A 1942-S wheat penny MS68 Red sold for $12,650 at Heritage Auctions. A proof cameo specimen reached $17,625. Most 1942 pennies are worth a quarter. Here is exactly how to tell which one you have.
Select your mint mark, condition, and color designation. Returns a current market value range from verified auction records.
Not sure what variety you have? Describe what you see — mint mark, condition, any doubling or doubled S, coin color — and we will identify it for you.
The 1942-S is the scarcest regular-issue penny of the year with just 85,590,000 minted. Check all four traits to assess whether your coin belongs in a professional slab.
Based on PCGS CoinFacts, Heritage Auctions, Stack's Bowers, and Legend Rare Coin Auctions records — updated 2026. Red (RD) commands a significant premium over Brown (BN) at identical grades.
| Variety | Circulated G–VF | AU | MS60–65 | MS66–68+ | Rarity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1942-P No Mint Mark | $0.10–$0.35 | $0.50–$2 | $1–$15 (RD) | $120–$3,960 (RD) | Common |
| 1942-D Denver | $0.10–$0.50 | $1–$3 | $2–$15 (RD) | $150–$12,650 (RD) | Common |
| 1942-S San Francisco | $0.15–$0.75 | $2–$8 | $5–$25 (RD) | $150–$12,650 (RD) | Scarce (gem) |
| 1942 Proof PR60–65 | N/A | N/A | $32–$400 (RD) | $1,000–$4,080 (RD) | Scarce |
| 1942 Proof Cameo PR CAM ⚡ | N/A | N/A | $500–$5,000+ | up to $17,625 | Rare |
| 1942-P DDO FS-101 to FS-104 | $50–$150 | $150–$300 | $200–$500 | $500–$1,200+ | Error Variety |
| 1942-S/S RPM FS-512 | $30–$100 | $100–$300 | $300–$800 | $800–$1,763+ | Very Scarce |
Values are approximate based on PCGS CoinFacts and Heritage Auctions — 2026 edition. For a real-time estimate, use CoinKnow, a coin identifier and value app, to get an AI-powered instant assessment from a photo. See also the live 1942 wheat penny price chart on CoinHix and the detailed 1942 penny value guide for further auction data.
When Japan attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, the United States entered World War II — and every metal in the economy came under pressure. Copper, the primary component of the Lincoln cent since 1864, was suddenly critical for ammunition cartridge cases, electrical wiring for ships and aircraft, and countless other military applications. By late 1942, the U.S. Treasury and Mint were already planning to remove copper from the cent.
In 1942, the Mint still produced pennies in the traditional bronze alloy — 95% copper with tin and zinc. One quiet change was made: tin was omitted from the alloy, shifting the composition to 95% copper and 5% zinc. This had no visible effect on appearance but marked the beginning of wartime material conservation. The 1942 cent is thus the last full production year of the traditional copper wheat penny before the steel emergency of 1943.
That history is one reason collectors prize this coin. It marks the symbolic boundary between peacetime coinage and wartime austerity. Philadelphia alone struck more than 657 million 1942 cents. Denver added 206 million more, and San Francisco contributed 85.6 million. The proof program — just 32,600 sets — was suspended after 1942 due to wartime priorities and would not resume until 1950, making the 1942 proof the last pre-war proof wheat penny and the rarest proof Lincoln cent of the 1940s.
Copper returned to the cent in 1944, but the Mint used brass salvaged from melted-down shell casings rather than virgin copper. This gave 1944 cents a slightly different alloy than the true bronze of 1942. For collectors, the 1942 wheat penny represents the genuine last chapter of prewar American coinage — a story told in copper, designed in 1909, and ending quietly one year before the steel penny announced that everything had changed.
Wartime production pressure created an unusually high incidence of die-related errors in 1942. Here are the six most important varieties and errors, ranked by value.
The 1942 Philadelphia cent produced four documented Doubled Die Obverse varieties — FS-101 through FS-104 — making it one of the richest DDO years in the entire Lincoln wheat cent series. These errors occur when the working die receives a secondary hub impression at a slightly different rotational position, creating a ghost-like secondary image on the obverse design. The FS-103 variety shows the strongest doubling, concentrated on "IN GOD WE TRUST." The FS-101 variety is designated a "Top 100" Lincoln cent variety by major numismatic publications.
Wartime production pressure stretched quality control as the Philadelphia Mint raced to produce coinage for an economy disrupted by rationing and hoarding. Values range from $50 for circulated examples with visible doubling to over $500 uncirculated. An MS65 RB example sold for $1,200 in 2022. High-grade Red specimens of FS-101 command the top end. Doubling is most visible on "IN GOD WE TRUST," "LIBERTY," and the date digits — particularly the "9" and "4."
This combination error is one of the most complex minting mistakes in the entire 1942 wheat penny series. The "S" mint mark was punched three separate times into the working die at different positions — all three impressions visible under magnification. The same die also exhibits hub doubling on the obverse, showing doubling on "God" and the date's "9," making this a simultaneous double-error coin: S/S/S triple repunched mintmark plus Doubled Die Obverse.
