1944 Wheat Penny Coin Value Checker: How Much Is It Worth?

While bronze pieces are abundant and affordable, particularly in lower grades, those made of steel are real rarities. Therefore, you can expect them to cost a lot.

The 1944 Wheat penny value depends on the type you have. While bronze pieces are abundant and affordable, particularly in lower grades, those made of steel are real rarities. Therefore, you can expect them to cost a lot.

Besides, the mint in Denver issued a particular amount of error coins that are incredibly collectible nowadays. You should also count on these coins’ historical significance and the specific beauty of red-toned pieces. All that makes collecting them an exciting adventure.

1944 Wheat bronze penny Value Chart
Condition	1944 bronze penny	1944 D bronze penny	1944 D over S bronze penny	1944 S bronze penny
Good	/	/	$57	/
Very good	/	/	$81	/
Fine	$0.06	$0.06	$94	$0.11
Very fine	$0.11	$0.11	$115	$0.17
Extra fine	$0.23	$0.23	$203	$0.23
AU	$0.40	$0.40	$270	$0.40
MS 60	$1.16	$0.98	$519	$0.98
MS 63	$5.84	$4.63	$803	$4.63

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1944 Steel Penny Value Chart
Condition	1944 steel penny	1944 D steel penny	1944 S steel penny
Extra fine	$28,893	$34,803	$409,304
AU	$34,803	$46,688	$564,655
MS 60	$58,491	$62,001	$759,524
MS 63	/	/	$1,137,794

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History of the 1943 Wheat Penny

The 1944 Lincoln pennies are standard American coins at first glance, but they actually have an intriguing history. They belong to the early series but come in two versions, depending on their composition. The reasons are war circumstances during their minting and an attempt to save copper for military purposes.

Therefore, you can find intriguing steel pennies with the 1943 and 1944 dates struck on their obverse. The difference between the two is that coins made of this unusual metal are regular for the first year but a rarity for the second. Even though they rust quickly, these ‘Shell Casing’ coins are highly collectible nowadays.

1944 Wheat Penny Value Guides

The primary penny production in 1944 included 2,148,338,000 bronze coins. However, the US Mint also released up to 40 coins made of zinc-coated steel leftovers from the 1943 mintage. Unlike affordable regular pieces, these steel cents are expensive and among the most collectible American coins.

1944 No Mint mark Wheat Penny Value

The Philadelphia mint produced 1,435,000,000 No Mint mark bronze pennies in 1944. Since they are still abundant on the coin market, you can buy most used brown pieces for less than $0.07. Even uncirculated coins are inexpensive, with the average price range from $0.10 (MS 60) to $45 (MS 67).

Red-brown bronze cents are more valuable, with an average price range from $0.35 to $55. The most collectible are red pieces that cost from $0.55 to $186, with one exception. Rare specimens in MS 68 grade are assessed at $6,000.

1944 No Mint mark steel Penny Value

Besides bronze pennies, the Philadelphia mint also issued 27 to 30 coins made of zinc-plated steel. These rare pennies are highly expensive, so you should count on the following price range:

• $24,000 to $28,800 for EF-ranked steel pennies
• $28,000 to $45,000 for AU-ranked steel pennies
• $40,000 to $48,000 for MS 60-ranked steel pennies
• $45,000 to $54,000 for MS 61-ranked steel pennies
• $55,000 to $66,000 for MS 62-ranked steel pennies
• $75,000 to $90,000 for MS 63-ranked steel pennies
• $110,000 to $132,000 for MS 64-ranked steel pennies

1944 D Wheat Penny Value

The Denver mint released into circulation 430,578,000 bronze pennies in 1944, including those with the D over S mint mark error. Their price range depends on these pieces’ toning and quality. So, you can buy one circulated brown coin for $0.03 to $0.07, while those in the mint state are worth approximately $0.10 to $45.

Expectedly, red-brown specimens are slightly more expensive, ranging from $0.35 to $55. Finally, you should set aside about $0.55 to $160 for red coins. The only exception is those in MS 68 grade, with estimated prices reaching $3,000 to $3,600.

1944 D steel Penny Value

Experts believe that only 7 to 10 zinc-plated steel pennies were issued in the Denver mint in 1944. That makes them rare nowadays, so their prices are exceptionally high. Most collectors are prepared to pay $30,000 for such a piece in AU grade, while the best-ranked MS 63 pennies often cost up to $96,000.

1944 S Wheat Penny Value

The San Francisco mint produced about half of Denver’s bronze penny mintage, 282,760,000 pieces. Many survived are brown-toned, and their expected value is less than ten cents for circulated coins. Those in the mint state are worth $0.20 to $47.

