Coin Collecting & Precious Metals Information

Lincoln Wheat Cent

1909 – 1958

The Lincoln Wheat Cent was designed by Victor David Brenner, and is well known by several different names, but is probably most often referred to as the  Wheat Penny.

In average circulated grades most Wheat Cents are valued at around $0.10 or less, but some high grade specimens can fetch in tens of thousands of dollars. For example, in 1914 less than 1.2 million cents were struck at the Denver Mint. As a result a 1914-D Lincoln Wheat Cent can sale for more than $25,000.00.

Another “key” wheat penny to look for is the 1909-S which even in poor grades is worth hundreds of dollars. This is the one which has the initials of the designer, “V.D.B.”, on the lower…

July 16th, 2009 by CoinCollector 

Flying Eagle Cent

1856 - 1858

The collecting of small cents is second in popularity only to the Morgan Dollar. The first small cent was the Flying Eagle CentFlying Eagle Cent which was minted for a very short time from 1856 to 1858. A second restrike of the coin was made in 1860, but those are questionable among collectors.

By 1851 it cost the mint $1.06 to produce one dollar’s face value, 100 coins, of the large cent. Large Cents of the time were composed of 100% pure copper and were a huge 27 to 29 mm in diameter. Although the first Flying Eagle Cent was minted in 1856 it wasn’t until 1857 that it was recognized officially as the replacement for the Large Cent.…

May 1st, 2008 by CoinCollector 

Indian Head Cent

1859 – 1909

The Indian Head Cent was designed by James Barton Longacre and minted from 1859 through 1909. They Indian Head Centwere produced at the Philadelphia Mint for the duration and by the San Francisco Mint in 1908 and 1909.

The obverse of this coin features Lady Liberty wearing a feathered bonnet. Though this coin is commonly called the Indian Head Cent, or the Indian Head Penny, it is not a Native American that appears on the obverse. It has the words, “United States of America” along with the date around the rim and the word “Liberty” on the headband.

April 30th, 2008 by CoinCollector