- United States Coins
- Wheat Pennies
- 1942 Lincoln Wheat Pennies
1942 Lincoln Wheat Pennies
Coin Info
With World War II rationing already underway in 1942 to save metal and other necessary materials for the war effort, the U.S. Treasury had removed nickel from the five-cent coin for the nation’s artillery needs. The Lincoln cent, however, wouldn’t undergo a temporary, war-related metal composition change until the following year. In that respect, production of 1942 Lincoln Wheat Penny coins continued as normal, with nearly 1 billion Lincoln Pennies were minted; 657,796,000 at the Philadelphia Mint (no mintmark); 206,698,000 at the Denver Mint (mintmark: D); and 85,590,000 at the San Francisco Mint (mintmark: S).
Given such high production figures, the 1942 Lincoln Penny is by no means a scarce coin – plenty exist in virtually all grades to provide Lincoln Penny collectors their fill, and for a price that is highly affordable for most numismatists. In fact, many 1942 Pennies are still circulating, so if you are inclined to assemble a collection of Lincoln cents from the 1940s (and 1950s, for that matter), searching pocket change and bank rolls may lend you the examples you want. If you would rather just buy your 1942 Pennies, you will find them for less than 20 cents each in just about any circulated grade you want, and for under $5 in uncirculated grades.
The only other major variety of 1942 Penny that for collectors to go after is the proof coin from that year, and with 32,600 originally struck for inclusion in proof sets, there are normally enough on the market to satisfy demand. You should be able to find an example in Proof 63 for around $75.
Other Years From This Coin Series:
User comments
There was no silver, or steel, penny made in 1942. You either have a Mercury silver dime planchet that was accidentally struck by a Lincoln cent die or a regular copper 1942 cent that was plated in zinc, steel, silver, or another silvery metal by someone outside the Mint. The former is extremely rare and worth $750 to $1,000 or up and the latter is much more common and worth just two cents for the coin's intrinsic metal value.
If you would like to post a photo of your coin, I'd be happy to help determine what you have.
Best wishes,
Josh @ CoinValues
Based on the thorough information you provided (thank you!), you have a plated 1942 cent that is worth two cents for its intrinsic copper value.
Best wishes,
Josh
A well-circulated 1942-D Lincoln cent is worth about 5 to 10 cents and is considered a collectible coin.
Best wishes,
Josh @ CoinValues
A 1942 Lincoln cent in average circulated condition is worth 5 to 10 cents.
Best wishes,
Josh @ CoinValues
May we see a photo of this coin, please? What does it weigh?
Thank you,
Josh
Worth anything?
Your 1942 Lincoln wheat cent was made at the Philadelphia Mint; back then, the Philadelphia Mint was not stamping a mintmark on one-cent coins. Your piece, presuming it's probably worn from circulation, is worth 3 to 5 cents.
Best,
Josh
I have a penny collection from when I was a kid (about 30-35 years ago) and I have three pennies with rainbow coloring. 1942, 1942-D, and 1942-S. Any value to those?
(I was going to post front/back photos of them, but don't see an option to do so)
Thank you,
Stephanie
You should see at the bottom left of your comment a button that says "Add Media". Clicking that allows you to upload images. Please let us know if you have any issue in getting that to work on your computer.
I can tell you that the minimal value for the coins you listed is 3 to 5 cents each, and hopefully the rainbow toning is due to natural aging and not the recoloring from past cleanings. Photos should help us further -- Fingers crossed!
Good luck,
Josh @ CoinValues
How much does your 1942 cent weigh? May we see a photo of your coin, please?
Thank you so much,
Josh
Would you please post a photo of this coin so I can help determine what's going on with it?
Thank you!
Josh
You can upload photos of your coin here in the comments section, and from viewing the photos we should be able to help you further.
Best wishes,
Josh
What I have is a 1942 copper, wheat Lincoln penny, with a "S" mint strike. My question is, what is it worth?
A circulated 1942-S Lincoln cent is worth about 5 to 10 cents.
Best wishes,
Josh
1942 Wheat Pennies with no mintmark are from the Philadelphia Mint and are worth up to 20 cents in normal worn condition.
You would have to upload a picture to take a better look. It's hard to describe in words certain mint errors or damage.
And I have 7 1942 silver looking Lincoln penny's some mint we at back I read some we're rediped but some have fase difference I have chains from 300ad I have some I guess China 1000 year's old maybe I bring them in they made 2 piles and sent pitches the a Extremely well know corner he said no biggie but the coin shop sure wanted them Go figure.
That doesn't sound like a known mint error, but you never know. It could be, but people do lots of weird things with coins sometimes! Could you upload a picture of it?
If you have doubts you should take your coin to a reputable coin dealer for appraisal.
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