1945 Lincoln (Wheat) Penny

The Lincoln penny is one of the most recognizable coins ever produced by the US Mint. Even though the coin has an insignificant face value, the age of the 1945 Lincoln penny makes it desirable to collectors. What’s more, the fact that these coins are no longer being produced means that their value is inherently rising all the time.

The obverse side of the 1945 Lincoln penny is dominated in the center by the profile of Abraham Lincoln. To the left of the President’s image is a raised inscription which reads “Liberty.” Opposite that inscription is one that marks the 1945 year of minting. Arching overtop of the obverse is a raised inscription which reads “In God We Trust.”

On the reverse of the 1945 Lincoln, there will be two raised inscriptions in the center part of the coin. One of the raised inscriptions will read “United States of America,” while the other marks the “One Cent” face value. On the left and right outer edges of the reverse there are two single stalks of wheat, which helps you understand why this coin is sometimes referred to as a “Wheat Penny.” Finally, the Latin phrase “E Pluribus Unum” is arching overtop of the reverse.

Grading the 1945 Lincoln Penny

When it comes to the 1945 Lincoln, collectors only want those pieces which have been graded. Basically, a coin’s grade is nothing more than a professional description of the coin’s condition. Below you will find an outline which explains the different coin grades as well as what they mean for the 1945 Lincoln.

Uncirculated: If a coin is worthy of the Uncirculated grade, this means that the coin has never been on the open market. Because these coins were never used for day to day transactions, they will be in flawless condition. In fact, you will not even see one scratch on the surface of these coins.

Extremely Fine: A coin that is determined to be of Extremely Fine grade is one that might have a scratch or two, but is otherwise in perfect condition. In most cases, Extremely Fine Lincoln pennies will appear to be mostly pristine. All things considered, these coins are some of the best around as far as condition is concerned.

Fine: A coin that is of Fine grade will likely have been circulated to some extent, but will still be in decent shape. You will notice some smoothing and light scratching, but this is nothing more than normal wear and tear for a coin so old. All things considered, the raised aspects of the coin will be intact and easily deciphered.

Good: Good is the worst grade a coin can receive and is indicative of a piece that has been heavily circulated. From deep scratching to the complete wearing away of the raised aspects of the imagery and lettering, these coins have definitely seen their better days. Still, despite their condition they are still desirable for most collectors.

Pricing the 1945 Lincoln Penny

If you want to determine the value of a 1945 Lincoln, you must take into consideration a few different factors. For one, there were 3 different types of Lincoln pennies produced most years. Because the different coin types were produced in different quantities, the type plays into the value heavily. Secondly, the condition the coin is in means everything. Knowing this, it goes without saying that the better the condition the coin is in, the more valuable it will likely be.

Lincoln Pennies

DATE	GOOD	FINE	EXTREMELY FINE	UNCIRCULATED
1945 Lincoln Penny	N/A	N/A	$0.20	$0.35
1945 Lincoln Penny (D)	N/A	N/A	$0.20	$0.35
1945 Lincoln Penny (S)	N/A	N/A	$0.20	$0.35
Source: Red Book