Lincoln Wheat Cent Series
1956 Lincoln Wheat Cent
History, varieties, and collector guide
1956 Overview
The 1956 Lincoln cent is a very high‑mintage late Wheat issue, with Philadelphia and Denver striking more than 1.5 billion coins between them. Philadelphia produced 420,745,000 cents, while Denver struck 1,098,201,100, making the 1956‑D one of the most common Wheat cents ever made.
In circulated grades most 1956 cents are worth only a few cents, but high‑grade red Mint State pieces and a cluster of notable 1956‑D repunched‑mintmark (RPM) and dual‑mintmark varieties give specialists something to chase.
Design and specifications
All 1956 Wheat cents use Victor D. Brenner’s Lincoln obverse and Wheat reverse on the standard bronze planchet.
Key specifications (all 1956 cents),
- Composition, 95% copper and 5% tin and zinc.
- Weight, 3.11 grams.
- Diameter, 19.00 millimeters.
- Edge, plain.
- Designer, Victor D. Brenner.
- Mintmarks, none (Philadelphia), D (Denver).
- Right‑facing portrait of Abraham Lincoln.
- “IN GOD WE TRUST” at top, “LIBERTY” at left, date “1956” at right.
- “D” mintmark below the date on Denver coins.
- “ONE CENT” and “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” in the center.
- Two wheat ears along the rim.
- “E PLURIBUS UNUM” above.
The 1956‑D cents in particular follow the typical late‑Wheat look, bronze color and generally good strike quality, though many surviving pieces show bag marks or spotting at higher grades.
Mintage and basic value ranges
Mintages for 1956 Wheat cents,
- 1956 (Philadelphia, no mintmark), 420,745,000.
- 1956‑D (Denver), 1,098,201,100.
Because more than 1.5 billion coins were struck, 1956 cents are among the most common dates in the Wheat series.
USA Coin Book’s table for 1956 (no mintmark) gives approximate values,
- Fine (F‑12), about 0.06 dollars.
- Very Fine (VF‑20), about 0.12 dollars.
- Extremely Fine (EF‑40), about 0.14 dollars.
- About Uncirculated (AU‑50), about 0.18 dollars.
- Uncirculated MS‑60, about 0.41 dollars.
- Uncirculated MS‑63, about 1.20 dollars.
For 1956‑D, Bullion Shark notes that the cent is common in most grades, with value rising in higher Mint State,
- Total mintage, 1,098,201,100.
- Metal, 95% copper, 5% tin and zinc, 3.11 grams, 19.00 millimeters.
- Widely available in circulated and uncirculated grades, with scarcity only beginning in the highest MS levels.
A NGC value snapshot for 1956‑D MS shows broad ranges where typical Mint State examples are modestly priced and only Gem red coins command notably higher prices.
Overall, most 1956 cents trade around 0.05 to 0.50 dollars in circulated condition and a few dollars in common Mint State, with multi‑hundred‑dollar levels reserved for certified high‑grade red coins and strong varieties.
Varieties and errors
1956 is a strong year for Denver mintmark varieties, including both classic RPMs and a controversial dual‑mintmark listing.
Key 1956 varieties and errors,
- 1956‑D/D RPM FS‑501
- 1956‑D RPM‑008 and related RPMs
- Wexler’s RPM files describe a 1956‑D WRPM‑008 where a secondary D is completely south (and slightly east) of the primary mintmark, a strong repunching that is listed in specialized RPM price guides.
- The Lincoln Cent Resource page on 1956‑D RPM 8 and 18 explains that RPM‑008 is bold, with a fully separated D south of the main mintmark, while a related RPM is somewhat weaker but still distinct.
- 1956‑D “dual mintmark” WDMM‑001
- Wexler notes a 1956‑D WDMM‑001 where an apparent S mintmark punch can be seen between the lower 1 and 9 of the date, described as a Dual Mint Mark variety.
- Most major attributers except CONECA list it as such, while CONECA questions whether the shape is a true S punching, making this variety an interesting but debated specialty piece.
