Are my wheat pennies worth anything or just one cent?

Wheat pennies, made from 1909 to 1958, are named for the two wheat stalks on the back. Billions were struck, and honestly, most circulated ones from the 1940s and 1950s sell for only a few cents each, often by the roll or by the pound. Filling a jar with them does not usually add up to much.

The exceptions are worth looking for. Key dates include the 1909-S VDB, the 1909-S, the 1914-D, the 1922 with no mint mark, and the 1931-S. Error coins like the 1955 doubled die, where the date and lettering look strongly doubled, are also prized. The 1943 pennies are normally steel and gray; a genuine 1943 copper cent is a famous rarity, though many fakes exist. Coins in unworn red condition bring more than brown, worn ones.

Sort by date and mint mark, which appears under the date. Set aside anything on the key list and have a coin dealer look at it before you sell the lot.