Copper-Nickel Composition: Due to the limited amount minted in 1943, this particular version of the wheat penny is worth about $16. The Philadelphia and Denver Mints produced about 20,000 coins each.
Zinc-Coated Composition: After this initial run of the zinc-coated steel cents, the U.S. Mint resumed production using copper to meet supply demands. These pennies are worth significantly less than the 1943 copper-nickel wheat pennies. The mint produced about 213 million of these pennies in both 1951 and 1952, and they are only worth up to $0.20 each.
1951 Wheat Pennies with Errors
Certain errors found on 1951 wheat pennies can dramatically increase their value. These include double die errors, off-center strikes, and brockages, which occur when a cent becomes lodged in the die as another is being struck. While these errors are rare, they can be worth hundreds or even thousands of dollars.
1951 Wheat Penny Varieties
Three main varieties of the 1951 wheat penny exist. These include:
- Wide AM: This variety is characterized by a wider space between the letters “A” and “M” in the word “AMERICA”
- Close AM: This variety has a narrower space between the letters “A” and “M” in the word “AMERICA.”
- Small Date: This variety features a smaller date that appears to be closer to the wheat stalk than the regular-date variety.