Lincoln Wheat Cent Series
1913 Lincoln Wheat Cent
History, varieties, and collector guide
1942 Overview
The 1942 Lincoln cent is the last full‑year pre‑war copper Wheat cent, struck at all three mints, Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco, just before copper demands for World War II changed cent composition in 1943. It is a very high‑mintage year, with 657,796,000 coins from Philadelphia, 206,698,000 from Denver, and 85,590,000 from San Francisco, making 1942‑S the clear “better” branch‑mint issue by mintage.
Most circulated 1942 cents are inexpensive, but high‑grade red coins, especially from San Francisco, proof issues, and notable RPM varieties such as 1942‑D/D attract strong collector interest and can be worth hundreds or even thousands of dollars.
Design and specifications
Design for 1942 continues Victor D. Brenner’s Lincoln obverse and Wheat reverse, unchanged in appearance from earlier bronze Wheat cents.
Key specifications (all 1942 business‑strike cents),
- Composition, 95% copper, 5% tin and zinc
- Weight, 3.11 grams
- Diameter, about 19.05 millimeters (0.75 inches)
- Edge, plain
- Designer, Victor David Brenner
- Mintmarks, none (Philadelphia), D (Denver), S (San Francisco)
- Right‑facing portrait of Abraham Lincoln
- “IN GOD WE TRUST” above, “LIBERTY” to the left, date “1942” to the right
- Mintmark “D” or “S” under the date on branch‑mint issues
- “ONE CENT” and “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” in the center
- Two wheat sheaves along the rim
- “E PLURIBUS UNUM” at the top
Overall strike quality is solid, with many sharply struck Philadelphia and Denver cents, while some San Francisco pieces show minor softness or spotting even in higher grades.
Mintage and basic value ranges
- 1942 (Philadelphia, no mintmark), 657,796,000
- 1942‑D (Denver), 206,698,000
- 1942‑S (San Francisco), 85,590,000
- 1942 proofs (Philadelphia), about 32,600 proofs total, with a subset exhibiting cameo contrast.
Approximate value ranges for problem‑free coins (from value charts and guides),
- 1942 (no mintmark), red examples
- 1942‑D (red)
- 1942‑S (red)
- Good to Fine, about 0.53 to 1.83 dollars.
- About Uncirculated, around 4.68 dollars.
- Mint State, value tables show about 16.67 dollars for red pieces in standard MS ranges, while Superb Gem red MS67–68 coins can be worth thousands, including an MS68 example that realized about 12,000 dollars at auction.
- 1942 proofs and cameo proofs (Philadelphia)
- Regular red proofs, around 173 dollars in typical proof‑grade ranges.
- Cameo proofs, around 487 dollars or more for properly designated pieces, with the finest examples reaching significantly higher.
Most average circulated 1942 cents trade around 0.10 to 0.35 dollars, while choice red Mint State and proof examples can command far higher prices depending on grade, eye appeal, and certification.
Varieties and errors
1942 has a particularly interesting set of repunched mintmarks on the Denver issue and at least one important San Francisco RPM, along with the usual spread of errors and minor doubled dies.
Representative 1942 varieties and errors,
- 1942‑D/D RPM, FS‑502 and FS‑504
- PCGS lists multiple 1942‑D/D RPM varieties such as FS‑502 and FS‑504, where the D mintmark is clearly punched over another D, visible as extra outlines to the sides or below the main mintmark.
- These coins are popular among variety collectors and are worth premiums over normal 1942‑D cents, especially in red Mint State.
- 1942‑S/S RPM FS‑512
- Other doubled‑die and minor varieties
- Off‑center and striking errors
The most lucrative 1942 variety targets are usually the well‑defined 1942‑D/D RPMs and the 1942‑S/S FS‑512 in high‑grade red condition.
Collecting 1942 cents
Because 1942 is abundant yet rich in nuance, it is a flexible year for both beginners and advanced Lincoln‑cent specialists.
Collecting tips,
- Start with a P‑D‑S circulated set, VF–XF 1942, 1942‑D, and 1942‑S coins are affordable and nicely illustrate the last pre‑steel cent bronze issues.
- When upgrading, focus on color and surfaces, red‑brown and red examples with clean fields and minimal spots are the best value for most collectors.
- Pay special attention to 1942‑S, its 85,590,000 mintage is much lower than Philadelphia and Denver, and Superb Gem red San Francisco coins can be worth up to about 9,500 to 12,000 dollars in the very best grades.
