1911 Lincoln (Wheat) Penny

The Lincoln penny is still around today, however the coin that you might find laying around your house is nothing like the one from 1911. Back then, the coin was still in its infancy and the design was a bit different than it was today. Due to the historical significance and the rise in coin collectors, the 1911 Lincoln penny is highly sought after by new and old collectors.

As for what the coin looks like, the obverse side is much like it is today. In the center of the obverse is the raised profile of former President Abraham Lincoln. To his left will be the raised inscription of the word “Liberty,” while the 1911 year of minting is to his right. Arching overtop will be a raised inscription that reads, “In God We Trust.”

The coin’s reverse will be dominated in the center by the one-cent face value as well as a raised “United States of America” marking. The Latin phrase “E Pluribus Unum” arches over the top part of the reverse, while two single stalks of wheat are placed on both the right and left sides of the coin’s face.

Grading the 1911 Lincoln Penny

Collectors love these coins, but what they really want are 1911 Lincoln pennies that have been preserved over the years. In order to determine just how well-preserved a coin is, look no further than the grade it has received. Below you will find the different coin grades as well as a brief description with regard to what they might mean for a 1911 Lincoln penny’s appearance.

Uncirculated: If you have a 1911 Lincoln penny that is determined to be of Uncirculated grade, you have a coin that never saw a single day on the open market. Instead, these coins were kept in a safe space and did not incur any of the damage you would typically find on a coin so old. Though their color might have faded a bit over the years, the coin itself will be in flawless condition.

Extremely Fine: A coin that is of Extremely Fine grade is one that has a few minor imperfections that are able to be seen under close inspection. For the 1911 Lincoln penny, this might mean a single, small scratch, or perhaps a chip. Despite whatever imperfections may be found, these coins are in excellent shape for being more than 100 years old.

Fine: A coin that is determined to be of Fine grade will have seen its fair share of time on the open market, but will still be in decent shape. There will be some definite signs of wear and tear, such as scratching or the smoothing of the coin’s raised aspects, however most every aspect of the coin will be able to be deciphered with the naked eye.

Good: A 1911 Lincoln penny that is determined to be of Good grade is one that will have spent a good amount of time in circulation. As a result, it will have been the victim of heavy damage. From chipping, to scratching, and even the complete smoothing away of some of the raised features of the coin, a Good 1911 Lincoln will have seen its better days.

Pricing the 1911 Lincoln Penny

As far as the value of a 1911 Lincoln penny is concerned, this is something that is dependent not only on the grade, but on the type of coin as well. 1911 saw three different versions of the Lincoln penny produced, which means that the prices between different coin varieties might vary dramatically. Below is a chart that will give you a better idea of what you might pay for a 1911 Lincoln penny based on its type and grade.

Lincoln Pennies

DATE	GOOD	FINE	EXTREMELY FINE	UNCIRCULATED
1911 Lincoln Penny	$0.45	$1.50	$6	$11
1911 Lincoln Penny (D)	$6	$10	$50	$75
1911 Lincoln Penny (S)	$50	$60	$85	$110
Source: Red Book