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1927 Wheat Penny Value And Price Chart

1927 Wheat Penny Value And Price Chart

Being one of the finest coins you can own, the 1927 wheat penny without a mint mark is worth $0.20 in good condition, $0.30 in fine condition, $2 in extremely fine condition, and $3.50 in uncirculated condition.

When it comes to coin values, the condition is everything. Collectors love coins that are in good condition. But your good condition isn’t declared arbitrarily for wheat pennies or any coin for that matter. They have to be graded. And collectors adore graded coins.

Now, this 1927 wheat penny was produced in three separate factories or mints. Each of them attracts different values for this reason, even when you have graded them.

Let not the name of this penny deceive you. It is not a penny specially made to pay for wheat purchases in the US. Nor was it made with wheat. It is called wheat penny because the design on the reverse has two stalks of wheat on either side.

This is a very interesting coin not just because it has the face of an icon on it, but also because it is now so old you can make a fortune from selling it. But before you run up the attic to search the family heirloom, get to know this coin properly.

Most Valuable 1927 Wheat Penny

Most Valuable 1927 wheat penny is 1927-S 1C MS65+ Red PCGS Sold on Aug 24, 2022 for: $36,000.00

Most Valuable 1927 Wheat Penny

1927 Wheat Penny

1927 Wheat Penny

Just see how beautiful the wheat penny is; the color hue, the simplicity of the reverse design, and the striking resemblance of the image of Abe to the real man. This is a one-cent ($0.01) coin. It is also called the Lincoln cent and was first struck in 1909. It features one of the most beautiful designs by one of the US most able engravers, Victor David Brenner.

History

In 1905 the US mint was prepared to redesign coins that didn’t need congressional approval—the cent was one of them, and a couple of gold coins too.

A man named Saint-Gaudens was hired to design but by the year 1907 he died before the

preparations were completed. 1909 arrived and it was Abraham Lincoln’s centennial birthday.

The US mint contracted Victor David Brenner to continue the design process. Brenner was asked to design a cent that bore the head of Abraham Lincoln. Brenner simply used designs of Lincoln he had used before in his other works. Brenner once said he envisioned Lincoln reading to a child when he designed the image. It is likely that the designer Brenner was influenced by a popular photograph of Lincoln and his son Tad that was around at the time.

                            1927 Wheat Penny
Location Mintage
Philadelphia 144,440,000
Denver 27,170,000
San Francisco 14,276,000
Total 185,886,000

Continuing the tradition of the Lincoln wheat penny, it was minted in large amounts in 1927 without any change in the design by Brenner and also in the metal which was 95% copper and 5% tin or zinc.

In 1927 a total of 144,440,000 coins were produced in the Philadelphia mint, 27,170,000 in Denver, and 14,276,000 in the San Francisco mint.

      1927 Wheat Penny Composition
Metal Composition 95% Copper, 5% zinc and tin
Mass/Weight 3.11 g
Diameter 19.05 mm (0.750 inches)
Mint Mark D and S
Edge Plain
Designer Victor David Brenner

At one point the mint authorities had a problem with Brenner’s initials on the cents. Some felt it was too conspicuous, perhaps taking away from the glory of Lincoln’s presence on the coin. So in 1909, some cents had the VDB initial and others didn’t.

Almost 28 million coins with the VDB mark were struck along with coins that had the mint mark S and D on them. Rarest among these coins were the cents with the S as well as the VDB mark as only 484,000 of them were struck.

1927 Wheat Penny Design

The wheat penny has gone through many reforms in its design. For example, the one cent changed in 1959 and couldn’t be called a wheat penny in that year because the wheat stalks were replaced with the Lincoln memorial building, a change that was authorized by the Eisenhower administration.

In 1927 however, the design retained the original elements created by David Brenner.

Obverse

Obverse

You will find an image, the likeness of Abraham Lincoln on the obverse. Note the etching of the fine details in the hair, the ear, the eyes, the nose, and the jaw area. The raised letters are the same ones you see on most American coins. Above Lincoln’s head are the words IN GOD WE TRUST, and behind Lincoln is LIBERTY. In front of his chest is the date the coin was struck 1927. If it’s a marked coin that was struck in either Denver or San Francisco, you will find the mint mark on the obverse too just below the date as in the photo above.

