1945 Wheat Penny Coin Value: How Much Is It Worth?
A 1945 Wheat Penny is one of the more common Lincoln cents, but it still carries collectible value depending on mint, condition and surface quality. Guide estimates for ordinary circulation strikes range from about $0.06 in Fine-12 up to $2.50 in MS-63, varying by mint branch.
Proofs, major varieties and mint errors are priced separately. Original surfaces, color and the absence of cleaning or corrosion all affect what a buyer will actually pay.
Fast Way to Identify Your 1945 Wheat Penny
The quickest way to get a preliminary identification of your 1945 Wheat Penny is to upload clear photos of the front and back. Good lighting and a steady shot let the identifier check your mintmark, surface condition and any visible oddities.
It takes seconds and gives you a starting point before digging deeper.
1945 Wheat Penny Value
Upload both sides of your 1945 Wheat Penny.
Front Obverse
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Back Reverse
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Which 1945 Wheat Penny Versions Are Worth Money?
- The 1945-S (San Francisco) has a slightly higher circulated floor, with a guide estimate of about $0.12 in Fine-12 versus $0.06 for Philadelphia and Denver.
- All three mints share a guide estimate of $2.50 at the MS-63 level, so condition matters more than mintmark at the upper end.
- Strong original surfaces with no cleaning or corrosion are more desirable than a higher-wear coin that has been polished.
- Authenticated mint errors such as doubled dies, off-center strikes or wrong-planchet coins are valued individually and can exceed standard guide prices.
Step 1: Identify Your 1945 Wheat Penny Mint Mark and Version
Flip your coin over to Lincoln's side and look just below the date. No letter means Philadelphia.
A small "D" means Denver. A small "S" means San Francisco.
All three mints struck cents in 1945.
The 1945 cent is made from 95% copper and 5% zinc, using reclaimed shell-case brass left over from wartime production. It weighs about 3.11 grams and has a plain edge.
This composition was used from 1944 through 1946, bridging the gap between the 1943 steel cents and the return to the normal bronze alloy.
No regular proof coins were produced for the Lincoln cent series between 1943 and 1949, so any 1945 you find will be a business strike. If someone offers you a "proof 1945 Wheat Penny," that is a red flag.
Color — whether red, red-brown or brown — is a separate surface attribute, not a grade level.
Step 2: Check Your 1945 Wheat Penny Grade
Start with Lincoln's cheekbone, jawline and the fine hair detail above his ear. These are the highest points and the first places to lose definition as a coin circulates.
A coin grading Fine-12 will show moderate wear across these areas but still have clear major features.
On the reverse, check the individual wheat grains and the horizontal lines between the stalks. Luster — that original cartwheel shine — disappears early and helps separate a true Mint State coin from a lightly worn one that was cleaned to look shiny.
A weak original strike can leave soft detail that mimics wear, so compare your coin to the reference image to see what a properly struck example looks like. Spots, corrosion, scratches and evidence of cleaning all reduce eye appeal and value independently of the technical grade.
Step 3: Check 1945 Wheat Penny Value by Mint and Version
1945 Wheat Penny
The 1945 Philadelphia cent carries no mintmark — just a blank space below the date. It is a business strike made from 95% copper and 5% zinc shell-case brass, weighing 3.11 grams.
Guide estimates place this coin at roughly $0.06 in Fine-12 and $2.50 in MS-63. These figures assume unspecified color, so a certified red example at the same grade could trade differently.
Philadelphia produced huge quantities in 1945, so finding one is easy. The challenge is finding one with full original luster and no spots.
If yours looks cleaned or has green corrosion, expect less than the guide figures suggest.
| 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 | Coin Identifier | |||
| MS 68 | — | — | — | |
| MS 69 | — | — | — | |
| MS 70 | — | — | — |
1945 Wheat Penny — D
Look for a small "D" mintmark below the date to confirm a Denver strike. Same shell-case brass composition, same 3.11-gram weight.
Guide estimates for the 1945-D sit at about $0.06 in Fine-12 and $2.50 in MS-63.
Denver's output was also large, so circulated examples turn up constantly. Mint State pieces with strong strikes and clean surfaces are where the real collecting interest lies.
Color is not specified in the guide anchor, so do not assume a quoted MS-63 price reflects a full red designation.
Coin Value Lookup is a useful place to look up guides for other dates and mints in the Wheat Penny series, especially if you are sorting through a jar of old cents.
| 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 | Coin Identifier | |||
| MS 68 | Coin Identifier | |||
| MS 69 | — | — | — | |
| MS 70 | — | — | — |
1945 Wheat Penny — S
The 1945-S bears a small "S" mintmark below the date, confirming San Francisco production. Same shell-case brass, same 3.11-gram weight as the other two mints.
Guide estimates give this one a slight edge in lower grades — about $0.12 in Fine-12 compared to $0.06 for Philadelphia and Denver. At MS-63, the guide estimate is $2.50, matching the other mints.
That doubled circulated floor makes the 1945-S the one to watch if you are cherry-picking rolls or junk bins. Still not a rare coin by any measure, but it consistently carries a small premium in well-circulated condition.
| 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 | Coin Identifier | |||
| MS 68 | Coin Identifier | |||
| MS 69 | — | — | — | |
| MS 70 | — | — | — |
1945 Wheat Penny Error List
1. 1945 Wheat Penny — Doubled Die Obverse
A doubled die obverse on a 1945 Wheat Penny shows consistent separation or notching on the obverse lettering or design elements. The doubling should appear uniform across multiple features, not just one letter.
