1910 Lincoln Wheat Penny Value (S, No Mint Mark & Errors List)

Would you believe me if I said that your old cent coin from 1910 can be worth up to $50,000 today? You better do, because a 1910 Lincoln Wheat Penny recently sold for even more, $52,875 to be precise!

But not all 1910 wheat cents are worth that much. If you want to know what makes a 1910 penny valuable, scroll below to learn about all the rare features and signs you need to look for!

Identifying a Real 1910 Lincoln Cent (Design & Features)

The first step to evaluating a 1910 penny is to verify the coin’s design and other physical features, like size, weight, and more. Designed by Victor David Brenner, here’s a breakdown of design features and other attributes of a 1910 cent.

Obverse Design:

• The right-facing profile of 16th U.S. President, Abraham Lincoln
• “IN GOD, WE TRUST” along the top edge
• The mint date ‘1910’ to light right side
• The word ‘LIBERTY’ on the left side
• The mint mark “S” (if present) below the mint year

Reverse Design:

• The denomination “ONE CENT” at the center 
• The phrase “E. PLURIBUS UNUM” along the top edge
• The country’s name “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” below the face value
• Two wheat stalks surrounding the words “ONE CENT” and “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA”
• No designer’s initials appear on the reverse (compared to the 1909 VDB cent)

Coin Composition, Weight, & Other Features

The composition of the 1910 Lincoln Wheat remained the same as the first Lincoln cent; 95% copper and 5% tin. It also followed the traditional measurements as given below:

How Much Is a 1910 Penny Value? (3 Key Factors)

A circulated 1910 Lincoln Wheat penny typically sells for $1-$5 today, due to its rarity. However, well-preserved specimens in uncirculated states or those with rare characteristics can command prices from hundreds to tens of thousands of dollars.

Let’s understand the key factors that impact the value of 1910 Lincoln Wheat Penny!

1. Coin Grades & Colors

The first and probably the most important factor to consider is grades. These grades, ranging from P-1 (Poor-1) to MS-70 (Mint State-70), indicate the coin’s condition; higher grades mean better condition and preservation.

Naturally, high-grade 1910 cents are worth more. For example, a 1910 cent from Philadelphia will typically fetch $120-280, but the same coin can fetch $250-$2,000 in MS66 grade and up to $10,500 or more in MS67 or higher grade.

For Lincoln cents, the color designations are equally crucial to determine the value. The official color designations and their respective value are:

• Brown (BN) – These pennies show minimal to no original red color due to maximum oxidation and typically command the lowest premium. Even in high grades like MS65-MS66+, brown examples sell for $20-350.

• Red-Brown (RB) – These cents show a mix of original mint red (approximately 5-70%) and natural brown toning. Technically, RB 1910 pennies are slightly more valuable than pure Brown ones, with values reaching up to $500 in MS66!

• Red (RD) – The most valuable variety that displays at least 90% of the original mint red luster. True red 1910 pennies are exceptionally rare in high grades, like MS67. These coins sell for 3-10 times the value of a brown example in the same numerical grade.

2. 1910 Lincoln Penny Mint Marks

The 1910 Lincoln Cent was produced at two locations: Philadelphia and San Francisco, with both Mints releasing different numbers of coins with different mint marks. These marks also impact the coin’s rarity and value.

1910 No Mint Mark Penny Value (Mintage – 146,801,218)

With the highest mintage, the Philadelphia Mint produced 1910 pennies without a mint mark. These coins are generally the most common to be found. Nonetheless, a 1910 no-mint mark can fetch a few thousand dollars in high grades like this MS67+ example realized $10,868 on Legend Rare Coin Auction!

Here are the average values of a Red 1910 penny no mink marks by grade:

• MS60: $10-20
• MS62: $20-$40
• MS64: $65-$150
• MS65: $180-$350
• MS66: $300-$1,150
• MS67: $1,200-$3,000
• MS67+: $3,500-$10,800

1910 S Lincoln Penny Value (Mintage – 6,045,000)

The San Francisco mint only produced over 6 million 1910 pennies, identifiable by an “S” mint mark. Due to lower mintage, these cents are more valuable than the Philadelphia counterparts, with the highest value reaching a whopping $48,000 for an MS67+ Red example on Heritage Auctions.

The average values of a 1910 S penny as per grade are as follows:

• MS60: $20-$50
• MS62: $100-150
• MS63: $150-$250
• MS64: $250-$500
• MS65: $500-$1,000
• MS66: $1,000-$2,000
• MS66+: $2,000-$7,500
• MS67: $9,000-$25,000
• MS67+: $48,000-$50,000+

1910 Penny Proof Value (Mintage – 4,083)

In addition to the standard cents, the Philadelphia Mint produced proof coins using a special die for collectors. These 1910 cents also bear no mint mark but are identifiable by their well-defined strike and unique, reflective surface.

Due to a small mintage of over four thousand coins, 1910 penny-proof coins are extremely rare and valuable. For instance, a PR67+ RD example sold for an auction record price of $52,875 on Legend Rare Auctions.

Just like standard pennies, the value of 1910 proof cents depends on grades and colors. Generally, proof cents in high grades (like MS65+) with Red designation are worth the most. But even brown-proof coins can command premium prices, like this PR67 example that realized a whopping $9,000!

The following table shows the average values of a proof 1910 penny by grade and color:

3. Valuable 1910 Penny Errors

The third factor that directly impacts a 1910 Lincoln Wheat Cent value is production flaws, known as mint errors. Here are some notable 1910 penny errors:

Double Struck (Second Strike Off-Center)

One of the most dramatic errors found on 1910 pennies is a double-struck error. It occurs when a coin receives its first strike normally but fails to get ejected from the dies, resulting in a second strike that lands off-center.

You will notice two partial or complete impressions of the design—one rightly centered and the other typically offset. The value depends on the off-center percentage and the coin’s overall condition.

These errors are extremely rare to find in high grades and if found, they can fetch thousands. I found this VF35 example with Second Strike 25% that sold for $990 on Heritage Auctions. With this, you can imagine the price of mint condition coins.

Repunched Mint Mark (RMM)

This error occurs when the mint mark is punched multiple times into the working die, with each impression slightly offset. In the case of 1910 pennies, these varieties are only seen on the 1910 S penny.

Generally, there are two most common RPMs: the FS-502 variety which shows a faded S mint mark above the second mark, and the FS-501 variety which shows a faded S mark below the second mark.

The value of 1910 pennies with RPM errors ranges from $20-$30 in circulated state, mostly brown. But the Red MS64 or higher examples can fetch $1,000 to $2,500 or more.

Clipped Planchet

A clipped planchet error happens when the blanking press partially overlaps a previously punched area or the edge of the metal strip, resulting in a distinctive curved “bite” on the edge.

The value of a 1910 penny clipped planchet error depends largely on the size and position of the clip. Minor clips affecting less than 5% of the coin’s circumference typically sell for $50-$150, while major clips can bring $300-$500 in circulated condition.