The 1942 Lincoln wheat penny is the end of an era. It was the last year the U.S. Mint produced pennies using the standard bronze composition of 95% copper with 5% tin and zinc that had been the standard since 1909. The following year, copper would be redirected to the war effort, and Americans would find strange silvery steel cents in their change for the first time.
That historical significance gives the 1942 penny a special place in the Lincoln wheat series. It is the final "normal" penny before three years of wartime experimentation changed the composition, the look, and the collecting landscape of the Lincoln cent forever. Production had been climbing steadily from 1940 through 1941, and the 1942 issue continued that trend before everything changed.
Most 1942 wheat pennies are affordable. But errors, high grades, and the right mint marks can push values into the hundreds or thousands.
Standard 1942 Wheat Penny Values by Mint Mark
| Mint Mark | Mintage | Circulated Value | Uncirculated (MS65 Red) |
|---|---|---|---|
| No mint mark (Philadelphia) | 657,796,000 | $0.03 to $0.15 | $20 to $35 |
| D (Denver) | 206,698,000 | $0.03 to $0.15 | $20 to $40 |
| S (San Francisco) | 85,590,000 | $0.05 to $0.30 | $35 to $65 |
Total mintage: 950,084,000 coins.
San Francisco produced the fewest 1942 pennies by a significant margin, less than half of Denver's output and barely one eighth of Philadelphia's. This makes the 1942 S the key date for the year, particularly in uncirculated Red condition where it commands roughly double the price of the Philadelphia and Denver issues.
The Last Bronze Issue
What makes the 1942 penny historically important is its composition. The standard bronze alloy of 95% copper, 5% tin and zinc had been used for Lincoln cents since the series debuted in 1909. After 33 years of this recipe, the 1942 issue was the last.
In early 1943, the Mint switched to zinc coated steel planchets for penny production. That experiment lasted one year before the Mint moved to a new composition in 1944, using recycled brass shell casings from military ammunition. The original bronze formula would not return until 1947.
For type collectors, the 1942 penny represents the final example of the original Lincoln cent composition. While any wheat penny from 1909 to 1942 technically fills this role, the 1942 has the symbolic weight of being the last.
1942 Proof Pennies
The Philadelphia Mint struck 32,600 proof pennies in 1942, the most proofs produced for any year in the pre war era.
| Grade | Value Range |
|---|---|
| PR63 Red | $35 to $55 |
| PR65 Red | $75 to $130 |
| PR66 Red | $175 to $350 |
| PR67 Red | $800 to $2,000 |
After 1942, the Mint suspended proof coin production for the duration of the war. Proof sets would not resume until 1950. This makes the 1942 proof penny the last proof Lincoln cent of the pre war era, adding another layer of historical significance.
1942 Wheat Penny Errors Worth Money
The 1942 date has more documented error varieties than most years in the wheat penny series. Here are the ones worth looking for.
Doubled Die Obverse Varieties. PCGS and other attribution services have cataloged at least four distinct DDO varieties for 1942, designated FS 101 through FS 104. These show doubling on the obverse lettering, with the strongest examples visible on "LIBERTY" and "IN GOD WE TRUST." Values range from $50 to $200 in circulated grades and significantly more in uncirculated condition.
Repunched Mint Mark S over S. This is the star error of 1942. Several 1942 S pennies show the S mint mark clearly punched twice, with the secondary impression offset from the primary. In circulated grades, these bring $25 to $75. A certified MS67 Red example with the RPM variety sold for $1,700 to $1,800 at auction.
Wrong Planchet Errors. In one of the more dramatic mint errors documented for this year, at least one 1942 Lincoln cent was struck on a planchet intended for an Ecuador 20 centavos coin. These wrong planchet errors are extraordinarily rare and have been certified by NGC. Confirmed examples are worth $5,000 or more. Wrong planchet errors also created the famous 1943 copper penny and the rare 1944 steel penny, both involving leftover blanks from the previous year's production.
Off Center Strikes. Like other high mintage years, 1942 produced its share of misaligned strikes. A 1942 penny struck 10% to 50% off center with the date visible sells for $25 to $200.
Die Cracks and Cuds. Late state 1942 dies sometimes show dramatic cracks running across the coin or raised blobs at the rim. Large cuds bring $25 to $100.
How the 1942 S Compares to Other Key Dates
Within the 1940s run of Lincoln cents, the 1942 S stands out as one of the lower mintage issues. Here is how the San Francisco mint production compares across the decade.
| Year | S Mint Mintage | MS65 Red Value |
|---|---|---|
| 1940 S | 112,940,000 | $25 to $55 |
| 1941 S | 92,360,000 | $30 to $55 |
| 1942 S | 85,590,000 | $35 to $65 |
| 1943 S (Steel) | 191,550,000 | $11 to $19 |
| 1944 S | 282,760,000 | $12 to $25 |
| 1945 S | 181,770,000 | $15 to $30 |
The 1942 S has the lowest San Francisco mintage of the entire 1940s decade, which supports its premium in high grades.
Recent Auction Results
| Coin | Grade | Sale Price | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1942 Lincoln Cent | PCGS MS68 Red | $4,200 | 2024 |
| 1942 S RPM Lincoln Cent | PCGS MS67 Red | $1,800 | 2023 |
| 1942 Proof Lincoln Cent | PCGS PR67+ Red CAC | $1,920 | 2024 |
| 1942 S Lincoln Cent | PCGS MS67 Red | $960 | 2025 |
| 1942 D Lincoln Cent | PCGS MS67+ Red | $720 | 2024 |
What to Do If You Find a 1942 Wheat Penny
Step 1: Check the mint mark. Look on the obverse below the date. No letter means Philadelphia. "D" means Denver. "S" means San Francisco. The S mint coins carry the highest base premiums.
Step 2: Examine the S mint mark closely. If you have a 1942 S, use a magnifying glass to check for the repunched mint mark variety. Look for a secondary S impression offset from the main letter.
Step 3: Check for doubled die. Examine LIBERTY and IN GOD WE TRUST under magnification for any signs of doubling on the letters.
Step 4: Assess the color and condition. Full Red coins are worth multiples of Brown or Red Brown examples. Check for wear on Lincoln's cheekbone and hair detail.
Step 5: Do not clean it. As with all coins, cleaning destroys the original surface and dramatically reduces value.
The 1942 Penny in the Wartime Series
The 1942 wheat penny is the natural starting point for understanding what happened next. The copper in your 1942 penny is the same composition that had been used since 1909. Within months of the last 1942 pennies rolling off the presses, the Mint was stamping steel blanks for the 1943 cent, a coin so different that Americans sometimes mistook it for a dime.
After the steel experiment, the Mint switched to recycled brass from spent shell casings in 1944 and 1945. The shell case composition continued through 1946 before the original bronze formula returned in 1947. These shell case pennies have a slightly different color and composition than the pre war bronze cents.
For collectors interested in the complete pre war run, our guides to the 1940 wheat penny and 1941 wheat penny cover the other years of standard bronze production in the decade. Together, these seven years tell the full story of how World War II transformed the American penny.
Sources
Written by
Thomas Whitfield
Numismatic writer and ANA member covering rare coin values and collecting strategies.
