The 1917-S Wheat Penny is worth anywhere from $1 in heavily worn condition to over $1,000 in high-grade mint state. Most examples found in old jars or collections are worth a few dollars, but certain rare varieties can fetch significant premiums.
A Quick History of the 1917-S Wheat Penny
The year 1917 was a significant time in American history, as the nation entered World War I. While the world was changing, the San Francisco Mint was busy striking Lincoln cents to keep up with the demands of a growing economy.
The “S” mint mark, located just below the date, indicates that this specific coin was produced on the West Coast. In those days, the San Francisco Mint produced fewer coins than the main facility in Philadelphia, which often makes “S” marked pennies more desirable for modern collectors.
If you have just discovered one of these pennies while sorting through an old collection, you are likely wondering if you have found a small fortune. While the 1917-S is not the rarest date in the series, it is a key piece of the early Wheat cent era. Many people use a top coin identifier app to quickly check the date and mint mark of their finds to see if they should take them to a professional appraiser.
For fans of mobile technology, tools like the CoinHix app allow you to snap a photo and get an instant idea of what you are looking at. This is particularly helpful for the 1917-S, as the mint mark can sometimes be obscured by over a century of grime and wear.
Determining the Condition and Grade of Your Penny
In the world of coin collecting, condition is everything. A penny that has been sitting in a pocket for twenty years will look very different from one that was tucked away in a velvet-lined box in 1917. Collectors use a scale from 1 to 70 to grade coins, with 1 being barely recognizable and 70 being a perfect coin.
Most 1917-S pennies found today fall into the “Good” to “Fine” categories. In these states, you can see the outline of Lincoln’s head and the wheat stalks on the back, but much of the fine detail—like the lines in the wheat or the strands of Lincoln’s hair—has been smoothed away.
If your coin still has its original orange-red luster, you might be looking at a “Mint State” (MS) coin. These are the ones that drive high prices at auctions. According to current 1917-S Wheat penny price data for Red Mint State specimens, a coin in MS65 condition can be worth thousands of dollars.
To get a better sense of how much your specific 1917-S penny might be worth based on its grade, refer to the price chart below:
| Condition Grade | Estimated Value (USD) |
|---|---|
| Good (G-4) | $1.25 – $2.50 |
| Fine (F-12) | $4.00 – $8.00 |
| Extremely Fine (XF-40) | $25.00 – $45.00 |
| About Uncirculated (AU-50) | $65.00 – $110.00 |
| Uncirculated (MS-63) | $250.00 – $400.00 |
| Gem Uncirculated (MS-65 Red) | $1,100.00+ |
Why the S Mint Mark Matters So Much
The San Francisco Mint (S) is legendary among collectors for producing coins with sharp strikes and beautiful finishes. In 1917, the San Francisco Mint produced 27,330,000 Wheat pennies. While that sounds like a huge number, it is significantly lower than the 196 million made in Philadelphia that same year.
Because of this lower mintage, the 1917-S is considered a “semi-key” date. It isn’t as rare as the famous 1909-S VDB, but it is much harder to find than a common penny from the 1940s or 50s. If you are checking an old jar, the “S” is usually the first thing you should look for after the date.
Many non-collectors are confused by the different mint marks. If you don’t see any letter under the date, it means it was minted in Philadelphia. If you see a “D,” it came from Denver. Detailed 1910s Lincoln cent valuation info shows that the 1917-S consistently outperforms its Philadelphia counterpart in almost every grade.
For many casual hunters, using the CoinHix app is a great way to confirm that the “S” is authentic and not just a strange copper bubble or a piece of dirt.
Color Designations Red vs Red-Brown vs Brown
When dealing with copper coins like the 1917-S Wheat Penny, the color is a major factor in the final price. Pure copper reacts with the atmosphere over time, turning from a bright shiny orange to a dull chocolate brown.
Professional grading services like PCGS or NGC use three color designations: RD (Red), RB (Red-Brown), and BN (Brown).
A “Red” 1917-S penny is a coin that has retained at least 95% of its original mint luster. These are extremely rare for coins over 100 years old. Most 1917-S pennies found in circulation today are “Brown.” Even if a brown coin is in great physical shape, it will rarely sell for as much as a “Red-Brown” or “Red” example.
If you think you have a “Red” survivor, you should treat it with extreme care. Touching the surface with your fingers can transfer oils that cause permanent staining, lowering its future value. Using CoinHix to catalog your collection can help you keep track of which coins might be worth the cost of professional grading.
Common 1917-S Wheat Penny Errors to Look Out For
While most people focus on the date and mint mark, error hunters look for mistakes made during the manufacturing process. The 1917-S is known for several interesting varieties, including “Doubled Dies” and “Repunched Mint Marks.”
A Doubled Die occurs when the hub imprints the image onto the die twice, slightly offset. On a 1917-S, you might see what looks like a shadow or a double line on the letters of “IN GOD WE TRUST” or on the date itself. These errors can turn a five-dollar coin into a fifty-dollar coin instantly.
Another common issue from this era is a “Lamination Error,” where the copper on the surface of the penny begins to peel or crack. While these are interesting to look at, they don’t always add a lot of value unless they are very dramatic. To the everyday person finding a coin, these might just look like damage, so it is always worth getting a second opinion from an expert or a high-quality identification tool.
FAQ
Q: Where is the mint mark on a 1917-S Wheat Penny?
A: The mint mark is a small “S” located directly below the year “1917” on the front (obverse) of the coin. If there is no letter, it was made in Philadelphia.
Q: Is it worth cleaning my 1917-S penny to make it look better?
A: No! Never clean your coins. Cleaning a vintage coin with chemicals or abrasives will strip away its natural surface and drastically reduce its value to collectors. Even a dirty coin is worth more than a “cleaned” coin.
Q: Why is the price for a Mint State 1917-S so much higher than a worn one?
A: Because very few people had the foresight to save pennies in 1917. Most went straight into circulation. Finding a 100-year-old copper coin that looks like it just left the mint is incredibly rare, and collectors are willing to pay a premium for that rarity.
Q: Can I find a 1917-S Wheat Penny in my pocket change today?
A: It is very unlikely but not impossible. While most Wheat pennies were pulled from circulation by the 1960s and 70s, “collection dumps” happen when people spend old jars of coins. Always keep an eye on your change!