Red-brown coins typically cost more, with an average price range from $0.65 to $57 (MS 63 to MS 67 grades). Red specimens of the same quality are worth $0.85 to $100. Collectors believe that only one to two steel pennies with the S mint mark were produced in this mint, but no one is sure about their value.

If you are still not sure about your 1944 wheat penny coin value, you can check it with CoinValueChecker website, it provides detailed information on coin types, mintage years, rarity, condition grades, and up-to-date market values.

Features of the 1944 Wheat Penny Value

The designer of all pennies from the early series was Victor David Brenner, which also applies to those minted in 1944. They are the same as all pieces in the series, besides a few steel cents minted by mistake.

Obverse

Like all pennies minted from 1909 until now, those from 1944 have the Abraham Lincoln portrait on this side. The date and mint mark (if present) are struck on the right.

The left side is reserved for LIBERTY, while the IN GOD WE TRUST is placed above. Since the US Mint restored the VDB initials in 1918, you can see them beneath the Lincoln shoulder.

Reverse

Recognizable wheat ears are visible along the coins’ right and left sides. They surround crucial lettering, including ONE CENT and UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. The required motto (E·PLURIBUS·UNUM) is added on the top.

Other features

One-cent bronze pennies produced in 1944 are made of a copper alloy containing 95% of this metal. They have a diameter of 1.75 inches or 19.05 millimeters. Their thickness is 0.03937 inches, equaling one millimeter based on the metric scale.

A few rare pieces made of zinc-plated steel have the same measurements except for their weight. While bronze pennies are 0.10970 ounces or 3.11 grams heavy, steel ones are lighter, weighing only 0,09524 ounces or 2.70 grams. The zinc layer thickness is 0.00051 inches, equaling 0.013 millimeters.

1944 Wheat Penny Errors

The 1944 penny set is packed with more or less famous errors. All such coins cost more than regular, while some are rare and noticeably valuable.

D over S

The D/S error is the most famous among the 1944 bronze pennies. No one knows the exact number of these coins produced in Denver, but they are appreciated nowadays. Collectors are prepared to pay $15 to $290 per brown circulated coin, while those that have never spent time in circulation cost approximately $260 to $570.

Red-brown cents are costlier, ranging from $330 (MS 62) to $1,600 (MS 66). Expectedly, the most collectible are red specimens. You should set aside at least $460 per MS 63-graded coin, while those ranked MS 67 are estimated at $20,000 to $24,000.

Other errors

Besides this famous error, the 1944 set also includes some other imperfect coins, such as:

• Planchet struck
• Penny struck on a thicker planchet
• Doubled die obverse
• Double eyelid
• Off-center strike
• Die break
• Missing dot
• Ghost of Lincoln

1944 Wheat Penny Grading

The 1944 penny grading is based on a few factors, primarily their condition and surface toning. Besides, you should be aware of their composition and potentially valuable errors.

Nowadays, you can find pennies minted this year in various conditions, but pieces made of steel are rare. The only way to get the best price for such coins is to have them professionally graded.

What makes a 1944 Wheat Penny rare?

Since most 1944 pennies are made of bronze, those containing steel are rare. Experts estimate that only a few dozen were minted, making them incredibly expensive and desirable for numismatists.

Which 1944 Wheat Penny are the most valuable?

• 1944 S MS66 steel penny – $408,000 (2021)
• 1944 MS64 steel penny – $180,000 (2021)
• 1944 D MS63 steel penny – $115,000 (2007)
• 1944 D/S MS67+ red bronze penny – $49,938 (2020)
• 1944 Genuine brown bronze penny – $25,000 (2021)
• 1944 D Genuine red bronze penny – $22,425 (2005)
• 1944 CH BU red bronze penny – $22,000 (1996)
• 1944 D MS67+ red bronze penny (OMM) – $8,400 (2019)
• 1944 S MS67+ red bronze penny – $3,290 (2016)
• 1944 D/D MS67+ red bronze penny (RPM) – $2,430 (2021)
• 1944 D MS66 red bronze penny (DOO) – $1,500 (2018)
• 1944 D/D MS66 red bronze penny (RPM) – $1,320 (2021)
• 1944 D/S MS65 red-brown bronze penny – $900 (2018)
• 1944 MS63 red-brown bronze penny – $748 (2003)
• 1944 D/S MS63 brown bronze penny – $676 (2016)
• 1944 D MS65 brown bronze penny – $360 (2023)
• 1944 D MS64 red-brown bronze penny – $276 (2023)
• 1944 S MS65 red-brown bronze penny – $70 (2021)
• 1944 S MS67 brown bronze penny – $64 (2023)

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