What is the value of a 1945 wheat penny?

What is the value of a 1945 wheat penny? Because over a billion 1945 Lincoln Cents were struck using recycled brass shell cases, average circulated examples are only worth a few cents. However, due to the poor quality of the wartime alloy, finding flawless uncirculated examples is incredibly difficult.

A pristine 1945-D Lincoln Cent graded MS68 Red sold for $8,700, while a 1945 Philadelphia MS67+ Red with a CAC sticker reached $6,054.

This Variety Errors audit breaks down the true market values of 1945, 1945-D, and 1945-S pennies, analyzing the price jumps from $50 MS67 baselines to the absolute MS68 condition ceilings.

1945 Lincoln Cent Value Guide:

• 1945-D MS68 Red (NGC): $8,700.00
• 1945 MS67+ Red (PCGS/CAC): $6,054.00
• 1945-S MS68 Red (NGC): $2,160.00
• 1945-D MS67 Red (NGC): $104.00
• 1945 MS67 Red (NGC): $104.00
• 1945-S MS67 Red (NGC): $49.00