1944 Wheat Penny Value – A Complete Guide

The 1944 Wheat Penny is a highly sought-after coin among collectors due to its historical significance and rarity. This coin’s value can vary greatly depending on factors such as condition, mint mark, and rarity.

Coins without a mint mark are considered the most valuable, as they were produced at the Philadelphia Mint. This article will explore the 1944 Wheat Penny value and the factors affecting its valuation and worth. We will also discuss the importance of condition and mint marks in determining this coin’s value.

Coins in circulated condition, with wear and tear from everyday use, can be worth around 5 cents to 20 cents.

Coins in good condition, with some wear but all details visible, can be worth around 20 cents to $1.

Coins in excellent condition, with minimal wear and all details visible, can be worth around $1 to $5.

Coins in uncirculated condition, with no wear and all details visible, can be worth around $5 to $50 or more.

Coins with no mint mark (Philadelphia minted) can be worth even more than that, especially if the coin is in uncirculated condition. A 1944 wheat penny with no mint mark in uncirculated condition can be worth around $50 to $200 or more.

Whether you are a seasoned collector or just starting, this information will help you understand the value of your 1944 Wheat Penny and make informed decisions when buying or selling.

What Makes a 1944 Wheat Penny Rare?

The 1944 wheat pennies are no longer in production. Other than that, some have rare errors. These errors make them desirable to collectors.

Additionally, the penny is entirely made of copper. Its design makes it attractive to collectors. 

In the middle of the penny is the image of Abraham Lincoln with “Liberty” and “1944” inscriptions to the left and right, respectively. The top of the penny features a raised inscription: In God We Trust.

On the reverse side, the penny has two inscriptions at its center: its “one cent” value and the “United States of America.”  There are two stalks of wheat on the left and right sides of the penny, hence the term wheat penny.

Related: 1964 D Penny – Features, Errors And Value

How Much is a 1944 D Mint Mark Wheat Penny Worth?

The 1944 wheat penny with a D mint mark is worth between $0.02 in Good and Fine condition. In Extremely Fine condition, it is worth about $0.04 and could sell for $0.89 in uncirculated condition. The penny is more valuable than the one made in Philadelphia without a mint mark.

However, it could fetch more if unique features, such as errors, make it rare. Auctions have reported bids of up to $24,000 for the D/S penny.

Related: 1864 2 Cent Coin Value

How Much is a 1944 Penny Worth in 2023?

The 1944 penny without a mint mark is worth $0.02 in Fine condition. If it is Extremely Fine, it could sell for $0.04 and $0.89 in uncirculated condition.

The penny minted in Denver, with a D mark, will also go for $0.02 in Good and Fine condition. Like the unmarked penny, it will sell for $0.04 in Extremely Fine condition. However, its uncirculated form will sell for more at $1.14.

The S penny sells for a little more, with the Good and Fine conditions selling for $0.03. In Extremely Fine condition, it could fetch $0.05 and go for $2.31 in uncirculated condition. 

Are there any valuable 1944 pennies?

Collectors have sought to have the wheat penny graded to make it worthwhile. Grading entails having a professional assessment of the penny. 

Related: 1945 Wheat Penny Value

The 1944 pennies are graded as follows:

1. Uncirculated/ Mint State (MS) – This represents the most valuable penny in the grading system. These are pennies that have never exchanged hands in transactions. They were just minted and kept in a safe, hence no damage. 
2. Extremely Fine (EF 40) – These are used pennies with minimal damage. An ideal penny will be in perfect condition. The only damage may be some minimal scratching.
3. Fine (F 12) – These are wheat pennies that have circulated for some time. However, the damage to them is slight. They could have a few scratches and chips but are generally well-preserved.
4. Good (G 4) – Comprises the least valuable penny because the penny is likely damaged to a great extent. Even in their poor condition, such pennies are still valuable.

Some features could make the pennies extremely valuable. These features could be errors during the minting process. Some pennies, such as the steel penny, are rare and fetch extremely high prices. Only about 24 steel pennies were made, making them extremely rare and valuable, with one selling for $408,000 in 2021.

Related: 1889 Morgan Silver Dollar Value – Mint Mark, No Mint, City

1944 Wheat Penny Value Chart

The following is a 1944 wheat penny value chart in 2023:

1944 No Mint Wheat Penny Value

The value of a 1944 no-mint Wheat Penny can be significantly higher than a coin with a mint mark. This is because coins produced at the Philadelphia mint, which did not have mint marks, are considered more rare and more desirable among collectors.

