1930 Wheat Penny Value: Price Chart by Grade & Mint

In 1930 the U.S. Mint struck about 221.8 million Lincoln cents for circulation: Philadelphia 157.4 million, Denver 40.1 million, San Francisco 24.3 million. That is 20% fewer than 1929. Among the 117 years from 1909 to 2025, 1930 ranks number 97 by total mintage (1 = most coins made), so it is one of the lower-mintage dates of the series. The scarcest 1930 issue by mintage is San Francisco (24,286,000); the most common is Philadelphia (157,415,000). Within the 1930s, 1930 ranks 6 of 10 years for mintage; the decade's high was 1937 (394.1 million) and its low was 1932 (19.6 million). Mint by mint: Philadelphia fell 15% from 1929; Denver fell 4% from 1929; San Francisco fell 52% from 1929.

The mint mark, if any, sits under the date on the front of the coin. A 1930 cent with no mint mark was struck at Philadelphia and is the normal, common form for that mint. The letters you can find on 1930 circulation cents are D (Denver) and S (San Francisco).

• From 1918 onward the initials V.D.B. sit in tiny letters on the truncation of Lincoln's shoulder on the obverse. They are normal and do not add value; they are simply a way to confirm the coin's era.
• Wheat cents were struck in bronze (3.11 g) except for 1943. Genuine coins show a plain edge and a slightly lighter, more reddish colour than modern zinc cents when uncirculated; a brown, evenly worn coin is the normal state for this era and is not damage.
• Rule out cleaning (unnatural brightness, fine parallel scratches) and flat machine doubling before you call anything a variety; see how to read dates and mint marks.

PCGS Price Guide values for 1930 cents (updated September 24, 2026, U.S. dollars, for coins certified by PCGS):

• 1930: $1–$2 in circulated grades (G4 to XF40); $35 in MS63 RD and $75 in MS65 RD.
• 1930-D: $1–$3 in circulated grades (G4 to XF40); $50 in MS63 RD and $175 in MS65 RD.
• 1930-S: $1–$2 in circulated grades (G4 to XF40); $32 in MS63 RD and $140 in MS65 RD.

San Francisco is the lowest-mintage 1930 issue (24,286,000 struck), so it is the mint collectors check first. Guide prices assume a certified coin; an uncertified, worn 1930 cent usually sells for less than the lowest figure above, often a few cents in bulk wheat-cent lots. RD means full original red copper, RB red-brown, BN brown; the color grade can multiply the price. How grade and variety turn into a number is explained in what makes a coin valuable.