Quick Facts — 1922 Lincoln Wheat Cent

• Only one mint struck cents in 1922: Denver
• No legitimate 1922-P or 1922-S cents exist
• Lowest regular Lincoln cent mintage of the 1920s (7.16 million)
• Famous for the 1922 “Plain” / “No D” varieties
• 1922 Strong Reverse No D is a true key variety and major condition rarity
• Frequently misattributed or altered, making authentication critical

Why the 1922 Lincoln Wheat Cent Matters

The 1922 Lincoln Wheat Cent is one of the most famous and most studied, and misattributed, coins in the entire series. Philadelphia did not strike any cents in 1922, making this the only year in the Lincoln series with no “P” mint mark coin, only Denver produced cents, and that single-mint reality gave rise to one of numismatics’ best-known varieties: the 1922 “Plain” or “No D” cent.

For collectors, 1922 means three things: a common 1922-D issue, and two collectible varieties, the 1922 Weak D and the 1922 Strong Reverse (No D), that range from affordable curiosities to five-figure rarities depending on grade and diagnostics.

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Design and Specifications

TNo changes occurred to the Lincoln cent design in 1915. Victor David Brenner’s right-facing portrait of Abraham Lincoln and the familiar wheat-ears reverse continued unchanged, now six years into the series’ production.

By this point, the Lincoln Wheat cent had become a firmly established everyday coin in American commerce. The design details were well known to the public, and the Mint focused on production rather than experimentation or modification.

The V.D.B. initials remained absent from the reverse in 1915, as they would until their return on the obverse in 1918.

In addition to regular business strikes, matte proof cents were produced in very small quantities during this period. For 1915, surviving estimates suggest roughly 1,050 to 1,150 proof specimens, making them among the scarcer early Lincoln cent proofs and highly desirable to advanced collectors today.

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Historical Context: America in 1922

By 1922, the United States was well into the Roaring Twenties, with industrial expansion, rising wages, and growing consumer spending. The economy had recovered from the brief 1920–1921 downturn, and demand for small change was strong.

Despite this, the Philadelphia Mint focused its resources on silver coinage and did not strike any Lincoln cents in 1922, leaving Denver as the sole producer, a highly unusual situation that makes 1922 unique in the series.

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Mintages and Mint Marks

Only one mint struck Lincoln cents in 1922.

Mint	Mint Mark	Mintage (approx.)	Relative Scarcity
Philadelphia	(none)	ZERO	No regular-issue 1922-P cents exist
Denver	D	7,160,000	Lowest regular mintage of the 1920s
San Francisco	S	ZERO	No 1922-S cents were struck

The 7.16 million 1922-D mintage is the lowest of any Lincoln cent in the 1920s and makes even normal 1922-D cents more valuable than most other dates from the decade.

The mint mark, when visible, appears below the date. The famous “No D” varieties occur when the D was either weakly struck or completely obscured by a filled or damaged die. There are no legitimate 1922 Lincoln cents from Philadelphia or San Francisco; any genuine 1922 cent was struck at the Denver Mint.

In diagnosing true No D examples, reverse strength is more important than obverse weakness, a sharp reverse paired with a weak or missing D is the key indicator.

Because of the high value of genuine 1922 No D cents, altered coins with removed mint marks are common in the marketplace. Any coin believed to be a Weak D or No D variety should be authenticated by a major third-party grading service before purchase or sale.

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The 1922 “Plain” Varieties: Weak D and Strong Reverse

The 1922 “No D” or “Plain” cent is not a separate mint issue but rather a die variety caused by problems at the Denver Mint.

What Happened

• Overused, worn, or damaged dies caused the “D” mint mark to become faint, filled in, or completely invisible.
• Grease, metal flow, or die erosion meant that some coins show only a trace of the D, while others show no D at all.
• Collectors and grading services recognize two main categories:

1922 Weak D (Die Pair #2):

• A faint, partial, or “ghost” D is visible under magnification or in certain light.
• Worth more than a regular 1922-D but far less than a strong “No D.”
• Often affordable in circulated grades; premiums rise in higher Mint State.

1922 Strong Reverse / No D (Die Pairs #1 and #3):

• The D is completely missing or so faint it’s essentially invisible.
• Reverse details (especially wheat stalks) are sharp and bold, hence “Strong Reverse.”
• This is the true key variety; values range from hundreds of dollars in lower grades to five figures in high-grade certified examples.

How to Tell Them Apart

• Regular 1922-D: Clear, bold D below the date.
• 1922 Weak D: Partial or faint D; may require magnification and good lighting.
• 1922 No D / Strong Reverse: No visible D; strong, sharp reverse wheat ears and legends; often shows characteristic die flow lines or weakness on the obverse around the date area.

Third-party grading services like PCGS and NGC designate these as separate varieties, and authentication is critical for higher-value pieces.

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Other Errors and Varieties

Beyond the famous “No D,” collectors also find:

• Die cracks and breaks: Common on heavily used 1922-D dies.
• Repunched mint marks (RPMs): Some regular 1922-D coins show doubled or shifted D mint marks.
• Off-center strikes and lamination errors: Typical mint errors that appear occasionally and carry premiums when dramatic.

These are secondary to the main “Plain” varieties but still add interest and value for error collectors.

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1922 Lincoln Wheat Cent Values

Values vary dramatically depending on whether you have a regular 1922-D, a Weak D, or a true Strong Reverse No D variety.

Market values vary. Certification, strike quality, eye appeal, and die pair attribution all influence final pricing.

Always verify current auction results and population reports for high-end 1922 varieties.

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Collecting Tips

For Type Collectors

• A regular 1922-D in any circulated grade represents a low-mintage 1920s cent and is more interesting than typical high-mintage dates.
• If you’re on a budget, a problem-free Very Fine 1922-D is an excellent choice.

For Date-and-Mint Collectors

• The 1922-D is essential for a complete Lincoln cent set by date and mint.
• If you’re building a variety set, both the Weak D and Strong Reverse No D are major targets, budget accordingly and buy certified examples.

For Error and Variety Collectors

• The 1922 No D is a centerpiece variety for many Lincoln cent error collections and one of the most famous U.S. coin errors of the 20th century.
• Learn the diagnostics for Die Pairs #1, #2, and #3 so you can cherrypick raw examples confidently, many dealers still miss these in bulk stock.

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Fun Facts About the 1922 Wheat Cent

The 1922 Lincoln cent has a unique place in numismatic history and popular coin lore.

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FAQ — 1922 Lincoln Wheat Cent

Quick answers to the most common questions about the 1922 Lincoln Wheat Cent.

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Quiz: Test Your 1922 Lincoln Cent Knowledge

See how much you learned about this famous variety.

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1922 Lincoln Wheat Cent – Takeaway

1922 is defined almost entirely by its Denver-only production and the famous 1922 No D issue. With no cents struck at Philadelphia or San Francisco, all circulation coins came from Denver, creating unique striking challenges and die wear problems. While normal 1922-D cents are collectible in their own right, the No D variety stands as one of the most important and valuable errors in the entire Lincoln cent series. For collectors, 1922 represents a year where minting circumstances, not just mintage numbers, created lasting rarity and demand.

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1921 Lincoln Wheat Cents | 1923 Lincoln Wheat Cents