1933 Penny Value – The Lincoln penny is a classic piece of American currency that collectors treasure for its historical significance and sentimental value. The rare number remaining on the 1933 Lincoln penny adds to its collectability.
There will only ever be fewer coins available because they were minted so long ago. As a result, collectors go to great lengths to get these coins.
The obverse side of the 1933 Lincoln penny is dominated by a profile of Abraham Lincoln to the right and left, respectively, with inscriptions indicating the year of minting and the word “Liberty,” as well as words separated by periods. Lastly, the motto “In God We Trust” is appearing above the reverse.
On both the right and left sides of the reverse 1933 penny, you will see two single stalks of wheat, with no image in the center.
Instead, there are two raised inscriptions: “United States of America” on the right and “One Cent” on the left. The moniker “Wheat Penny” comes from these stalks. Lastly, the reverse has the Latin phrase E Pluribus Unum across the top.
Why is a 1933 Penny So Rare?
While there aren’t many 1933 Lincoln wheat pennies that are truly valuable, they are definitely uncommon and harder to find than most other Lincoln cents.
Why? These days, 1933 pennies (and other early 1930s currency) are difficult to come by.
The Great Depression, which started in 1929 and ended in 1941, is to blame. The United States Mint reduced its yearly coin manufacture because fewer people were spending money.
In the early 1930s, the influx of new pennies was reduced to a trickle, with mintage levels for 1931 and 1932 pennies being low. In 1933, in the United States of America Just 20,560,000 pennies were minted:
- 14,360,000 at the Philadelphia Mint
- 6,200,000 at the Denver Mint
In reality, the United States was experiencing a period of great difficulty. Some denominations were even missing from Mint! In 1933, just a handful of half dollars and gold coins were minted, along with no nickels, dimes, quarters, or silver dollars.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 6102 in 1933, making it illegal to hoard gold or use gold coins for transactions.
Want to know what the current value of a 1933 penny is? You’ve come to the right place! For decades, we’ve been gathering precious old Lincoln wheat pennies and treasure teaching others about coin values.
How Much Is A 1933 Penny Worth?
According to the mint report, 1933 was a year of low cent production, which was followed by increased demand for small coinage by the public.
Although the number of mintages increased, another year of rarely seen pennies was struck in 1933, with 20.560 million cents produced by all mints.
You’re interested in what your well-used 1933 wheat pennies are worth, aren’t you?
Any well-worn 1933 wheat pennies in your pocket change are sure to pique your interest. The following is a list of 1933 penny value:
-1933 Penny No Mint Value
In good condition, a 1933 wheat penny with no mint mark is worth around $2. The value ranges from $3 to $7 depending on the condition. In uncirculated conditions, coins sell for roughly $20, but MS 60-graded uncirculated coins sell for about $30 in grading.
What’s the most valuable 1933 penny? A 1933 Lincoln cent graded by Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) as an MS-67 Red was purchased for $6,325 in 2012.
-1933 D Penny Value
The 1933 D wheat penny is worth around $5 in good condition. In very fine condition the value is around $8. In extremely fine condition the value is around $15. In uncirculated condition, the price is around $23 for coins with an MS 60 grade. Uncirculated coins with a grade of MS 63 can sell for around $25.
The 1933-D penny was made at the Denver Mint and shows a little D under the date. The most ever paid for a 1933-D Lincoln cent? A whopping $12,900 for a PCGS MS-67+ Red, and $16,800 for MS67+RD in 2021 by PCGS.
See Also: 1937 Penny Value, 1929 Penny Value, 1916 Penny Value, 1922 Penny Value
1933 Penny Error List:
You can collect a variety of 1933 penny errors and varieties. The most popular varieties are listed below:
-1933 Doubled Die Pennies
While many people are aware of doubled die penny mistakes, no significant 1933 doubled die cents have been discovered at this time. That doesn’t mean, however, that they don’t exist.
NOTE: It’s worth keeping aside any 1933 Lincoln cents you come across with doubling so you can examine it more closely and determine if it’s a true doubled die, even if not all doubling on a coin is hub doubling of a doubled die.
-1933 Pennies With Die Breaks
Part of the die mechanism that stamps an image on a blank coin starts to crumble due to age, heavy wear, or overuse, resulting in a die break.
On a coin’s surface, these die cracks appear as raised lines or squiggles.
When they are dramatic or create a distinctive, sometimes humorous kind of design element (such as the 1999 Spitting Horse Delaware 50 State Quarter), breaks are significant mistakes.
Depending on the size, intensity, and location of the die crack on a 1933 Lincoln cent, it might be worth $3 to $5 or more.
-1933 Pennies With Off-Center Errors
A portion (or sometimes nearly all) of the design on a coin that isn’t struck properly on center will disappear. While some are off-center by 50% or more, the majority of these error coins are only 5% to 10% off-center.
The visibility of the date on the most valuable off-center coins shows the whole date, making it vital for an off-center coin.
A 1933 Lincoln cent is typically worth between $10 and $20 if it isn’t excessively off-center, say less than 10%. Off-center Lincoln cents worth more than $100 are common in 1933.
-1933 Pennies With BIE Errors
The so-called BIE error is one of the most common types of die crack errors on 1933 pennies.
- A tiny, vertical die flaw between the letters B and E on the obverse of LIBERTY develops this.
- BIE errors range in form and size, with most looking like a massive ol’ letter I between the B and E, roughly spelling LIBERTY.
- A BIE mistake on a 1933 Lincoln cent is worth $5 to $10 each.
The “D” mint issue of Denver is a significant variant of the 1933 penny value. A premium variety has emerged due to limited production and the inability to save these coins.
Looking for More Information About Coins? Check Other Years From This Lincoln ( Wheat ) Penny Series:
1909 1910 1911 1912
1913 1914 1915 1916
1917 1918 1919 1920
1921 1922 1923 1924
1925 1926 1927 1928
1929 1930 1931 1932
1933 1934 1935 1936
1937 1938 1939 1940
1941 1942 1943 1944
1945 1946 1947 1948
1949 1950 1951 1952
1953 1954 1955 1956
1957 1958
The wheat cent collectible category is represented by a 1933 penny. The grade is a classification that collectors use to estimate the condition of an item, and it is based on the historical significance of an item.
The last year of the worth period 1909 to 1933 is represented by 1933, which is a significant year in the wheat cents series. The early years, which are valued at much more than the base value, are two important periods for wheat cents. From 1934 through 1958, the second phase saw a large number of moderately circulated examples readily accessible and worth a few cents apiece.
Related:
1934 Penny
1931 Penny
1930 Penny Value
1939 Penny Value