Lincoln Wheat Cent Series
1946 Lincoln Wheat Cent
History, varieties, and collector guide
1946 Overview
The 1946 Lincoln cent is the final year of the World War II shell‑casing alloy, with cents struck at Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco using recovered brass from spent ammunition. Total cent production across all three mints reached over 1.4 billion coins, continuing the very high‑mintage trend that began in 1944 and 1945.
In circulated grades 1946 cents are common and low‑value, but high‑grade red pieces, especially from San Francisco, and a long list of repunched‑mintmark (RPM) varieties on 1946‑D offer more advanced collecting challenges.
Design and specifications
Design remains Victor D. Brenner’s Lincoln obverse and Wheat reverse, visually matching earlier bronze Wheat cents.
Standard 1946 shell‑casing cents,
- Composition, 95% copper and 5% zinc (no tin), shell‑casing brass.
- Weight, 3.11 grams.
- Diameter, 19 millimeters.
- Edge, plain.
- Designer, Victor David Brenner.
- Mintmarks, none (Philadelphia), D (Denver), S (San Francisco).
- Right‑facing bust of Abraham Lincoln.
- “IN GOD WE TRUST” at the top, “LIBERTY” to the left, date “1946” to the right.
- Mintmark “D” or “S” under the date for branch‑mint coins.
- “ONE CENT” and “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” in the center.
- Wheat ears along the rim.
- “E PLURIBUS UNUM” at the top.
Shell‑casing cents from 1944–1946 often show slightly yellower color in fresh Mint State and can develop vibrant toning with pink, violet, or mottled patterns.
Mintage and basic value ranges
- 1946 (Philadelphia, no mintmark), part of a combined shell‑casing three‑year output exceeding 5.1 billion, with published price tables listing 1946‑P as extremely common.
- 1946‑D (Denver), 315,690,000 coins.
- 1946‑S (San Francisco), 198,100,000 coins.
Because of these large mintages, normal 1946 cents in worn condition remain plentiful.
Very general value impressions for problem‑free bronze cents,
- 1946 (no mintmark)
- 1946‑D
- 1946‑S
- Circulated, collector references generally place these in the same low‑value bracket as other shell‑casing cents, a few cents each in most circulated grades.
- Uncirculated, price lists and dealers show MS red pieces starting around a few dollars and rising with grade, with MS‑67 RD examples carrying strong premiums as condition rarities.
Overall, most 1946 cents are worth a few cents to a couple of dollars, and serious value comes mainly from high‑grade red coins and variety or error pieces.
Varieties and errors
While 1946 has no single famous doubled‑die like some earlier years, it is a significant RPM year for Denver cents and has at least one notable San Francisco over‑mintmark that appears in major variety lists.
Representative 1946 varieties and errors,
- 1946‑D RPMs,
- Variety Vista lists at least 15 different 1946‑D RPMs, including D/D south, D/D north, and multiple D/D/D positions, with RPM‑001 through RPM‑015 showing extra D impressions in various directions.
- These are primarily of interest to RPM specialists, who search rolls and dealer stock for sharp Mint State examples.
- 1946‑S/S and 1946‑S/D over‑mintmark,
- Lincoln variety resources note a 1946 S/D over‑mintmark among notable Lincoln OMMs, where a San Francisco mintmark was punched over a prior D, and 1946‑S RPMs discussed in collector forums and social posts.
- These pieces bring premiums over normal 1946‑S cents, especially when certified in higher grades.
- Minor doubled dies, die cracks, and chips,
- Other wartime‑era planchet and striking errors,
Most 1946 RPMs and minor varieties bring small to moderate premiums, while standout over‑mintmarks and high‑grade off‑center or off‑metal errors can be worth considerably more.
Collecting 1946 cents
1946 is easy to collect for beginners but still offers depth for date‑and‑mint and variety specialists, especially those interested in wartime alloys.
Collecting tips,
- Build a shell‑casing P‑D‑S trio, VF–XF 1944, 1945, and 1946 from all three mints make a compact World War II brass‑cent set, often sold in ready‑made 9‑coin displays.
