Do you have a 1915 penny and are curious about its value? As with most old coins, the value of the 1915 penny varies depending on several factors such as how many were printed, and what condition it is in.
In this article, we look at the value of the 1915 penny and its varieties. We also cover the history of these over a hundred years old coins and look at errors that can occur on them and how they affect the coins’ value. So read on to learn about the potential value of the 1915 penny.
1915 Wheat Penny Details
- Category: Wheat Penny
- Mints: Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Denver
- Total mintage: 55,973,970
- Obverse designer: Victor David Brenner
- Reverse designer: Victor David Brenner
- Edge: Smooth
- Diameter: 19.05 millimeters (0.75 inches)
- Thickness: 1.55 millimeters (0.061 inches)
- Weight: 3.11 grams (0.11 ounces)
- Composition: 95% copper, 5% tin, and zinc
- Melt Value: $0.0265
Description
The first 1915 pennies included the sculptor’s initials, but later the US Mint officials decided they were too conspicuous. Therefore the initials were removed from the design. However, reduced initials found their way back into the penny in 1918.
The 1915 penny has the portrait of former President Lincoln on the obverse facing right with the inscription “Liberty” on the left. The phrase “In God we Trust” is on the upper rim of the coin and the minting date is in front of the President’s portrait.
On the reverse of the coin, there are two wheat stalks and a Latin proverb “E Pluribus Unum” on the upper rim, the denomination “One Cent” in the central part, and below it “United States of America.”
Also Read: Top 20 Most Valuable Old Pennies Worth Money (Penny Collection)
1915 Wheat Penny Value
1915 Wheat Penny Value Chart |
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| Mint Mark | Good | Fine | Extremely Fine | Uncirculated |
| 1915 No Mint Mark Wheat Penny Value | $2.87 | $3.98 | $64.00 | $123.00 |
| 1915 “D” Wheat Penny Value | $2.87 | $4.63 | $40.00 | $144.00 |
| 1915 “S” Wheat Penny Value | $17.00 | $23.00 | $94.00 | $597.00 |
1915 No Mint Mark Wheat Penny Value
- Type: Wheat Penny
- Edge: Smooth
- Mint mark: None
- Place of minting: Philadelphia
- Year of minting: 1915
- Face value: $0.01
- Price: $2.87 – $123.00+, $993.00+ for Proof coins
- Quantity produced: 29,092,120
- Designer: Victor David Brenner
The 1915 wheat penny without a mint mark is more commonly known as the plain or no mint mark 1915 penny. The “no mint mark” coins were minted in Philadelphia and were part of the Wheat Cent series designed by Victor D Brenner. The 1915 penny was the fifth coin in the Lincoln cent series.
The “no mint mark” wheat penny was struck over 29 million times, meaning there were lots of them in circulation. However, many have been worn or damaged over time because of the softness of the copper that was used in these coins.
Because it is a common coin and not particularly rare, circulated coins may be worth a few US dollars. However, uncirculated 1915 “no mint mark” wheat pennies have fetched several hundred dollars at an auction and some even thousands.
The value of a 1915 “no mint mark” penny depends on its condition. Some of the most valuable 1915 wheat pennies sold at auction have included a PCGS MS66+ graded 1915 penny, which sold for $1,920 at a Heritage Auctions Event in 2019. In 2017, a PCGS MS67 graded coin sold for $4,935 also at a Heritage Auction Event.
It is important to note that these prices were fetched by 1915 “no mint mark” wheat pennies that were in exceptional condition. They had also been certified using a third-party grading service. The average prices of “no mint mark” 1915 wheat pennies are a lot lower.
1915 D Wheat Penny Value
- Type: Wheat Penny
- Edge: Smooth
- Mint mark: D
- Place of minting: Denver
- Year of minting: 1915
- Face value: $0.01
- Price: $2.87 – $144.00+
- Quantity produced: 22,050,000
- Designer: Victor David Brenner
The 1915 D wheat penny is a coin that was minted at the Denver Mint. Designed by Victor D. Brenner, it is part of the Wheat Cent series. With a mintage of 22,050,000, the number of 1915 D pennies is relatively low compared to some other coins in the Wheat Cent series. As a result, it is considered somewhat rare by collectors, especially in the higher grades.
The “D” mint mark appears on the reverse side of the 1915 D coin. The mint mark is just below the stalks of the wheat. Collectors can easily identify the coin as part of the Denver Mint from the mint mark.
While a good condition the 1915 D penny is not worth many dollars, uncirculated, well-preserved 1915 D wheat pennies can be worth significantly more. Some examples of 1915 D wheat pennies that have fetched large amounts in actions include:
- a PCGS MS67+ RD graded 1915-D penny was sold for $2,880 in 2018;
- a PCGS MS67+ RD graded 1915-D penny was sold for $3,120 in 2019;
- a PCGS MS67+ RD graded 1915-D penny was sold for $4,230 in 2017.
All of these coins were sold at Heritage auctions events.
