D mint mark sell for at least $20 even when in poor condition. If you have one that is in average condition you can get several hundred dollars.
In case you are in possession of a 1914-D wheat penny in perfect condition, expect to sell it for thousands of dollars as these are very sought-after by collectors and other enthusiasts.
- Type – wheat penny
- Edge – plain
- Mint mark – D mint mark
- Place of minting – Denver
- Year of minting – 1914
- Face value – one cent
- Price – $20 – $3 000 +
- Quantity produced – around 38 000 000
- Designer – Victor David Brenner
- Composition – 95% copper and 5% tin and zinc
- Weight – 3.11 grams (0.10 ounces)
- Diameter – 19.05 millimeters (0.75 inches)
1914 S Mint Mark Wheat Penny Value
The wheat pennies produced in 1914 in San Francisco are recognizable by the S mint mark. This mint produced the least coins during this year when compared to the other two – only around 4 million.
Despite this, a lot of the coins were preserved and are still easily available on the market. Remember, rarity dictates the price of the coin, so if a lot of them are accessible, the value will not be as high as one would hope.
When it comes to the 1914-S wheat penny, the prices range between a couple of dollars and several hundred dollars, depending on the overall condition of the coin.
- Type – wheat penny
- Edge – plain
- Mint mark – S mint mark
- Place of minting – San Francisco
- Year of minting – 1914
- Face value – one cent
- Price – $2 – $500
- Quantity produced – around 4 000 000
- Designer – Victor David Brenner
- Composition – 95% copper and 5% tin and zinc
- Weight – 3.11 grams (0.10 ounces)
- Diameter – 19.05 millimeters (0.75 inches)
1914 Wheat Penny History
The US Mint was established in 1792 and the penny was one of the first coins that the mint produced. Back then, this currency featured a woman with fluttering hair around her, representing liberty, which was the main design for over 60 years.
In 1857, the US mint changed the design of the penny to include an eagle on the front of the coin and a wreath of flowers on the back.
This design lasted for only two years until it was replaced with an Indian Head penny – a coin that was supposed to represent the culture of Native Americans as well as their importance in the US.
This particular design lasted for fifty years when the Lincoln cent saw the day for the first time.
It features a portrait of Abraham Lincoln on the front side and at the center of the coin. Above his portrait is the motto of the United States – IN GOD WE TRUST.
The left side of the obverse side of the coin is reserved for the word LIBERTY, which represents the freedom of the country’s citizens. The year, 1914, is engraved on the right side of the coin.
The back side of the penny contains two branches of wheat both on the left and the right side of the coin. Inside them are the words ONE CENT, indicating denomination, and UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
On top of the obverse side of this coin is another motto of the US – E PLURIBUS UNUM.
The Lincoln cent was designed by Victor Brennet and it is still used nowadays.
It made sense for the US mint to want to commemorate the birthday of the country’s ex-president and the decision turned out to be good as this coin is among the most beloved ones among the US population.
1914 Wheat Penny Grading
Wheat pennies from 1914 are graded as most other coins are – with the help of a 70-point scale in which the lowest numbers represent the worst condition and the highest numbers the best condition of a coin.
While the highest grade guarantees the highest price of a coin, it is also the most difficult to achieve. The coin would have to be in absolutely perfect condition – so much so that a person looking at it would think that it just got out of a mint.
List of 1914 Wheat Penny Errors
Even if your coin is not in perfect condition, don’t worry, you may still have a chance to sell it for good money. You will just need to look for any factory errors that may have occurred while the mint was producing the coin.
These errors make the affected coins super rare, so they are consequently more expensive.
When checking for errors, it’s important to discriminate between actual mint mistakes and the consequences of the decades-long circulation of the coin. The first increases the price of a penny while the latter can significantly decrease it.
If you are not experienced in figuring these things out, please consult a professional on this matter. The stakes are too high to risk selling a valuable coin or buying a fake one, especially if the transactions occur online.
Let’s look at some of the possible mistakes in the 1914 wheat penny.
1. 1914 Wheat Penny Chipped Coin
A blank round alloy that is used to make coins is called a planchet. During the minting process, a planchet can get chipped, resulting in an uneven surface on the edge of the coin.
This chip is usually easily noticeable to the naked eye. However, sometimes the part that is missing is so small that you may need a magnifying glass to notice the error.
2. 1914 Wheat Penny Die Break
Die break error happens when the dies that strike and engrave the coin are worn out or damaged. This results in a coin that has one or more parts of the design missing.
This error is most easily confused with what happens to the coins over their time in circulation, so it’s important to ask someone knowledgeable and confirm if it is indeed a mint error or just a coin in poor condition.
3. 1914 Wheat Penny Fake D Mint Mark
A fake D mint mark is not a mint error. However, since the 1914-D wheat pennies are so rare and valuable, many out there try to counterfeit this coin using various methods.
If you are looking to buy a 1914 penny with a D mint mark, don’t do so until you have seen it in person or until you have proof that the coin is not fake.
The same goes for the sellers. If you found this variety of 1914 Lincoln cents, check with someone who can confirm to you that it is legit. If you, even unknowingly, try to sell someone a fake, you can get in a lot of trouble.
1914 Wheat Penny FAQ
Is a 1914 penny rare?
A penny made in 1914 is not necessarily rare. The ones that were produced in the mints of Philadelphia and San Francisco are easily available and relatively cheap. However, a 1914 penny with a D mint mark is extremely rare and expensive.
How can you tell if a 1914 D penny is real?
The best way to check if a 1914-D wheat penny is real is to take it to a professional to get it evaluated. If you are a layman, you will have trouble discerning a fake from a legit coin.