Copper Pennies

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If you’re into precious metals, there are various ways to invest in your favorites. Gold enthusiasts can choose from gold bullion coins, gold bars, gold rounds, and even previously circulated gold coins. While copper isn’t officially classified as a precious metal, its price makes it a valuable option for diversifying your metal holdings. Copper bullion typically comes in bars and rounds, but there’s one specific US coin that stands out. Discover the value of Wheat Pennies as a form of precious metal investment below.

Meet the Wheat Penny

The US has been minting copper pennies for almost as long as the country has existed. The Wheat Penny refers to a specific design issued by the United States Mint during the first half of the 20th century. This design, from 1909 to 1958, features President Abraham Lincoln on one side and a distinctive reverse design. It’s named “Wheat Penny” to distinguish it from the larger Lincoln Cent series.

Introduced in 1909 by the US Mint, Wheat Pennies were designed by Victor David Brenner. President Theodore Roosevelt personally enlisted Brenner’s help for new coin designs. Brenner based the obverse image of Lincoln on a 1864 photograph, and the reverse features “One Cent,” “United States of America,” and wheat stalks. The initial 1909 Wheat Pennies had low mintages, and the design continued until 1958.

Production of Wheat Pennies

Wheat Pennies were minted from 1909 to 1958, with varying production levels over the decades. The 1940s and 1950s issues are more common, while the 1909-S VDB Wheat Penny is considered rare. These pennies were produced by the Philadelphia Mint, San Francisco Mint, and Denver Mint. The 1909-S VDB Wheat Penny and the Steel Cent from 1943 are particularly rare.

Background of US Copper Pennies

The US Mint has a long history of producing copper pennies. Early pennies from 1793 to 1795 were pure copper, and from 1856 to 1864, pennies included nickel. Between 1864 and 1962, pennies had stable metal content, mainly 95% copper. Since 1982, pennies are 97.5% zinc with 2.5% copper.

Why Pennies as an Investment

Wheat Pennies are a valuable investment due to their unique design and copper content. Modern pennies after 1982 have lower copper content, making pre-1982 pennies a smart addition to diversify your portfolio.

Buy Wheat Pennies from BGASC

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