• A 1944 no mint Wheat Penny in circulated condition can be worth around 50 cents to $2.
• A 1944 no mint Wheat Penny in good condition can be worth around $2 to $10.
• A 1944 no mint Wheat Penny in excellent condition can be worth around $10 to $50.
• A 1944 no mint Wheat Penny in uncirculated condition can be worth around $50 to $200 or more.

It’s worth mentioning that the value of a 1944 no mint Wheat Penny can also fluctuate based on the current market conditions and demand for the coin. And also, it’s important to note that an expert appraisal from a professional numismatist will give you a more accurate estimate of the coin’s value.

Related: The 1959 Penny Value in 2023

Of the 2.1 billion pennies minted, 1,435,400,000 were minted and did not have the mint mark.

Related: 1971 Half Dolar Value – Mint, Errors And Worth

Why Is the 1944 Penny Rare?

The 1944 wheat penny is identifiable because it was made of copper only. Its obverse design gave it some aesthetic value. In addition, the US no longer produces the penny, increasing its demand by the day. 

Therefore, collectors seek the penny, have it graded, and add it to their collections. 

Many units of the pennies were produced. So they are not necessarily rare. However, errors are occasional, making some of them rare and valuable.

The 1944 pennies made of steel are scarce and could sell for up to $408,000.

Related: Bicentennial Half Dollar Value – A Complete Guide

1944 D Wheat Penny Value

The 1944 D wheat penny was minted in Denver. The D mint mark denotes its place of minting. Only 430,578,000 units were made. 

The 1944 D wheat penny ranges between $0.02 and $0.89. It is worth $0.04 in extremely fine circulated condition and $0.89 in uncirculated condition.

The Denver Mint made an error and punched an S into the D. It attempted to rectify the error, but remnants of the S are still visible. The penny is worth $100 at minimum.

Related: 1952 D Wheat Penny – Full Guide

1945 Wheat Penny Value

The penny is valuable to collectors because of its age. Since the penny is no longer in production, its value rises with time. Collectors are only interested in graded pieces.

The following table highlights the value of the 1945 wheat penny in 2023.

1943 Wheat Penny Value

The 1943 wheat penny was made of zinc and steel, with zinc used as the coating. The government did not use copper because of the need to make ammunition. However, the 1943 penny corroded fast, which precipitated the minting of the 1944 wheat penny.

Related: 1943 Steel Wheat Penny Worth a Million Dollars

The penny is rare, but not necessarily very rare. Today, it is worth a little over its face value. However, the value could be different for bronze pennies or those with an error. A 1943 copper penny was once sold for $82,500.

1944 Wheat Penny No Mint Mark

The US minted the 1944 wheat pennies in Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco. While those minted in Denver and San Francisco had a D and S mint mark, those made in Philadelphia did not have a mint mark. There are 1,435,400,000 unmarked wheat pennies. 

The 1944 wheat penny without a mint mark goes for $0.02 to $2.31, depending on whether they are in circulated or uncirculated condition. Upon grading, they can fetch a premium price.

Related: 1921 S Morgan Silver Dollar Value – A Complete Guide

1944 S Wheat Penny Errors

Errors on the 1944 S penny typically occur because it was misstruck. Although there are billions of the 1944 pennies, only a few have errors, making them rare.

Sometimes, the D is printed over the S on the 1944 S wheat penny. Since it is a rare occurrence, the penny could have a higher value than other 1944 S wheat pennies.

Other errors on the 1944 penny could be due to multiple strikes, an off-center strike, or the S die break obverse.

The 1944 wheat penny might also have faded letters in the letters “E Pluribus Unum” or have a missing dot. Such errors coil occur if the die used to hit it was aging and in the late stages.

“The Ghost of Lincoln” is an error on the penny where Lincoln’s bust is faded. The reason for the error is an overused die.

It could sell for a lot more, depending on how the penny is graded. For instance, one graded MS67 went for $3,290 in 2016, while another graded MS67BN fetched $50 in 2018.

If the 1944-S is made of steel, a rare occurrence, it is rare and significantly valuable. A 1944-S penny made of steel went for $408,000. Steel pennies are a transitional error, meaning they have a different meta composition and are extremely rare, hence the high prices.

Related: 1909 S VDB Penny Value

Conclusion

The 1944 wheat penny value could range between $0.02 and $2.31. Uncirculated pennies are worth more than circulated ones. Additionally, if the penny is made of steel or has errors, it could be worth more.