Reverse

Reverse

On the reverse you will find the reason the 1927 penny is called a wheat penny. You will see two stalks of wheat on both sides of the coin cradling the words ONE CENT , UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. Then over all these are the words E . PLURIBUS. UNUM.

You will note that the 1927 pennies don’t have the VDB mark on them. Only wheat pennies from the year 1909 have them on the cents struck in Philadelphia and San Francisco.

Mints

Mints are important aspects of the life of every coin in the US. They determine to a large extent how sentimental collectors feel about the coin. Some mints specialize in minting proof coins—coins meant for collectors delight—like the San Francisco mint. And collectors seem to have a notorious preference for the Denver mint. At any rate, in 1927, the three factories produced wheat pennies.

Philadelphia Mint

Philadelphia Mint

This is the most popularly known mint in the US. They take the lead in minting, often producing more coins than the other two. They are also known not to leave a mark on the coins produced there. In 1927 the factory produced a total of 144,440,000 wheat pennies.

As you can see in the photo, those were extremely beautiful coins back then. They came without a mint mark on them. So if you find a penny with Lincoln’s head on it without a mark, it means it was made in Philadelphia. For the convenience of reference, some publications would attach a P to it.

Denver Mint

Denver Mint

Denver produced 27,170,000 of these coins in 1927. It came with a mark on it, D. You can’t miss it. If you stumble on this coin in your attic or family heirloom, keep it, grade it, and, well, maybe sell it. You never know what may come off from having one of these gems graded.

San Francisco Mint

San Francisco Mint

The San Francisco mint produced 14,276,000. It featured the same designs and metal composition as the other coins from the other mints. The distinction though was that it has a mark S on the obverse. The S stands for San Francisco. As for the value, the S coin is valued higher than the other two coins.

1927 Wheat Penny Value

The value of this penny increases progressively from the one without a mint mark to the one with a D mark and an S mark.

The most valuable of the 1927 wheat penny series is the one with the S mark which was produced in the San Francisco mint. In good condition it is worth $1.50, in fine condition it is worth $3, in extremely fine condition it is worth $15 and in uncirculated condition it is worth $40.

The earth flows with coins. But not all of them are valuable even though at one point in time the coin was used as an exchange of value. In many countries, after decades when the coin has been out of public circulation, it becomes worthless.

Year
G
VG
F
VF
XF
AU
1927
$0.22
$0.28
$0.33
$0.67
$2.28
$3.89
1927 D
$1.42
$1.71
$3.06
$4.21
$8.54
$28
1927 S
$1.71
$0.28
$3.30
$5.70
$17
$45

Sometimes the loss of worth is caused by low-value metal composition, at other times it is caused by the terrible condition that the coin has degenerated into.

The 1927 wheat penny falls in the category of pennies that are worth a lot of money if:

  • They are in great condition
  • They are graded

The two elements must come together for the pennies to be worth more than the metal value. The melt value of the 1927 penny is about $0.0245. This isn’t much as you can see.

Grading The 1927 Wheat Penny

You may wonder then: does my wheat penny stand a chance? How much is my 1927 wheat penny worth? How do I grade my 1927 wheat penny to increase its value?

This is how to grade your coin:

Uncirculated (MS)

Is your coin showing luster? Does it have a coppery or silvery color? If so the coin can be referred to as being an uncirculated coin. It is in mint state (MS). Coins that are graded MS are usually the most valuable. This doesn’t mean all coins graded MS are all perfect-looking coins. Some have scratches and contact marks on them, especially grades from MS 60 to MS 64.

About Uncirculated (AU)

Your penny is about uncirculated if the coin has been so well preserved that it looks as though it is mint. But unlike uncirculated coins, it shows no luster. You can tell this from the wear on the cheek and jaw of the Lincoln image. The wheat design also shows some wear.

Extremely Fine (EF)

There is light wear on your penny here. You will notice it on the areas around the ear, cheek, and jaw of the image. The wheat stocks are mostly clear, however. Coins in this category are extremely fine because the wear is minimal. The wheat only shows slight wear in the details.