- If you enjoy varieties, learn the diagnostics for 1942‑D/D RPMs and the 1942‑S/S FS‑512, then inspect mintmarks under magnification when sorting rolls or show stock.
- Consider adding a 1942 proof or cameo proof to your year set, even a mid‑grade certified proof demonstrates the difference between wartime‑era business strikes and more carefully prepared proof coins.
A well‑built 1942 page can show a circulated P‑D‑S row, one or two bright red Mint State examples, a proof slot, and a callout box or image for a key RPM or error variety.
6 fun facts about 1942 cents
- 1942 cents were the last full‑year bronze Wheat cents before the steel‑cent experiment of 1943, tying this date directly to wartime metal conservation history.
- Philadelphia’s 657,796,000‑coin output and Denver’s 206,698,000 made 1942 one of the heaviest‑mintage pre‑war cent years, while San Francisco’s 85,590,000 coins are comparatively scarce.
- Survival studies suggest that Philadelphia 1942 cents actually have a lower surviving percentage than the branch‑mint issues despite their higher mintage, simply because so many circulated heavily.
- A 1942‑S red cent in MS68 holds an auction record of around 12,000 dollars, making it one of the most valuable regular‑issue 1942 Wheat cents.
- PCGS lists multiple 1942‑D/D RPM varieties, and at least one 1942‑S/S RPM FS‑512 variety has only two MS67 red examples graded, each valued around 1,800 dollars.
- Value guides often summarize that most 1942 cents are worth around 35 cents in average condition, but the right combination of mintmark, condition, and variety can push a single coin into the 3,000–4,000 dollar range or higher.
6 common FAQs about the 1942 Lincoln cent
- Are 1942 wheat pennies rare?
No, most 1942 cents are common due to high mintages, but high‑grade red examples, especially from San Francisco, plus proofs and major RPMs, are much scarcer and more valuable. - Which 1942 issue is most desirable?
In top grades, the 1942‑S is often most sought after, with Superb Gem red coins reaching into the high four‑ and low five‑figure range, followed by standout 1942‑D RPMs and high‑grade 1942 proofs. - How much is a typical 1942 penny worth?
Many circulated 1942 cents sell for about 0.10 to 0.35 dollars, while uncirculated red coins can range from roughly 11 to 17 dollars in standard Mint State, and up to several thousand dollars for Superb Gems. - What varieties should I look for on a 1942 penny?
Collectors target 1942‑D/D RPMs such as FS‑502 and FS‑504, the 1942‑S/S RPM FS‑512, and a range of minor doubled‑die and striking errors, all of which require magnification and good references. - Did the Mint strike proof cents in 1942?
Yes, about 32,600 proof 1942 Lincoln cents were produced at Philadelphia, and red and cameo proofs are valued from around 173 dollars to nearly 500 dollars or more, depending on grade. - Do 1942 pennies contain any silver or special metal?
No, they are bronze cents, 95% copper with 5% tin and zinc, weighing 3.11 grams with a plain edge and a diameter of about 19.05 millimeters, just like most pre‑1943 Wheat cents.
3 quiz questions about 1942 Lincoln cents
- Approximately how many 1942‑S cents did the San Francisco Mint strike?
A) 65,779,600
B) 85,590,000
C) 206,698,000
D) 657,796,000 - Which 1942 variety is characterized by a clearly doubled mintmark on a Denver issue?
A) 1942‑D/D RPM FS‑502 or FS‑504
B) 1942‑P overdate 1942/41
C) 1942‑S over S on the obverse portrait
D) 1942‑P struck on steel planchet - Why are high‑grade 1942‑S cents particularly desirable?
A) They contain silver
B) They were only sold in proof sets
C) They have the lowest mintage of the year and Superb Gem red survivors can reach around 9,500 to 12,000 dollars
D) They feature a different reverse design
1942 Lincoln Cent, Takeaway
1942 is a pivot year, the last full‑year bronze Wheat cent before wartime steel issues, common in pocket‑piece grades yet surprisingly powerful at the top end, where San Francisco Superb Gem reds, proof issues, and Denver and S RPM varieties can all command four‑ and five‑figure price tags. For your series it neatly shows how a date that seems routine in change can still tell a deeper story about wartime economics, mintmark scarcity, and the outsized role of condition and varieties in Lincoln‑cent collecting.