Struck during the Depression Era, this penny holds historical and sentimental significance. This guide will walk you through the fascinating history of the 1933 Lincoln cent. We’ll explore the coin’s stand-out features, learn about how to grade it and discover high-value minting errors that can significantly boost your penny’s regular value.
So, let’s get jump in and find out: How much is a 1933 penny worth?
1933 Penny Value Chart |
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| Mint Mark | Good | Fine | Extremely Fine | Uncirculated |
| 1933-No Mint Mark Penny Value | $2 | $2.75 | $5.50 | $100 |
| 1933-D Penny Value | $3 | $6 | $12.50 | $110 |
History of the 1933 Penny
The 1933 penny belongs to the long-running Lincoln cent series that the United States Mint has minted since 1909.
In 1905, on President Theodore Roosevelt’s recommendation, the Mint hired the renowned sculptor, Augustus Saint-Gaudens, to create new designs for the double eagle, eagle, half eagle, and quarter eagle as well as the cent. The design for these coins had remained unchanged for 255 years, so changing their design did not require congressional approval.
Saint-Gaudens managed to issue new designs for the four gold coins but died from cancer in August 1907 before he could replace the Indian Head cent design with the new design. With Abraham Lincoln’s 100th birth anniversary coming up, President Roosevelt recommended that the Mint produce a Lincoln cent. This would be the first regularly circulating coin to feature a real person rather than an allegorical figure.
After sitting for sculptor Victor David Brenner in 1908, it is believed that President Roosevelt recommended Brenner as the designer for the new Lincoln cent. The following year, Brenner submitted his first designs to the Mint featuring Lincoln’s profile on the reverse and after several adjustments, President Roosevelt approved the final designs.
One point of contention though was the appearance of Brenner’s initials, VDB, on the reverse at the bottom of the coin. While the initial batch of coins were minted with the VDB initials, within days of minting, the initials were removed only to be replaced in 1918, this time in smaller letters on the obverse of the coin.
The 1933 penny is not considered a key date as it was minted in large numbers. However, Mint State examples and gem-quality specimen can be a worthwhile addition to your collection.
Features of the 1933 Penny
Familiarizing yourself with the features of the 1933 cent helps to identify unique specimens, grade your cents accurately, and discover Lincoln cents worth money.
Obverse of the 1933 Penny
On the front side, the 1933 cent features Lincoln’s right-facing profile with the motto “IN GOD WE TRUST” above his head and “LIBERTY” and the date, 1933, are on the right and left surfaces.
On coins minted in Denver, the mintmark, D appears below the date.
Reverse of the 1933 Penny
On the back, there are two prominent wheat ears on the left and right edge of the coin. The nickname Wheat pennies or Wheaties comes from the depiction of the two wheat leaves.
The denomination, ONE CENT, is etched boldly at the center followed by the inscriptions, “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.” The Latin phrase, “E PLURIBUS UNUM,” appears at the top in an arch along the rim.
Other Features of the 1933 Penny
Additional features of the 1933 cent include:
- Diameter: 19.00 millimeters
- Weight: 3.11 grams
- Edge: Plain
- Metal Composition: 95% Copper, 5% Tin and Zinc
1933 Penny Grading Guide
When grading a 1933 Lincoln penny, pay attention to the coin’s surface condition, wear on high-contact points, and design sharpness. In particular, examine the details on Lincoln’s profile, date and inscriptions on the obverse for the extent of wear. On the reverse, assess the wheat stalks in particular for the extent of wear.
An uncirculated, Mint State 1933 penny (MS60-MS70) will show no signs of wear except for a few bag marks. The original mint luster will be intact, and the details on Lincoln’s profile and wheat stalks will be sharp and crisp.
| # | Grade |
|---|---|
| 1 | Basal State-1 |
| 2 | Fair |
| 3 | Very Fair |
| 4, 5, 6 | Good |
| 7, 8, 10 | Very Good |
| 12, 15 | Fine |
| 20, 30 | Very Fine |
| 40 | Extremely Fine |
| 50 | About Uncirculated |
| 60 | Mint State |
| 65 | Mint State |
| 70 | Mint State |
Please check our grading guides to know your coin scale, It’s the necessary step to know the exact value of your coin.
1933 Penny Value Guides
So, how much is a 1933 cent worth? This depends on factors like the condition, mintage, mintmark, and rarity. There are two varieties of the 1933 cent:
- 1933 No-Mint mark Penny
- 1933-D Penny
Let’s look at how much each is worth.
1933 No-Mint mark Penny Value
The Philadelphia Mint released about 14,360,000 pennies in 1933—as per the tradition, none of the Philadelphia Lincoln pennies bore a mintmark and are aptly known as “no-mintmark pennies.”
