Advertising Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links. As an eBay Partner Network affiliate, FindRareCoins.com earns from qualifying purchases. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. We may also earn commissions from other dealers linked on this site, at no extra cost to you. Full disclosure
1914-D Lincoln Wheat Penny
Key Date Lincoln Cent • Denver Mint • 1,193,000 Struck • 1914
1914-D Wheat Penny Value by Grade
The 1914-D wheat penny value figures below reflect certified PCGS and NGC retail prices for problem-free examples as of 2026. Cleaned, holed, or altered coins trade at steep discounts. Many 1914-D cents in the market have been cleaned or altered from 1944-D coins, and these are essentially worthless as collectibles. For that reason, always buy certified.
Circulated Grades — G-4 through AU-58
| Grade | Description | Value | Shop |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poor-1 / Fair-2 | Barely identifiable — date and mint mark visible | $150–$200 | eBay → |
| Good-4 (G-4) | Heavily worn. Date and LIBERTY visible; design outline clear | $200–$260 | eBay → |
| Very Good-8 (VG-8) | Well worn. All lettering visible; LIBERTY complete | $320–$400 | eBay → |
| Fine-12 (F-12) | Moderate even wear; all features sharp | $500–$620 | eBay → |
| Very Fine-20 (VF-20) | Light to moderate wear on high points; hair detail visible | $800–$1,000 | eBay → |
| Very Fine-35 (VF-35) | Light wear on high points; strong detail throughout | $1,200–$1,500 | eBay → |
| Extremely Fine-40 (EF-40) | Slight wear on highest points only; all detail sharp | $1,800–$2,200 | eBay → |
| Extremely Fine-45 (EF-45) | Trace wear; nearly full detail; strong luster traces | $2,400–$3,000 | eBay → |
| About Uncirculated-50 (AU-50) | Trace wear on high points; half luster or more present | $3,500–$4,500 | eBay → |
| About Uncirculated-58 (AU-58) | Slight friction; nearly full mint luster; exceptional detail | $5,500–$7,000 | eBay → |
Looking for a circulated 1914-D? Always buy PCGS or NGC certified — raw coins carry substantial authentication risk.
Find on eBay →Mint State Grades — MS-60 through MS-65+
| Grade | Description | Value | Shop |
|---|---|---|---|
| MS-60 (Mint State) | No wear; significant bag marks and contact marks | $9,000–$11,000 | eBay → |
| MS-62 | No wear; several noticeable marks; acceptable luster | $11,000–$14,000 | eBay → |
| MS-63 (Choice) | No wear; few distracting marks; good luster and appeal | $14,000–$18,000 | eBay → |
| MS-64 (Choice+) | No wear; minor marks in secondary areas; strong luster | $22,000–$28,000 | eBay → |
| MS-65 (Gem) | Strong luster; only minor marks in secondary areas | $35,000–$50,000+ | eBay → |
| MS-65 RD (Gem Red) | Full original red mint color; exceptional eye appeal | $55,000–$100,000+ | eBay → |
Full Red Gem 1914-D cents are extremely rare — PCGS reports only ten in MS-66 RD or better. Population reports from PCGS and NGC are the definitive guide.
Shop Mint State →
⚠ Population Note: Full Red Mint State examples are where the 1914-D becomes a true condition rarity. As of 2026, PCGS reports eight coins in MS-66 RD and two in MS-66+ RD, with none finer. The ex-Hansen PCGS MS-66+ Red sold for $158,625 at Legend Rare Coin Auctions in May 2018, the standing auction record for the date. Meanwhile, the vast majority of raw "1914-D" cents examined by dealers fail authentication, so the PCGS and NGC population reports remain the single most important reference for genuine survivors.
Key Date Lincoln Cents & Related Guides
1914-D Lincoln Cent — Key Facts
Mint
Denver (D)
Mintage
1,193,000
Composition
95% Copper
Diameter
19 mm
Weight
3.11 grams
Designer
Victor D. Brenner
The 1914-D — Lincoln's Most Deceptive Key Date
The 1914-D Lincoln cent is the second most valuable regular-issue wheat penny in existence — outranked only by the 1909-S VDB. With a Denver Mint production of just 1,193,000 pieces, it is the lowest-mintage Lincoln cent of the 1910s and one of the most frequently counterfeited coins in American numismatics. That last fact is what separates the 1914-D from nearly every other wheat cent key date: a huge portion of "1914-D" pennies on the market are actually 1944-D cents with the "4" partially removed, creating a convincing-looking "1" at casual inspection.
