1950 Wheat Penny Value: What Is It Worth in 2026?
Common date: not worth selling one by one. Keep it for your collection, or bundle it with other wheat pennies by the roll or bag.
Value by condition
| Fine (F-12) | $0.06 |
| Very Fine (VF-20) | $0.12 |
| Extremely Fine (XF-40) | $0.24 |
| About Uncirculated (AU-50) | $0.43 |
| Mint State (MS-63, uncirculated) | $2.50 |
Grades without a published guide price are not shown.
A 1950 Lincoln Wheat Cent struck at the Philadelphia (no mint mark) mint — a final-years issue with huge surviving supply, often collected by the roll or bag.
Specifications of a 1950 wheat cent
- Weight:
- 3.11 g
- Diameter:
- 19.05 mm (0.75 in)
- Composition:
- 95% copper, 5% zinc (post-war shell-case alloy through 1946)
- Edge:
- Plain (smooth, no reeds)
- Designer:
- Victor David Brenner — initials VDB appear on some 1909 issues
What a 1950 wheat penny looks like
Your 1950 looks exactly like this, with "1950" where the date sits in the photo.
How to judge the condition of your coin
- Look at the wheat stalks first. On a worn coin (like the photo — about "Good" grade), the stalk lines are mostly smooth. If every line and grain in the stalks is sharp, you are looking at Extremely Fine or better.
- Then check Lincoln's cheek and jaw. These are the highest points on the front. Wear shows there before anywhere else; a flat cheek means a lower grade.
- When in doubt, grade down. Sellers systematically overgrade; use the lower row of the price table and you will not be disappointed.
Worn-coin photo: Mark Morgan, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
1950 penny: mints compared
| Version | Mintage | Value range |
|---|---|---|
| 1950-D Wheat Penny | ~335 million struck | $0.06–$2.50 |
| 1950 Wheat Penny (this page) | ~273 million struck | $0.06–$2.50 |
| 1950-S Wheat Penny | ~119 million struck | $0.08–$2.50 |
Mintage and value can differ a lot by mint mark — compare the versions above before assuming yours is the common one.
1950 wheat penny no mint mark value
If your 1950 penny has no letter below the date, nothing is missing and nothing is wrong — it was struck at the Philadelphia Mint, which did not mark its cents. "No mint mark" and "P" are the same coin, so the price table above is exactly the one to use.
In worn condition a 1950 Philadelphia cent trades close to face value — dealers sell them by the roll. Uncirculated examples with original red luster are where the value lives: around $2.50 in MS-63. The 1950-D and 1950-S versions (with a letter under the date) are different coins — check the related links below if yours has one.
How to confirm it's genuine
- The mint mark sits directly below the date — no letter means Philadelphia (P). A magnifier with light at a 45° angle works best.
- Never clean the coin: cleaning destroys the original surface and can cut the value in half.
- For any coin worth more than $200, PCGS/NGC grading fees (~$20–50) are money well spent.
Where to sell this coin
- eBay works best in the $1.00–$200 range. Take clear photos of both sides in natural light, and put the year, mint mark, and approximate grade in the title.
- A local coin dealer is the fastest way to cash out, but expect 60–70% of guide prices. Best for selling common dates in bulk.
- Graded high-value coins do best at auction houses like Heritage Auctions or Stack's Bowers, where realized prices are public.
Common questions about the 1950 Wheat Penny
How much is a 1950 Wheat Penny worth?
Guide values run from $0.06 in Good (worn) condition up to about $2.50 in MS-63 uncirculated. These are retail guide figures, not offers to buy — a dealer typically pays 60–70% of guide, and top auction results for superb grades can exceed them. Check the grade table on this page against your coin's actual wear before assuming a number.
Where is the mint mark on a 1950 wheat penny?
On the front (obverse), directly below the four-digit date 1950: Philadelphia cents carry no mint mark, so no letter below the date is correct and normal. The mint mark matters — the same year can have very different values at different mints, which is why this site lists each mint separately.
Is a 1950 Wheat Penny rare?
No. With ~273 million struck, it is a common date, and worn examples are plentiful. Value is concentrated in uncirculated coins with original red luster.
Should I get my 1950 penny professionally graded?
Usually no for a worn example: grading fees run $20–50, which exceeds what a circulated 1950 cent is worth. Grading only makes sense if your coin looks fully uncirculated with sharp detail and original luster — and even then, compare the certified price against the fee first.