1915 S Wheat Penny Value
- Type: Wheat Penny
- Edge: Smooth
- Mint mark: S
- Place of minting: San Fransisco
- Year of minting: 1915
- Face value: $0.01
- Price: $17.00 – $597.00+
- Quantity produced: 4,833,000
- Designer: Victor David Brenner
The 1915 S wheat penny was produced at the San Francisco Mint. Because there were only 4,833,000 coins struck at San Francisco Mint, the 1915 S penny is rarer than the “no mint mark” or the D penny from the same year. The mint mark S can be found below the year on the reverse side of the coin.
Even though the 1915 S wheat penny is not considered by collectors to be an extremely rare coin, it is less common than many other wheat pennies. This is partly because fewer pennies were produced at the San Francisco Mint in 1915 than in other years.
While a 1915 S penny can be worth around $17 in good condition, those in excellent condition can fetch several hundred dollars at an auction. Some have sold for a lot more at auctions. For example, an MS65 Red example was sold for $4,800 at a GreatCollections auction in 2020 and an MS66+ Red example sold for $10,800 at a Heritage Auction in 2021.
History
The 1915 wheat penny is part of the series of one-cent coins that were minted from 1909 to 1958. The coins were nicknamed wheat pennies because they feature two wheat stalks on the reverse side. On the obverse of the coin is a portrait of the former US President, Abraham Lincoln.
The Wheat penny is the first United States coin with an image of a president included in the design. Until 1909, the US Mint had considered such a style unacceptable. However, the policy was changed because the 100 birth anniversary of Abraham Lincoln was approaching. The design was an immediate success. It remained in production for the next fifty years.
Sculptor Victor David Brenner was asked to design a new penny look for the jubilee celebration by the president at the time, President Roosevelt. The President had been impressed by Brenner’s talent when he saw a plaque the sculptor had made a few years earlier bearing a portrait of Lincoln.
The 1915 wheat penny was produced at a time of conflict. The First World War was raging in Europe and the United States was starting to mobilize its troops for the conflict. This adds to the historic importance of the 1915 penny and makes it an interesting coin for numismatics and collectors.
1915 Wheat Penny Grading
The value of the 1915 wheat penny depends on its grading. The higher the grading, the better the value. Coins are awarded various grades ranging from poor to uncirculated. While a poor-condition coin may be hard to identify due to damage or corrosion, an uncirculated coin will have survived without wear or damage and retains its color and shine.
You can find out more about grading coins in the wheat penny series in this video.
1915 Wheat Penny Errors
1. 1915 Wheat Penny Double Die
The double die error is on the obverse of the coin and is characterized by a noticeable doubling of the lettering and the date. The doubling resulted from a mechanical error during the minting process. This error caused the die to be struck two times. As a result, the numbers and coins appear thicker than usual.
The value of the double die 1915 wheat penny depends on its condition, but they are generally considered to be worth thousands of US dollars. A 1915 wheat penny with a double die error in an uncirculated condition can be worth more than $20,000, while a worn circulated coin can still be worth several hundred.
2. 1915 Wheat Penny Off-Center
The 1915 wheat pennies with the off-center error can be highly sought after by coin collectors. The error is a result of the design being struck off-center, which resulted in an incomplete or partial image.
The value of the coin depends on the condition and the extent of the error. The more off-center the image is, the more valuable it is likely to be. If the coin is in an uncirculated condition, it can be worth several hundred US dollars. 1915 wheat pennies with the off-center error are not as valuable as those with the double die error.
3. 1915 Wheat Penny Re-Punched Mint Mark
The re-punched mint mark 1915 wheat pennies can be of interest to coin collectors. The coins with this error have the mint mark struck more than once and as a result, there is a noticeable doubling, or even tripling, of the mark.
A 1915 wheat penny with a re-punched mint mark can be worth several hundred dollars in an uncirculated condition, while a worn coin can still be worth around $50 or above. The exact value depends on the extent of the mint mark doubling and the condition of the coin.
4. 1915 Wheat Penny Die Cracks
Die crack errors refer to an error that can happen during the minting process. It is a fissure or a thin line that appears on the surface of the coin. Usually, it is located in the design or along the edge.
Die cracks are relatively common errors on all coins and do not necessarily add a lot of value to the coin. The exact value will depend on the overall condition of the coin as well as the visibility and extent of the die crack. 1915 wheat pennies with unusual or dramatic die cracks will generally be worth more.
1915 Wheat Penny FAQs
How much is a 1915 wheat penny worth today?
The value of the 1915 wheat penny depends on the condition it is in and whether it is a “no mint mark”, “D”, or “S” wheat penny. The 1915 S wheat pennies are generally worth more than the ones with no mint mark or D because there were fewer of them minted in 1915.
The value of a 1915 wheat penny can be higher if it has an error such as a double die or re-punched mint.
How rare is a penny from 1915?
The 1915 penny is rated “abundant” on the rarity scale. This means they can still be very affordable to most collectors. However, the value can jump up significantly if the coin is in an uncirculated condition or has an error on it.
What year is a rare wheat penny?
The 1909-S VDB and 1914-D wheat penny coins are among the most valuable coins in the wheat penny series. While the 1915 wheat penny is not one of the rarest and therefore most valuable wheat pennies, it can still be valued in hundreds and even thousands of dollars when in uncirculated condition.