- Other errors
In practice, the FS‑501 RPM and strong WRPM‑008 type repunchings are the best targets, particularly when combined with attractive Mint State surfaces.
Collecting 1956 cents
1956 is ideal for teaching how massive mintage can still coexist with interesting varieties and meaningful condition premiums.
Collecting tips,
- Start with a simple P‑D pair, VF–XF 1956 and 1956‑D cents are extremely inexpensive and easy to find in bulk Wheat lots or dealer junk boxes.
- When upgrading, emphasize original color, red‑brown and full red coins with strong luster and minimal spotting are far more desirable than dull, cleaned, or heavily toned pieces.
- Focus your variety hunting on Denver, the FS‑501 D/D RPM and WRPM‑008 south RPM give clear diagnostic features that roll hunters can learn and apply.
- Treat the dual‑mintmark WDMM‑001 as an advanced specialty, it is listed by several attributers but debated by others, making it an interesting talking point rather than a mainstream target.
- Consider certification only for very high‑grade red examples or for clearly defined RPMs on Gem‑quality coins, as grading costs can easily exceed the value of average 1956 cents.
A concise 1956 page on your site can show a P‑D mintage/value table, a close‑up of a 1956‑D/D FS‑501 or WRPM‑008 mintmark, and a short explanation of the dual‑mintmark debate.
6 fun facts about 1956 cents
- Denver’s 1956 mintage of 1,098,201,100 cents is one of the largest single-year totals in the entire Wheat cent series, making 1956-D extremely common today.
- Philadelphia struck 420,745,000 cents in 1956, still a huge number, but less than half of Denver’s output.
- 1956 cents come from only Philadelphia and Denver, since San Francisco’s Wheat cent production had already ended in 1955.
- Despite the enormous mintages, a cluster of 1956-D repunched-mintmark varieties still gives specialists something worthwhile to chase.
- Because so many 1956 cents survive, well-preserved red examples remain relatively affordable compared to scarcer dates, making the year a great entry point for new collectors chasing Mint State Wheat cents.
- The 1956 cent kept the same 95% copper, 5% tin-and-zinc composition used throughout the Wheat cent era, aside from the wartime steel and shell-case exceptions.
6 common FAQs about the 1956 Lincoln cent
- Is a 1956 penny rare?
No, with well over 1.5 billion cents struck between Philadelphia and Denver, 1956 is one of the most common Wheat cent years. - Which is worth more, 1956 or 1956-D?
Neither carries a significant premium in circulated grades; value mostly comes down to condition and any notable mintmark varieties. - Did San Francisco strike cents in 1956?
No, the San Francisco mint’s Wheat cent production had already ended in 1955, so 1956 cents come only from Philadelphia and Denver. - What 1956-D varieties should I look for?
Collectors watch for repunched mintmark (RPM) varieties on 1956-D cents, where the “D” shows doubling from being punched into the die more than once. - Is 1956 a good year to start a Mint State Wheat cent collection?
Yes, its huge mintage means bright red Mint State coins are more affordable than scarcer dates, making it a budget-friendly way to start collecting high-grade cents. - How much is a typical circulated 1956 penny worth?
Usually just a few cents, reflecting its very high surviving population.
3 quiz questions about 1956 Lincoln cents
- Which mint produced the most 1956 cents?
A) Philadelphia
B) Denver
C) San Francisco
D) They were equal - Roughly how many cents did Denver strike in 1956?
A) About 42 million
B) About 420 million
C) About 1.1 billion
D) About 4.2 billion - Which mint did NOT strike cents in 1956?
A) Philadelphia
B) Denver
C) San Francisco
D) None, all three struck 1956 cents
1956 Lincoln Cent, Takeaway
1956 is a volume year, one of the most common Wheat‑cent dates in circulation, yet still worth a second look because bright red Mint State pieces and bold 1956‑D RPMs like FS‑501 and WRPM‑008 quietly carry far more value than the sea of ordinary coins around them. For your Lincoln series it shows that even at the tail end of the Wheat era, huge mintages did not eliminate the small die quirks and top‑grade survivors that keep late‑1950s cents interesting for detail‑minded collectors.