The history of the Lincoln Wheat penny begins in 1909, when it was introduced to mark the 100th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s birth. It was the first regular-issue U.S. coin to depict a real person, replacing the earlier Liberty designs. Sculptor Victor David Brenner designed both sides of the coin, although his initials (V.D.B.) on early versions of the coin sparked controversy and were quickly removed from subsequent issues. The Mint restored the initials in 1918, but it made them much smaller and moved them to the obverse, below Lincoln’s shoulder at the edge of the portrait. U.S. Wheat pennies were produced until 1958, after which the reverse design was changed to the Lincoln Memorial, ending an era that had lasted nearly half a century.

Wartime Wheat Cents

Wheat pennies were primarily struck in bronze composed of 95% copper and 5% tin and zinc, giving them their distinctive reddish-brown hue. However, during World War II, copper was critical to the war effort. As a result, 1943 Wheat pennies were minted in zinc-coated steel. These steel cents are easily recognizable by their silver-gray color and are among the most famous variations in American coinage. However, the “steel pennies” proved prone to corrosion and the Mint returned to striking cents in copper the following year.

From 1944-1946, the Mint produced Wheat cents in two compositions: brass (95% copper and 5% zinc) and traditional bronze (95% copper and 5% tin and zinc). This was because many pennies were minted using copper from recycled ammunition shell casings. The alloys are nearly indistinguishable in appearance. However, shell casing cents in Mint State with full red hue may have be slightly yellower in color. From 1947-1958, all Wheat pennies were struck in the original bronze composition.

Whether copper or steel, each carries a unique story, reflecting a dynamic period in U.S. history. Expand your collection today with Wheat Cents for sale at Littleton Coin!