Very Fine (VF)

Here your wheat penny shows sharp and bold details still. The wear areas are on Lincoln’s cheeks and jaw. Other details like Lincoln’s hair and the wheat stalks still show preservation in the details.

Good (G)

If your 1927 wheat penny is Good, it is heavily worn. No fine details like the delicate ones in the hair and the wheat on the reverse. The letterings are visible but barely. Do not expect a great price for your wheat penny if it’s in this condition. Now that you know how your coin will be graded it is time to see the real prices of sold 1927 wheat pennies to help you know what to expect should you decide to collect or sell what you have.

1927 Wheat Penny Value

1927 Wheat Penny Value

This is the 1927 wheat penny without a mint mark. It is worth $0.22 in good condition and $23 in brilliant uncirculated condition. But your own piece of coin can be worth more. See the table below for confirmation.

The 1927 Lincoln cent can be found in all circulated grades and is widely available in Gem Mint State grades, regardless of color designation. Lincoln cents struck during the 1920s are known for their weak strikes and tendency to show carbon spots. Be picky when buying specimens because a little patience always goes a long way in acquiring nice coins.

Quality
Price
MS 62
MS 63
MS 64
MS 65

1927 D Wheat Penny Value

1927 D Wheat Penny Value

The 1927 D Wheat Penny is valued at $1.42 for a good one, and $94 for a penny in Brilliant uncirculated condition. D marked coins usually attract higher prices at auction generally. When they are graded, their values go up.

Quality Price
MS 61 $53.00
MS 62 $86.00
MS 63 $140.00
MS 64 $132.00
MS 65 $499.00

1927 S Wheat Penny Value

1927 S Wheat Penny Value

The wheat penny marked S is the one produced in the San Francisco mint. You can find the S mark under the date on the obverse of the coin. It is worth around $1.71 in good condition, and $160 in MS 63. Below is a chart that shows that prices can be higher in other cases.

Quality
Price
MS 62
MS 63
MS 64
MS 64+
MS 65
MS 65+

Where To Sell Your 1927 Wheat Penny

First, you have amassed a fair number of 1927 wheat pennies. Second, you have read this article and are quite familiar with the Wheat Penny or any other pennies and coins for that matter. Then you took your time to understand how coins are graded. Now you are ready with your cache of coins. The question that comes to your mind is where do I sell my coin?

There are a number of places to sell your 1927 wheat pennies. Below are five of the best places.

This is one of the best websites on the internet where you can sell your coin. Collectors and dealers are available here to give you a competitive price for your coin. The website charges a 10% fee for their services but if you have a coin that is graded by experts, that fee doesn’t put a hole in your pocket.

This website is one of the most popular places where you can sell anything whatsoever. You can post your coins here for sale. The site is open to a larger customer base but less experts. eBay charges a fee of 12.35% but will give you a wider audience.

This website is fairly recent. They sell coins. Unlike many websites, this one allows you to list your coins for free. They do not have provision for auctions though. Another advantage of this website over eBay is, they only sell antique coins. Your listing is not bogged down by irrelevant listings. You pay a 5% fee if your item sells for $100,000.

Esty allows you to post your listings for just $0.20. Here the audience is wide too. They allow you to pay for advertising, transaction and payment processing only when you make a sale.

You can also sell your coins offline in the following places:

  • Local Garage Sales

This is one of the less common places to sell your coin. Though you might sell your coin faster here, you may not get the best price. Dealers appear at places like this if they get wind of coins for sale.

Bottom Line

One interesting coin is the 1927 Wheat Penny. In this article, you have learned of the value of this Lincoln one cent. You have also learned how coins are graded and the likely price you can get for graded coins. This Lincoln penny from 1927 is one of the most sought-after coins. The value of a 1927 wheat penny depends on the condition and the type of coin you have. If the coin has no wear and appears as if it were recently minted, you’ll get a reasonable amount for it, on the other hand, if you have an old coin that has lots of scratches on the surface, it might not be worth much.

5/5 - (1 vote)

Michael Formiller

Friday 18th of August 2023

I have a 1927 wheat penny that is smaller than a regular penny and is out of round. But weighs 3.1 can I get an estimate on it.