What good are Wheat pennies?

[JJDFLA]

I have a couple of hundred wheat pennies. I looked every one of them up and they are not worth anything. Why do people even collect them if they are not misstrikes or a 1909 S VDB? I think I saw somewhere that the old ones might be worth 2 cents each? Should I take the 2 bucks for them? Thanks.

 

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[Goose-0]

If anything, save them for their copper. Each copper penny is now worth 2.7 cents each for their copper content. Yeah, I know that it's illegal to melt copper coins, but...... I now have over 10K of them now after 5 yrs....a little over $100 worth. Their copper value is $270 now, and who knows what I might be doing with them in the future (heh-heh).

 

[ivan salis]

some folks actually like wheat cent coins * for more than just "what $$$$ can I get for these" value -- they are called "coin collectors" --while not as popular as the older silver coins --they are very affordible for folks looking to make a starter type coin collection --the 1943 error copper cent is worth --oh about a million bucks.--there are several error cents in the 1909 thru 1958 run time frame that are valuible

 

[thrillathahunt]

Not to mention the fact that all early S mint wheats (1909-1915) VG or better are worth more than a common Walking Liberty half dollar.

 

[JJDFLA]

Goose-O, Ivan, Thrillathahunt, thank you for your advise. Underdogger, I'm sorry you found my questions "stupid". There is a saying amongst civilized people that you have probably never heard nor embrace: If you don't have anything nice to say, say nothing. No need for classless insults.

 

[Tuberale]

To JJDFLA: people collect wheaties because they are still affordable. Many other coins have gone up so quickly they are out of many coin collector's price range.

I think you misunderestimate the true value of wheaties: they are indicator coins. By themselves in the ground, they are not worth much per se. But they certainly are indicators of where other coins, especially silver, have also been lost.

 

[ivan salis]

quite true - wheat cents mean "silver coins might be found here" --- as a metal detectorist --I am always pleased to find a wheat cent * since they were last made in 1958 and the last of the 90% silver coins were made 6 years later in 1964 * so anywhere that you find wheat cents at --there should also be silver coins at -- that is IF dimes , quarters or halves were lost there that is. and have not been "cherry picked" by someone else before.

 

[diggummup]

I'll give you 2 cents a piece for them all day long.

 

[jgas]

Some of us kill to see a good load of wheaties in the ground. As suggested they are the first ones I like to find because silver is not too far behind!...Save em, they are worth it and each and everyday they get older and hold that much more history. Just imagine what people were doing back in the 1910's and so on.... jgas

 

[diggummup]

I hear what you all are saying about wheaties being an indicator for older coins in an area we are detecting and I agree and I know this is a detecting forum, but I don't see where the poster said he dug the wheaties, just that he has a couple hundred.

I have a couple of hundred wheat pennies. I looked every one of them up and they are not worth anything. Why do people even collect them if they are not misstrikes or a 1909 S VDB? I think I saw somewhere that the old ones might be worth 2 cents each? Should I take the 2 bucks for them? Thanks.

I would throw them in a jar and store them away. They will never lose any value, they may only increase as time goes by. Heck, i'm even saving the pre 82's myself.

 

[JJDFLA]

This started when my father gave me a bunch of coins to split up with my brother. (I checked every one before doing anything, nothing rare.) Some Morgans, Mercury and Roosevelt dimes, Liberty and Franklin halves and a bunch of old silver quarters. He also gave me the wheat pennies. After looking up the silver melt values on coinflation, I was impressed that a 25 cent quarter is now worth around $6.50 in silver value. When I looked up the pennies I saw between 2-4 cents and wondered why bother. I needed a slap in the face with reality. After reading the responses, I realized that when I was a kid I started with the blue Whitman books and tried to fill them up with the old pennies. I just had a brief moment where I was thinking of just dumping them in one of those machines at the supermarket that gives you money for coins. But I will save them. I'm sure a relative or friend has a kid that might want to start a collection and they would love to look through the old pennies. Thanks for waking me up.

 

[ivan salis]

remember things are often given to folks for a reason * your dad may want to see what you do with what your given -- do you just "blindly" cash it out --gimme the money NOW!! or do you keep it or sell some stuff and keep some stuff ? -- remember this he might be watching you to see your "reaction" to what your given now to decide if he wants to entrust you with even more stuff later on .

yes remember when you were a kid and started by collecting wheat cents for your "coin collection" --thats how lots of folks get started by the way -- remember this too -- its not always about the "whats it worth $$$" some things given father to son are "priceless"

say your dad was a WW2 vet -- and passed down his bronze star with "V" (for valor) medal - he earnedto you as a "family keepsake"--(a medal one has to risk ones life to earn) -- how much would it be "worth" $$$$ wize on E Bay ? because some folks only care for MONEY -- get my drift?

 

[COINIDIOT]

What is mistrike and how do you tell if you have the right 1909?

 

[Gaijun1]

I Have At Least 10 1969 S Pennys
Waitting For A Good Scopeing For Doubleing All I Need Is 2 Good Hits Lord
As I have No Way Too Tell If They Are Good Or Not

But i have Plenty Of Wheaties

 

[coin flipper]

Buy a red book off ebay for like $5.00 and look at the prices these guys run for. It is killer. A guy at a coin show had 3 $50 bags 40's-50's he sold for $250 each. Better than my 401K.