PCGS has certified only three examples at MS67 RD. One sold on eBay in July 2019 for $2,350. A second MS67 RD sold for $1,763 at Legend Rare Coin Auctions in January 2020. The tiny certified population, San Francisco origin, and two simultaneous errors combine to make this one of the most sought-after 1942 varieties. Lower-grade examples showing both features are also scarce and command strong four-figure prices from variety specialists.
The 1942-S/S RPM FS-512 is a cataloged repunched mintmark variety in which the "S" was hand-punched into the working die twice at slightly different positions, leaving a visible secondary "S" alongside the primary. Before the Mint adopted mechanized mintmark application in the late 1980s, all mintmarks were hand-punched individually onto each working die — making RPMs common in the wheat cent series. The FS-512 is among the more collectible 1942 examples due to the clarity of the secondary punch and the thin surviving certified population.
PCGS has certified only two examples at MS67 RD, each valued at approximately $1,800. The record sale is $1,763 for an MS67 RD at Legend Rare Coin Auctions in January 2020. An earlier MS67 RD sold for $1,350 in 2018. Circulated examples with clear doubling of the S are worth $30 to $100. The variety is worth pursuing in any uncirculated grade, as the population is thin throughout all levels.
Off-center strikes on 1942 wheat pennies occur when the planchet was not centered between the dies at the moment of striking, leaving a flat unstruck crescent of blank metal with a wide rim on one side. Minor misalignments of 5 to 15 percent are relatively common on these high-volume wartime coins and worth $25 to $100 depending on grade and visual impact. Philadelphia struck more than 657 million 1942 cents, meaning prolonged die use and more opportunity for mechanical misalignment than in slower production years.
The premium increases sharply with strikes 30 percent or more off-center. The absolute requirement for full collector value is that the complete date "1942" remains visible and legible — without that, authentication and year identification become uncertain. Strikes 50 percent or more off-center with a clear full date can command $150 to $200 or beyond. Date-visible off-center strikes from any of the three 1942 mints are collectible, with Denver and San Francisco examples slightly more desirable due to lower original mintage.
Die cracks appear on 1942 wheat pennies as fine raised lines crossing part of the design — created when the steel die develops a hairline fracture during a production run. Any metal filling that crack during striking becomes a thin raised line on the coin. The enormous 1942 mintage accelerated die wear and deterioration, making die cracks somewhat more common on 1942 cents than on lower-mintage years. Minor cracks add $5 to $15, while dramatic cracks running through Lincoln's portrait or the date attract more serious collector attention.
A cud is a more severe die failure: when a piece of the die breaks away entirely, the missing area produces a smooth raised blob of metal at the coin's rim. Cuds on wheat pennies are uncommon and worth $25 to $75 for prominent examples. A particularly dramatic 1942 AU55 BN cud sold for $485, though that represents an exceptional specimen. Most 1942 die crack examples fall in the $5 to $50 range depending on size, location, and grade. A crack crossing a major design element such as Lincoln's face or the date commands more interest than one running through the open field.
Wrong planchet errors occur when a 1942 cent die strikes a blank intended for a different denomination or an improperly prepared planchet. A standard 1942 penny weighs 3.11 grams. Wrong planchet examples weigh noticeably more — a 30 percent or greater increase above normal weight is the key diagnostic. These errors occurred when incorrectly sized or weighted blanks were accidentally mixed into cent production bins during high-volume wartime output, passing through quality control undetected.
One documented 1942 wrong planchet cent graded MS62 BN exceeded $1,600 at auction, confirming these are genuine rarities. The extra weight confirmed by a calibrated digital scale accurate to 0.01 grams is the primary test. A 1942 penny weighing 4.0 grams or more warrants investigation. Authentication by PCGS or NGC is strongly recommended before any transaction — wrong-planchet coins are among the most commonly faked Lincoln cent errors and require professional verification to support premium prices.
Condition is the single largest value driver for 1942 wheat pennies. Use these four tiers as a starting framework before seeking professional evaluation.
For an instant grade estimate within a 2 to 3 point range, use CoinKnow, a coin identifier and value app — snap photos of both sides for immediate variety attribution and condition feedback.
The most common questions from collectors examining their 1942 Lincoln wheat cents, answered with verified numismatic data.
Total 1942 cent production exceeded 950 million — yet true gem survivors are rare, and the proof issue is genuinely scarce with just 32,600 struck.
| Mint | Mintage | Mark | Top Auction Record | Key Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia | 657,796,000 | None | $3,960 MS68 RD Heritage Dec. 2021 | Highest output; 4 DDO varieties FS-101 to FS-104 |
| Denver | 206,698,000 | D | $12,650 MS68 RD Heritage Dec. 2008 | Above-average strike quality; fewer rolls preserved |
| San Francisco | 85,590,000 | S | $12,650 MS68 RD Heritage 2006 | Lowest regular-issue mintage; RPM FS-512 and Triple RPM+DDO varieties |
| Philadelphia Proof | 32,600 | None | $17,625 PR67 CAM Heritage Feb. 2014 | Last pre-war proof; suspended 1943–1950 |
Sources: PCGS CoinFacts, CoinValueChecker, SDBullion, coleccionistasdemonedas.com — 2026 edition. Survival rates per CoinValueChecker: Philadelphia 0.0018%, Denver 0.0073%, San Francisco 0.0187%, Proof 49.08%.