1946 Wheat Penny Value
1946 Wheat Penny Values & History
1946 Wheat Penny
Wheat pennies are a favorite find for many coin collectors. This classic currency can still be found in circulation, and the value of wheat pennies range greatly. New collectors can build their collection without spending a fortune, while experienced coin collectors can search for rare and valuable wheat pennies. If you find a wheat penny, you have probably already made a profit. All wheat pennies have a higher value than one cent. You can even expect to get more than face value for wheat pennies in poor condition. Keep reading to learn about the fascinating history of the wheat penny, and the value of a 1946 wheat penny.Â
wheat penny mintage statistics
- The 1946 wheat penny has a circulation of 991,655,000.Â
- The 1946D wheat penny has a circulation of 315,660,000.Â
- The 1946S wheat penny has a circulation of 198,100.000
History of the 1946 Wheat Penny
Wheat pennies were minted in the United States between 1909 and 1956. The iconic currency was mostly made of copper before World War II, and steel versions of the wheat penny were issued after the war. Also known as the Wheat Cent, the wheat penny features two wheat stalks on one side with President Abraham Lincoln on the reverse side. President Theodore Roosevelt commissioned the wheat penny’s design in 1908 from Victor David Brenner.
The immigrant from Lithuania was a popular medalist and for some time his initials were inscribed on the wheat penny. The placement of Brenner’s initials differs based on the year the coin was minted.  Today, the wheat penny is the most collected coin around the globe. The wheat penny was produced for several decades with different versions minted along the way. The variety of wheat pennies makes the currency fun and easy to collect.Â
Mints of the 1946 Wheat Penny
Wheat pennies were produced at the Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco mints. For this reason, collectors pay special attention to the mint mark on the obverse of the coin below the date. A wheat penny produced in Philadelphia will not have a mint mark, a penny produced in Denver will have a D, and a penny produced in San Francisco will have an S.
The mint of a wheat penny can impact the value of the coin. In general, wheat pennies from the San Francisco mint or Denver mint are considered more valuable because less were produced. The rarity of the coin can help drive the value up.  The 1946 wheat penny can also be found with an error on the mintmark. In some cases, you may be able to find a wheat penny with an S over the D mintmark. This error can greatly increase the value of your 1946 wheat penny.Â
graded coins by a professional grading service by PCGS are often the highest value
1946 Wheat Penny Grading
The condition of wheat pennies varies greatly because the coins were produced so long ago. If you are an experienced coin collector, you are likely familiar with the grading system. New collectors should familiarize themselves with the grading of wheat pennies to help determine the value of their coins.  An Uncirculated 1946 wheat penny is in flawless condition because it never changed hands. An Extremely Fine grade wheat penny was also not likely in circulation, but it could be damaged. The damage must be very minor to achieve this grade.
A Fine wheat penny was likely circulated for some time, but it remains in good shape. There will be signs of wear and tear, but the coin’s raised features will not be compromised. A Good wheat penny will have heavy damage due to heavy circulation. While not as valuable as other grades, these coins are still collectible and highly sought after.Â
the world record for a 1946 wheat penny Is $14,950.00 Recorded in 2006
Understanding The Values
Understanding the Values of the 1946 wheat penny and grading services valuation and price differences can be confusing. Depending on where you look, a coin can be worth 0.2 cents, 0.9 cents, one dollar, twenty-five dollars, or more. As a result, there is no one definitive price for the 1946 wheat penny, but a wide range of prices for each grading service. Each coin grading service from PCGS, NGC, and even different private coin dealers grade and price them differently.
1946 Wheat Penny Value
As one the most collected coin in the world, wheat pennies do not tend to be very valuable. A wheat penny will always be worth more than its face value, though, which makes it a fun coin to collect. On average, a 1946 wheat penny in fair condition is likely to be valued around 15 cents.
1946 Unmarked Wheat Penny Value
A 1946 wheat penny from the Philadelphia mint will not feature a mint mark. These coins tend to range in value from 15 cents to $4. More than 990,000,000 1946 wheat pennies were produced in Philadelphia, so they are not very rare.Â
1946 Denver Mint Wheat Penny Value
A 1946 wheat penny from the Denver mint will feature a D as the mint mark. These coins can range in value from 15 cents to $5. More than 300,000,000 wheat pennies were produced at the Denver mint in 1946, so they are not considered very rare either.Â
1946 San Francisco Mint Wheat Penny Value
A 1946 wheat penny from the San Francisco mint will feature an S as the mint mark. These coins range in value from 15 cents to $6 on average. More than 198,000,000 wheat pennies were produced in San Francisco in 1946, making them the most rare mint of the year. However, a 1946 wheat penny with an S over the D mint mark can bring more than $250 at auction. This error is uncommon and increases the coin’s value.Â
More Reading and Information
Author, coin specialist, and numismatist James Bucki has written many excellent articles on coins and pennies. He writes for The Spruce Crafts. Professional grading service PCGS is a great resource and performs world-class grading services for coins. They also offer a world-class price guide for graded coins. NGC also provides expert coin guides and grading services.Â
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