Recommended Reading
Lincoln Wheat Cents 1909–1958: A Collector's Guide
A date-by-date guide to the entire wheat-cent run, from the 1909 VDB to the last 1958 issues. Learn to spot the key dates, read mintmarks, and recognize the valuable varieties hiding in old jars and rolls, with clear advice on condition and what your finds are worth.
Check Price on Amazon →
For collectors, the 1914-D represents both a genuine rarity and a collecting challenge. Finding an authentic, uncleaned, problem-free example in even circulated grades is not trivial — and finding one in Mint State is a serious achievement. Values range from roughly $200 in heavily worn Good condition to $35,000+ in gem Mint State, with certified examples commanding significant premiums over raw coins at every grade level. For context on where the 1914-D sits in the full Lincoln cent series, see the complete wheat penny value chart. You can also compare it against other U.S. key dates in our coin price guide, or check a coin you already own with What's My Coin Worth?
How to Grade the 1914-D Lincoln Cent
Grading the 1914-D is complicated by two factors: the coin's age and typical heavy circulation, and the widespread existence of counterfeits. Before grading your coin, authenticate it. A genuine 1914-D will have the correct "1" numeral style — the crossbar of the "1" in "1914" is distinctive. A 1944-D altered to look like a 1914-D will have a different "1" style and different spacing between the digits.
Good (G-4 to G-6)
The date and D mintmark are visible. LIBERTY is present but flat. The wheat stalks on the reverse are outlined but largely flat. This is the most common grade for the 1914-D in the market.
$200–$260Fine (F-12 to F-15)
All lettering is bold and clear. Hair detail shows above Lincoln's ear. The cheekbone and jaw show moderate wear. A Fine 1914-D is a solid collectible example for most type and date collectors.
$500–$620Very Fine (VF-20 to VF-35)
Light to moderate wear on the high points — Lincoln's cheekbone, the hair above the ear, and the bow tie. LIBERTY is sharp. The wheat ears show all lines. A great grade for budget-conscious key date collectors.
$800–$1,500Extremely Fine (EF-40 to EF-45)
Slight wear on the very highest points only. Hair strands above the ear are mostly separate. Full wheat stalk detail on reverse. An EF 1914-D is a premium collectible and a meaningful achievement to own.
$1,800–$3,000About Uncirculated (AU-50 to AU-58)
Trace wear on Lincoln's cheek and the top of the wheat ears. Significant mint luster remains. AU-58 examples often look nearly uncirculated to the untrained eye — luster and detail are exceptional.
$3,500–$7,000Mint State (MS-60+)
No wear of any kind. Luster is fully intact. Contact marks from bag handling are expected at lower Mint State grades. MS-65 Red examples are condition rarities worth $55,000+, and a finest-known PCGS MS-66+ Red example has sold for over $150,000.
$9,000–$150,000+How to Spot a Fake 1914-D Penny
The 1914-D is the most counterfeited wheat penny in existence. The primary fake is a 1944-D cent with the first "4" altered to look like a "1." Here is exactly what to check:
Check the "1" Numeral Style
On a genuine 1914-D, the "1" in 1914 has serifs and a specific crossbar style. A 1944-D altered coin has a different "1" — typically with a serif that doesn't match a genuine Barber-era die "1." Look closely under 5x magnification.
Check Digit Spacing
On a genuine 1914-D the spacing between all four digits is consistent and characteristic of the era. On an altered 1944-D the spacing between the first "1" and the "9" will typically be slightly off — wider or narrower than the remaining digits.
Check for Tooling Marks
Altered dates always show evidence of tooling under magnification — smoothing, filing, or polishing around the altered digit. Under 10x you should be able to see disturbed metal surface if the coin has been worked on.
Added Mintmarks
Some fakes are 1914-P (Philadelphia) cents with a "D" mintmark added. The genuine D mintmark on a 1914-D is struck into the coin and shows natural die characteristics. An added mintmark will sit on the surface differently and show adhesive or tooling evidence.
Weigh It
A genuine 1914-D weighs 3.11 grams. If your scale reads significantly differently, something is wrong. This won't catch date alterations since they start from the same era coin, but it catches plated fakes and wrong-metal fakes.
Buy Certified — Always
PCGS and NGC both have the reference coins, population data, and expert authenticators to catch fakes that fool most dealers. For any purchase, PCGS or NGC certification is not optional on the 1914-D — it is the baseline standard. No raw 1914-D is worth its asking price without it.
