1929 Wheat Penny Coin Value: How Much Is It Worth?
A 1929 Wheat penny in well-worn condition starts around $0.30 at Good-4 grade, while an uncirculated example can reach about $61 at MS63 depending on the mint. Those anchors cover the three ordinary circulation branches — Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco.
Proofs, major varieties, and error coins fall outside that range and are valued separately. Original surfaces, color, and the degree of wear all influence what a specific coin will actually bring.
Fast Way to Identify Your 1929 Wheat Penny
Want a quick read on your 1929 penny? Upload clear photos of the front and back, and our identifier can give you a preliminary idea of which mint branch and general condition you are looking at.
Good lighting and a steady shot of the area below the date — where the mintmark sits — will help the most. This is not a certification or authentication service, just a useful starting point.
1929 Wheat Penny Value
Upload both sides of your 1929 Wheat Penny.
Front Obverse
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Back Reverse
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Which 1929 Wheat Penny Versions Are Worth Money?
- The 1929-D tends to carry the highest guide values of the three mints, listed around $0.61 in Good-4 and about $61 at MS63.
- The 1929-S is also worth checking — guide values run about $0.61 in Good-4 and roughly $38 at MS63, above the Philadelphia issue.
- Repunched mintmark varieties on the S and D coins can carry individual premiums when authenticated, so inspect the mintmark closely.
- A doubled die obverse has been reported for 1929; consistent letter separation under magnification is the diagnostic to look for.
- Off-center strikes and double strikes are dramatic error types that can significantly affect value depending on severity and date visibility.
Step 1: Identify Your 1929 Wheat Penny Mint Mark and Version
Flip the coin over first and confirm you have two wheat ears on the reverse — that is your Wheat cent. Now look at the obverse, just below the date: no letter means Philadelphia, a "D" means Denver, and an "S" means San Francisco.
All three mints produced business strikes in 1929.
The coin should weigh about 3.11 grams and have a plain edge. It is 95% copper with 5% tin and zinc, so expect a brown or reddish-brown color on most survivors.
A bright red coin is uncommon and valued differently, but color alone does not determine grade.
Beyond the three standard branches, 1929 has reported repunched mintmarks on the S and D issues and at least one doubled die obverse variety. Those require close-up comparison to a normal example, so grab a loupe before you get excited.
Step 2: Check Your 1929 Wheat Penny Grade
Start with Lincoln's cheekbone and jawline — those are the highest points and the first places wear shows. A coin grading Good-4 will have a very flat portrait with only an outline visible, while a Mint State coin retains full hair detail and original luster across the fields.
On the reverse, check the individual wheat grains and the horizontal lines between the stalks. As a coin circulates, those fine lines merge and eventually disappear.
Use the comparison image to match your coin's wear pattern. One thing to watch for: a weak original strike can leave soft detail that looks like wear but is not.
If the luster is still intact in the protected areas, the coin may grade higher than the detail alone suggests.
Color, spots, corrosion, and signs of cleaning are separate value factors. A cleaned coin with sharp detail will still trade below an original, naturally toned example of the same technical grade.
Step 3: Check 1929 Wheat Penny Value by Mint and Version
1929 Wheat Penny
The 1929 Philadelphia penny has no mintmark below the date — just bare space. It is a 95% copper business strike weighing about 3.11 grams with a plain edge.
Guide estimates place this branch around $0.30 in Good-4 and about $18 at MS63. That makes it the most affordable of the three 1929 mints in both worn and uncirculated grades.
Condition and original surfaces drive value here more than scarcity. A problem-free example with strong luster and no spotting will always outperform a cleaned coin at the same technical grade.
