1944 Lincoln Wheat Cent

About This Coin

The 1944 Lincoln Wheat Cent is a United States cent from the Lincoln Wheat Cents 1909-1958 series. The obverse features Abraham Lincoln facing right, the first real person depicted on a U.S. circulating coin, while the reverse displays two wheat stalks framing ONE CENT, symbolizing American agriculture. Designed by Victor David Brenner. Struck on recycled brass shell casings from the war effort, returning to a copper-based alloy. Struck in 95% copper, 5% zinc, 19 mm in diameter, with a plain edge. Produced at the Denver, Philadelphia, and San Francisco Mints. The Lincoln Wheat Cent, introduced in 1909 to honor the centennial of Abraham Lincoln's birth, broke the longstanding tradition against portraying real individuals on U.S. coinage. Victor David Brenner's portrait was based on a plaque he had made of Lincoln. The designer's initials "VDB" on the first 1909 cents sparked controversy and were quickly removed, then restored in 1918 in a smaller size on Lincoln's shoulder. Among the most widely collected U.S. series. Key dates include the 1909-S VDB (mintage 484,000), 1914-D, 1922 "No D" (weak Denver mintmark), and the famous 1943 copper and 1944 steel transitional errors.