1914-D Error Varieties & Die Varieties
The 1914-D was struck from multiple dies over the course of the year, producing several documented varieties. None command the premiums of the top Morgan dollar VAMs, but attributed examples do trade at modest premiums over generic examples in the same grade.
Doubled Die Obverse (DDO)
Minor doubled die varieties exist on some 1914-D dies — doubling visible on LIBERTY and the date under magnification. Attribution by PCGS VarietyPlus or CONECA adds collector interest but modest premium in most grades.
+10–25% premiumRepunched Mintmark (RPM)
Several RPM varieties are known on the 1914-D — the D mintmark shows evidence of being punched more than once, with a secondary D visible slightly offset. RPM-1 is the most prominent and most collected 1914-D variety.
+15–30% premiumDie Cracks & Cuds
Die cracks are common on high-mintage dates but less so on the 1914-D's modest production. A coin with a significant die crack or cud (a filled die break) is a legitimate variety that adds modest value to an already valuable coin.
Varies by severityOff-Center Strikes
A 1914-D struck off-center is a dramatically rare combination — the coin is already scarce and any striking error dramatically reduces the chance of survival. A 10–15% off-center 1914-D with date visible would be exceptional.
Significant premiumLamination Errors
Planchet laminations — where the copper planchet delaminates or has inclusions — occasionally appear on 1914-D cents. These are planchet errors rather than die varieties but add numismatic interest to an already desirable coin.
+10–20% premiumDie Clash
Die clashes — where the obverse and reverse dies strike each other without a planchet between them — leave ghost images on subsequent struck coins. A clashed-die 1914-D is uncommon and adds attribution interest for variety collectors.
+5–15% premiumRelated Lincoln Cent Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if my 1914-D penny is real?
The safest answer is PCGS or NGC certification — they have reference coins, die variety databases, and expert authenticators who examine thousands of Lincoln cents. If you want to do a preliminary check yourself, examine the "1" in 1914 under 5–10x magnification. A genuine 1914-D "1" has specific serif and crossbar characteristics. Altered 1944-D coins have a different "1" style and typically show disturbed metal around the altered digit. Also check mintmark placement and digit spacing — both should be consistent with known genuine examples documented in PCGS CoinFacts.
What is the most valuable 1914-D penny ever sold?
The auction record for the date is $158,625, set by a PCGS MS-66+ Red example sold at Legend Rare Coin Auctions in May 2018. MS-66+ Red is the finest grade the date has reached, and PCGS now recognizes two coins at that level with none finer. Below that, PCGS MS-66 Red examples have recently brought roughly $60,000 to $80,000, depending on eye appeal and market conditions at the time of sale.
Is a 1914 penny without a D worth anything?
The 1914 Philadelphia cent (no mintmark) had a mintage of 75,238,432 — over 63 times more common than the 1914-D. In Good condition a 1914-P is worth $0.25–$1.00. In Mint State MS-65 Red it's worth $200–$400. The value difference between the 1914-D and the 1914-P is dramatic — the D mintmark is everything on this date. Always check under magnification: the mintmark on a 1914-D appears just below the date on the obverse.
What grade 1914-D should I buy for a collection?
For most collectors, a certified Fine-12 or Very Fine-20 example represents the best combination of authenticity confidence, visible detail, and price efficiency. A Fine-12 at $500–$620 shows all major design elements clearly and is an unambiguous key date addition to any Lincoln cent collection. Very Fine examples at $800–$1,000 show hair detail and stronger design definition. AU and Mint State examples are for serious advanced collectors — at those price levels, PCGS or NGC certification and population awareness are essential before buying.
How many 1914-D pennies are known to exist?
The exact survival population is unknown, and most genuine examples circulate in grades of Good through Very Fine. Full Red Mint State coins, however, are genuinely scarce. PCGS has certified only a few hundred 1914-D cents with the Red designation across all grades, and just ten at MS-66 RD or finer. As a result, certified examples command strong premiums. The authentication issue is also serious, because one longtime cataloger has speculated that fake "1914-D" cents may outnumber genuine ones.
Where can I look up current 1914-D wheat penny prices?
The most current prices come from three sources: the PCGS Price Guide at PCGS.com (updated monthly), recent eBay sold listings filtered to certified examples (the actual market), and Heritage Auctions' free price archive going back decades. This page is updated periodically but for real-time data use eBay sold listings and PCGS. Our wheat penny value chart covers the full series in one place, and the coin price guide provides broader context across all U.S. denominations.
The Official Red Book® A Guide Book of United States Coins marks the 80th anniversary of the world’s best-selling coin price guide and the hobby’s most trusted reference
'