Color is not specified in the guide figures, so do not assume those numbers reflect a certified red designation.
| Range | Grade | Price | Auction Records | Appraisal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PO | PO 1 | — | Coin Identifier | |
| FR | FR 2 | — | Coin Identifier | |
| AG | AG 3 | — | Coin Identifier | |
| G | G 4 | — | Coin Identifier | |
| G 6 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| VG | VG 8 | — | Coin Identifier | |
| VG 10 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| F | F 12 | — | Coin Identifier | |
| F 15 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| VF | VF 20 | — | Coin Identifier | |
| VF 25 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| VF 30 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| VF 35 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| XF | XF 40 | — | Coin Identifier | |
| XF 45 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| AU | AU 50 | — | Coin Identifier | |
| AU 53 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| AU 55 | Coin Identifier | |||
| AU 58 | Coin Identifier | |||
| MS | MS 60 | — | Coin Identifier | |
| MS 61 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| MS 62 | Coin Identifier | |||
| MS 63 | Coin Identifier | |||
| MS 64 | Coin Identifier | |||
| MS 65 | Coin Identifier | |||
| MS 66 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| MS 67 | — | — | — | |
| MS 68 | — | — | — | |
| MS 69 | — | — | — | |
| MS 70 | — | — | — |
1929 Wheat Penny — D
Look for a small "D" mintmark below the date to confirm you have the Denver issue. This branch is the priciest of the three standard 1929 mints in guide estimates, listed at roughly $0.61 in Good-4 and about $61 at MS63.
That premium holds across the grade range.
The coin shares the same 95% copper composition and 3.11-gram weight as its Philadelphia and San Francisco siblings. Repunched mintmark varieties exist on Denver cents, so inspect the D under magnification for traces of a second, shifted punch position.
Authentication matters — a genuine repunched mintmark shows a clear secondary impression, not just fuzzy edges.
Coin Value Lookup is a good place to browse guides for this and other Wheat penny dates if you are building a set or just curious about what is in your jar of old coins.
| Range | Grade | Price | Auction Records | Appraisal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PO | PO 1 | — | Coin Identifier | |
| FR | FR 2 | — | Coin Identifier | |
| AG | AG 3 | — | Coin Identifier | |
| G | G 4 | — | Coin Identifier | |
| G 6 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| VG | VG 8 | — | Coin Identifier | |
| VG 10 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| F | F 12 | — | Coin Identifier | |
| F 15 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| VF | VF 20 | — | Coin Identifier | |
| VF 25 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| VF 30 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| VF 35 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| XF | XF 40 | — | Coin Identifier | |
| XF 45 | Coin Identifier | |||
| AU | AU 50 | — | Coin Identifier | |
| AU 53 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| AU 55 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| AU 58 | Coin Identifier | |||
| MS | MS 60 | — | Coin Identifier | |
| MS 61 | Coin Identifier | |||
| MS 62 | Coin Identifier | |||
| MS 63 | Coin Identifier | |||
| MS 64 | Coin Identifier | |||
| MS 65 | Coin Identifier | |||
| MS 66 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| MS 67 | — | — | — | |
| MS 68 | — | — | — | |
| MS 69 | — | — | — | |
| MS 70 | — | — | — |
1929 Wheat Penny — S
A small "S" below the date identifies the San Francisco branch. Guide values sit at approximately $0.61 in Good-4 and around $38 at MS63 — higher than Philadelphia but below Denver in this particular year.
The coin is the standard 95% copper alloy, 3.11 grams, plain edge.
San Francisco 1929 cents are worth a careful look under magnification because repunched mintmark varieties have been reported. You are looking for a ghost image of the S slightly offset from the final position.
Do not confuse normal die wear or a filled mintmark with a true RPM. Compare your coin to a known normal example at the same magnification before drawing conclusions.
| Range | Grade | Price | Auction Records | Appraisal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PO | PO 1 | — | Coin Identifier | |
| FR | FR 2 | — | Coin Identifier | |
| AG | AG 3 | — | Coin Identifier | |
| G | G 4 | — | Coin Identifier | |
| G 6 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| VG | VG 8 | — | Coin Identifier | |
| VG 10 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| F | F 12 | — | Coin Identifier | |
| F 15 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| VF | VF 20 | — | Coin Identifier | |
| VF 25 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| VF 30 | Coin Identifier | |||
| VF 35 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| XF | XF 40 | Coin Identifier | ||
| XF 45 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| AU | AU 50 | — | Coin Identifier | |
| AU 53 | Coin Identifier | |||
| AU 55 | Coin Identifier | |||
| AU 58 | Coin Identifier | |||
| MS | MS 60 | — | Coin Identifier | |
| MS 61 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| MS 62 | Coin Identifier | |||
| MS 63 | Coin Identifier | |||
| MS 64 | Coin Identifier | |||
| MS 65 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| MS 66 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| MS 67 | — | — | — | |
| MS 68 | — | — | — | |
| MS 69 | — | — | — | |
| MS 70 | — | — | — |
1929 Wheat Penny Error List
1. 1929 Wheat Penny — Repunched Mintmark
A repunched mintmark occurs when the mintmark punch was applied more than once in slightly different positions, leaving a visible trace of the earlier strike. On 1929 cents, this applies only to the D and S branches — Philadelphia coins have no mintmark to repunch.
