1954 Wheat Penny

The 1954 Wheat Penny had a total mintage of over 71 million coins from the Philadelphia Mint. The 1954 Wheat Penny had one of the lowest mintages from the Philadelphia Mint from 1934 onward. It can be very difficult to find this coin in Mint State, especially in the highest grades, as this coin isn’t known for its excellent craftsmanship. Many of the coins have a weak strike and less-than-ideal details. It is possible to find this coin in higher grade Mint State condition, and it will cost a pretty penny to purchase one. 

 

History of the 1954 Wheat Penny

The 1954 Wheat Penny would make a great addition to any Wheat Penny series collection. Cherrypicking is strongly advised due to this coin having a poorer quality compared to many of the other Philadelphia Mint coins that were struck in the series. The Wheat Penny was designed by Victor David Brenner. At the time, President Theodore Roosevelt wanted to prepare new coin designs that had more artistic merit. He chose Brenner based on a plaque he created with Lincoln’s profile. The Wheat Penny depicts a bust and profile of Abraham Lincoln on the obverse. The reverse features two stalks of durum wheat.

 

1954 Wheat Penny Worth

The 1954 Wheat Penny value ranges from around two thousand dollars to upwards of thirty thousand dollars for the highest grade coins available on the market. This is a significantly higher price compared to many of the coins in the series, and it is due to the difficulty of finding a 1954 Wheat Penny in the highest grades. The Wheat Penny comes in colors ranging from brown to brown-red to red, with the Full Red version typically commanding higher prices than the other colors. 

 

Type of coin: Penny

Year: 1954 Wheat Penny

Wheat Penny Mint Mark: Philadelphia

Total mintage: 71,640,050

Metal content: 95% Copper, 5% Zinc and Tin

Face value: 1 cent

Weight: 3.11 grams

Edge: Plain

Designer: Victor David Brenner

Diameter: 19.00 millimeters