Compare the date, LIBERTY and IN GOD WE TRUST to a normal coin under the same lighting.
The key distinction is consistency. Machine doubling — which is common and worth very little — tends to produce a flat shelf on one side of the letters.
A genuine doubled die shows raised, rounded secondary images. Reflections and worn die contours can also mimic doubling.
No specific price range is adopted for this error. Value depends on the authenticated identity of the die, the severity of doubling and the coin's overall condition.
2. 1945 Wheat Penny — Off-Center Strike
An off-center strike happens when the planchet is not seated properly in the collar before the dies come together. The result is a displaced design with an unstruck crescent of blank metal on one side.
The more dramatic the shift — and the more of the date that remains visible — the more collectors care.
Do not confuse this with a clipped planchet, a one-sided die misalignment or post-mint flattening from a vice or hammer. Genuine off-center strikes affect the entire design uniformly and show no distortion of the metal's edge profile in the struck area.
No specific price range is adopted. Each piece is assessed individually based on the percentage of off-center shift, date visibility and surface condition.
3. 1945 Wheat Penny — Clipped Planchet
A clipped planchet error means a portion of the original blank was missing before striking. You might see a curved bite, a straight edge or a ragged absence.
The metal flow from the strike often creates weakness on the opposite side of the coin from the clip — a useful confirmation detail.
Genuine clips show natural edge texture consistent with the original blank. If the missing area has tool marks, file lines or corrosion pitting, it is likely post-mint damage.
A filed notch will look deliberate; a clip will look like the coin was simply punched from the wrong part of the metal strip.
No numerical price range is adopted for this error. Value depends on clip size, type and overall coin condition, assessed individually.
4. 1945 Wheat Penny — Lamination / Split Planchet
Lamination errors occur when the planchet's metal separates into layers. On a 1945 cent you might see a peeling flap of metal still attached, a missing layer exposing a different-colored surface underneath, or a complete split through the coin's thickness.
Photograph the edge alongside the affected face to show the separation clearly.
The main lookalikes are post-mint scraping, corrosion and deliberate cutting. Genuine laminations follow the metal's internal structure and often have smooth, rounded edges where the separation begins.
A scraped coin will show directional tool marks instead.
No numerical price range is adopted here. Each lamination error is evaluated on the size and visibility of the separation and the coin's preserved condition.
5. 1945 Wheat Penny — Broadstrike
A broadstrike occurs when the coin is struck without the normal collar holding the planchet in place. The metal spreads outward beyond the standard diameter, and the rim is either weak or absent entirely.
The full design is still present — it is just wider than it should be.
Compare this to an off-center strike, where the design is displaced to one side. A broadstrike is centered but oversized.
Also rule out post-mint flattening: a coin squashed in a vice will show distorted lettering and uneven metal, while a broadstrike has clean, uniform design detail.
No specific price range is adopted for broadstrike 1945 cents. Assessment depends on the degree of spread, completeness of the design and surface quality.
6. 1945 Wheat Penny — Wrong Planchet / Off-Metal Strike
A wrong-planchet error means the 1945 cent dies struck a blank intended for a different denomination or possibly a different country's coin. To identify one, compare the weight, diameter and edge to a normal 1945 cent, which should be 3.11 grams with a plain edge.
A wrong planchet will differ in at least one of these measurements, and the design may be incomplete if the blank was smaller.
Lookalikes include plated coins, acid-treated cents and intentional alterations. Plating adds material on top; a wrong planchet is the wrong metal all the way through.
No numerical price range is adopted. These errors require individual authentication and evaluation based on the specific planchet involved and overall condition.
7. 1945 Wheat Penny — Die Break / Cud
A die break leaves a raised blob of metal on the coin's surface where a chunk of the die fractured and fell away. When that break connects to the rim, collectors call it a cud.
It appears as a featureless raised area replacing part of the normal design or legend.
Do not confuse a cud with a rim dent, which is recessed rather than raised. Corrosion bumps are irregular and soft-edged, while a cud has a defined boundary matching the die's break line.
Small interior die chips are related but separate — they sit away from the rim.
No numerical price range is adopted for 1945 cent cuds. Larger cuds affecting recognizable design elements tend to draw more collector interest, but each is assessed individually.
8. 1945 Wheat Penny — Double / Multiple Strike
A double or multiple strike shows two or more separate design impressions on the same coin. Typically the coin shifted or rotated between strikes, producing overlapping but clearly distinct images.
You can often see a second partial date, a second portrait outline or displaced lettering.
This is different from a doubled die, which is a single strike from a defective die. A double strike involves the entire press cycle happening more than once.
Post-mint damage from pressing two coins together can mimic the look, but the impressions will lack the sharp detail of a genuine second strike.
No specific price range is adopted. Value depends on how dramatic the displacement is, whether the date is visible, and the coin's overall preservation.
9. 1945 Wheat Penny — Brockage
A brockage happens when a previously struck coin sticks to the die and acts as a secondary die for the next blank fed into the press. The result is one normal side and one side with an incuse, mirror-image impression of the design transferred through the stuck coin.
The tell is the reversed, sunken image. A die clash can leave faint transferred outlines, but it does not produce the deep incuse relief of a true brockage.
Coins pressed together after minting — say in a vice — lack the uniform pressure and centering of a genuine mint-produced brockage.
No numerical price range is adopted for 1945 brockage cents. Each example is assessed individually based on the clarity of the mirror image, the affected side and overall condition.