Under magnification, look for a second, offset outline of the letter near or overlapping the primary mintmark. The remnant should be consistent in shape and direction, not random.
Machine doubling around the mintmark can mimic a RPM but typically shows a flat, shelf-like displacement rather than a clearly defined secondary letter.
Corrosion or a die chip near the mintmark can also fool you. No specific price range is adopted for this variety; individual value depends on the authenticated identity, condition of the coin, and how dramatic the repunching appears.
2. 1929 Wheat Penny — Doubled Die Obverse
A doubled die obverse on a 1929 Wheat cent shows consistent separation or notching on the obverse lettering or design elements. The doubling is die-based, meaning every coin struck from that die carries the same characteristic.
Under magnification, look for clear, raised secondary impressions on letters like LIBERTY or IN GOD WE TRUST.
The key distinction from machine doubling is directionality and sharpness. A true doubled die produces well-defined, rounded secondary lines, while machine doubling leaves flat, shelf-like traces that lack definition.
Worn die contours and reflections under certain lighting can also create the illusion of doubling.
No specific price range is adopted for this variety. Value depends on authenticated identity, the strength of the doubling, and overall coin condition.
Have the coin examined under controlled lighting and compared to a confirmed normal example before making assumptions.
3. 1929 Wheat Penny — Off-Center Strike
An off-center strike happens when the planchet is not properly seated in the collar before the dies come together. The result is a displaced design with an unstruck crescent of blank metal along one edge.
On a 1929 cent, the percentage of off-center shift and whether the date remains fully visible are the two biggest factors in desirability.
Do not confuse a genuine off-center strike with a clipped planchet, which removes a curved section of metal but keeps the design centered. Post-mint damage that flattens one side can also look suspicious.
A true off-center coin will show the design cleanly cut off, not smeared or distorted.
No specific price range is adopted for this error. Each coin is assessed individually based on the degree of misalignment, date visibility, and overall condition.
4. 1929 Wheat Penny — BIE Die Break
The BIE die break is a classic Wheat cent collectible. It refers to a small raised vertical line — essentially a die crack — that appears between the letters B and E in LIBERTY on the obverse.
The crack fills with metal during striking, leaving a bump that can resemble a capital I.
To check your 1929 penny, look at LIBERTY under at least 5x magnification. A genuine BIE will be a raised, irregular bridge connecting or sitting between the B and E.
It should blend into the coin's surface naturally. Dirt lodged between letters, a scratch, or a piece of foreign metal pressed onto the surface can mimic the appearance but will not show the same organic die-crack character.
No specific price is adopted for BIE breaks on this date. Value depends on the clarity and size of the break and the coin's overall condition.
5. 1929 Wheat Penny — Double / Multiple Strike
A double or multiple strike occurs when a coin fails to eject from the press and gets hit again, sometimes with the planchet shifting or rotating between impacts. The result is two or more complete or partial impressions of the design overlapping on the same coin.
On a 1929 cent, look for a clearly separate second image of Lincoln's portrait or the date displaced from the primary impression.
This is different from a doubled die, which shows subtle doubling within a single strike from a defective die. A true double strike produces obviously separated, often rotated design elements.
Post-mint impressions — where someone presses a coin against another object — lack the precise die detail and will typically show a mushy or incomplete secondary image.
No specific price range is adopted. Each piece is valued individually based on the number of strikes, the degree of displacement, and overall preservation.
