Lincoln Wheat Cent Series

1928 Lincoln Wheat Cent

History, varieties, and collector guide

Quick Facts — 1928 Lincoln Wheat Cent

Mints: Philadelphia (no mint mark), Denver (D), San Francisco (S)
Highest Mintage: 1928-P (≈134.1 million)
Lowest Mintage: 1928-S (≈17.27 million)
Key Takeaway: Common date overall; 1928-S is toughest in gem Mint State
Major Variety: None
Collector Focus: Strike quality and clean red color in Mint State

In This Article..

Why the 1928 Lincoln Wheat Cent Matters

The 1928 Lincoln Wheat Cent is another high-mintage late-1920s issue that is extremely common in circulated grades. All three mints produced cents in 1928, with Philadelphia leading as usual. While 1928 cents are generally easy to find, high-grade examples with strong strikes and attractive surfaces, especially from Denver and San Francisco in Mint State, are more challenging than casual collectors might expect.

For collectors, 1928 is an affordable, accessible date that fills a slot in any date set without significant expense, though quality-focused collectors will find gem examples more elusive.

Design and Specifications

The 1928 cent continues the Lincoln Wheat design without changes.

Key Specifications:

Composition: 95% copper, 5% tin and zinc (bronze)
Weight: 3.11 grams
Diameter: 19.0 mm
Edge: Plain
Designer: Victor David Brenner

Obverse shows Lincoln facing right with the date and mint mark location below; reverse features wheat ears flanking ONE CENT and UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

Historical Context: America in 1928

By 1928, the American economy was still booming, though speculation and easy credit were reaching unsustainable levels. The presidential election saw Herbert Hoover win in a landslide, promising continued prosperity. Consumer spending remained strong, and the Lincoln cent continued its role as the nation’s primary small-change coin.

Few Americans suspected that within a year, the stock market crash of 1929 would bring the Roaring Twenties to an abrupt end.

Mintages and Mint Marks

All three mints produced Lincoln cents in 1928.

Mint	Mint Mark	Mintage (approx.)	Relative Scarcity
Philadelphia	(none)	134,116,000	Very common in circulated grades
Denver	D	31,170,000	Common; readily available
San Francisco	S	17,266,000	Common overall; tougher in gem Mint State

1928-P has a very high mintage and is extremely common.
1928-D is readily available in most grades.
1928-S has a moderate mintage and is the most challenging of the three in high Mint State grades.

The mint mark, when present, appears below the date on the obverse.

Common Date, Condition Challenges

1928 cents are common across all three mints in circulated grades.

Why 1928 Cents Are Common

Philadelphia’s 134+ million coins ensured widespread availability.
Denver and San Francisco both contributed solid mintages.
Heavy circulation through the 1920s, Depression era, and beyond left millions of survivors.

1928 cents are abundant in bulk wheat cent lots and dealer bins.

Where 1928 Becomes Challenging

High-Grade Examples: Gem red Mint State coins from all three mints are scarcer than mintages suggest, especially with strong strikes and clean surfaces.
1928-S: While not rare, it’s the toughest of the three in MS-65 Red and higher.
Strike Quality: Some 1928 cents show softer detail on Lincoln’s hair and wheat ears; well-struck examples are preferred.

Certified population reports show a noticeable drop in MS-65 Red and higher examples, particularly for 1928-S.

Varieties and Errors

1928 does not have a major headline variety, but there are still collectible errors and minor varieties.

Common 1928 Wheat Cent varieties and errors include:

Repunched Mint Marks (RPMs): Some 1928-D and 1928-S coins show doubled mint marks.
Die Cracks and Breaks: Overused dies produced coins with visible cracks.
Off-Center Strikes: Coins struck off-center with full dates bring premiums.
Lamination Flaws and Clipped Planchets: Typical bronze planchet errors.