- For 1946 alone, start with a circulated P‑D‑S set, then upgrade to Mint State as budget allows, prioritizing coins with original luster and minimal spotting.
- If you enjoy varieties, use the 1946‑D RPM list as a hunting checklist, RPM‑001 through RPM‑015 give multiple targets, and any 1946‑S over‑mintmark is worth a closer look.
- Highlight color designations when buying higher‑grade coins, RD examples are markedly scarcer and more desirable than RB or BN, and many collectors pay up for well‑preserved red 1946 cents.
- Place 1946 at the end of a wartime type section, as it is generally regarded as the final year of shell‑casing brass before the return to standard bronze in 1947.
On a website, 1946 works well as the closing chapter of a “wartime cents” segment, leading naturally into post‑war issues.
6 fun facts about 1946 cents
- 1946 is the last year of the shell‑casing alloy, 95% copper and 5% zinc, used from 1944 through 1946 to recycle brass from spent ammunition.
- The 1946‑D mintage of 315,690,000 pieces is large enough that these coins still show up in circulation occasionally, decades after the Wheat series ended.
- Shell‑casing cents often show more vibrant toning than earlier bronze cents, with many 1944–1946 coins developing pink, violet, or mottled colors.
- Published price tables list a 1946‑P Wheat cent in Uncirculated MS‑63 at around 2.44 dollars, illustrating how even high‑grade common dates can remain affordable.
- RPM references list at least 15 distinct 1946‑D D/D or D/D/D repunched mintmarks, making this one of the busier Denver RPM years.
- Variety lists that highlight the most important Lincoln OMMs specifically include a 1946 S/D over‑mintmark, placing this modest‑looking post‑war date alongside some of the more famous Lincoln varieties.
6 common FAQs about the 1946 Lincoln cent
- Are 1946 wheat pennies rare?
No, 1946 cents from all three mints are common due to very high mintages, though high‑grade red examples and certain RPM or OMM varieties are scarcer and more desirable. - How much is a typical 1946 penny worth?
Most circulated 1946 cents are worth about 0.05 to 0.20 dollars, while common uncirculated coins range from roughly 0.50 to a few dollars depending on mint and color. - What metal are 1946 pennies made from?
They are shell‑casing brass cents, 95% copper and 5% zinc, weighing 3.11 grams and measuring 19 millimeters, the same basic specs as other 1944–1946 shell‑casing cents. - Are there important 1946 varieties?
The date is known for multiple 1946‑D RPMs and at least one noted 1946 S/D over‑mintmark, which attract variety collectors and can bring premiums in higher grades. - Do 1946 pennies still show wartime characteristics?
Yes, they use recycled shell‑casing brass, and many uncirculated examples show distinctive toning and slightly different color compared with pre‑war bronze cents. - Should I get a 1946 penny graded?
Grading usually makes sense only for top‑end red Mint State coins or for certified attribution of notable RPM or over‑mintmark varieties, not for common circulated pieces.
3 quiz questions about 1946 Lincoln cents
- What alloy was used for standard 1946 Wheat cents?
A) Zinc‑coated steel at 2.7 grams
B) 95% copper and 5% zinc shell‑casing brass at 3.11 grams
C) Copper‑nickel clad
D) 95% copper, 5% tin bronze with no zinc - Approximately how many 1946‑D cents did the Denver Mint strike?
A) 31,569,000
B) 115,690,000
C) 315,690,000
D) 1,315,690,000 - What type of variety is especially associated with 1946‑D cents?
A) Overdate 1946/45
B) D/S over‑mintmark
C) Numerous D/D and D/D/D repunched mintmarks
D) Wrong‑planchet silver strike
1946 Lincoln “Shell Casing” Cent, Takeaway
1946 is a wrap‑up to the wartime brass era, a date that is easy and inexpensive in everyday grades but still interesting as the last shell‑casing cent, rich in Denver RPMs and subtle over‑mintmark stories for collectors who enjoy digging below the surface of a “common” Wheat penny. For your Lincoln series this year neatly closes the World War II alloy chapter and sets the stage for the post‑war bronze issues that follow.