Due to the economic depression at the time, the Philadelphia Mint was actually very close to not minting any coins in 1933 but managed to anyway and even after, the coins were only released one and two years after they were minted. The penny mintage that year was significantly lower than in previous years.
Circulated examples are plentiful and well-struck and so are Mint State examples. Here is a breakdown of the value of the 1933 Lincoln penny:
- Circulated Examples: These are plentiful and many are well preserved. But, they are generally affordable across all circulated grades. An example graded Good (G) will fetch as much as $2, a Fine (F) one will sell for an $2.75, while an Extremely Fine (XF) example will bring in up to $5.50. A 1933 penny graded “About Uncirculated” is worth about $17.
- Mint State Examples: Speculators hoarded many of the 1933 pennies released into circulation, making Mint State examples surprisingly abundant. The high population of brown uncirculated pennies makes these coins affordable for just about any collector. For example, at MS60 one will sell for about $20 and for about $38 for an MS64. Even in higher grades, Mint State 1933 Lincoln pennies are still very affordable. For example, at MS65 a penny will command up to $55 and as much as $100 for one graded MS66.
- Red Mint State Examples: These are scarcer than their brown counterparts and will often command premium prices, especially in the higher grades. For example, an MS66 will sell for as much as $470 and higher up the ladder an MS67 can command prices of between $1080- $4150. If you come across a red, uncirculated 1933 penny, you could be holding a fortune in your hands!
- Auction Record: In January 2025, Heritage Auctions sold an extremely rare MS68 (red) for a remarkable $52,800, making this the most valuable 1933 no-mintmark penny to date.
1933-D Penny Value
In 1933, the mint at Denver produced about 6,200,000 Lincoln pennies, making this a desirable, low-mintage issue. When the coins were minted, they were not all immediately released into circulation, making them quite rare.
A few years later though, the remaining coins were released and subsequently hoarded by speculators, making Mint State examples, including red gems, plentiful and readily available. The 1933 D mintmark introduced a new design in which the mintmark was larger than on previous cents.
Here’s what to expect in terms of the value of the 1933-D penny:
- Circulated Examples: These are plentiful and affordable across all circulated grades. An example graded “Good” (G) will sell for about $3, a Fine (F) one goes for up to $6, while an Extremely Fine (XF) example will fetch up to $12.50. At About Uncirculated (AU 58), expect examples to sell for up to $23.
- Mint State Examples: Brown uncirculated pennies are quite abundant and equally affordable. For example, at MS60, a penny will cost about $25 and $34 at grade MS63. At MS64 examples will fetch as much as $40 and up to $110 for MS66 specimens.
- Red Mint State Examples: Red gems are surprisingly abundant, especially in lower grades. The population, however, dwindles in higher grades, steadily increasing the prices. At MS60, examples will fetch as much as $35 and up to $100 at MS64. At higher grades, starting from MS65, examples will sell for as much as $210 while an MS67 will bring in up to $12,500.
- Auction Record: In January 2025, Heritage Auctions sold an MS67(red) for $24,500, making this the most valuable 1933-D penny to date.
Rare 1933 Penny Errors List
The Lincoln pennies of 1933 were generally well-minted. But, there are a few notable errors in the series and these can be worth significantly more than the standard value. These minting errors are definitely worth hunting down and adding to your collection.
1. 1933 No-Mint mark Penny Grease Struck-Through Error
A struck-through error occurs when a foreign object is struck between the die and planchet, leaving its impression on the coin. Example of objects that can accidentally entire the minting hub include pieces of thread or strings, strands of hair, specks of metal, and even grease.
In a grease struck-through error, the drops of grease obscure the die so some of the inscriptions and design elements are not fully transferred to the planchet. This results in a coin with a blurry design, with some of the elements partially missing due to the effects of the grease.
A grease struck-through error creates an interesting aesthetic on the coin and can increase the value of your 1933 Lincoln penny by $20-$50.
2. 1933-D Penny Re-Punched Mintmark Error
As the name suggests, a re-punched mintmark error is one in which the mintmark has been struck more than once at slightly different angles, causing the primary mintmark to overlap with the secondary one. This usually happens when mint workers attempt to correct a wrongfully placed primary mintmark by re-punch a secondary mintmark on top of the first one.
The value of a re-punched mintmark largely depends on the error’s eye-appeal. A dramatic re-punched mintmark will generally fetch more than a subtle one. Such an error will add $10- $50 to your penny’s standard value.
3. 1933-D Penny Rim Cud Error
A rim cud error occurs when a portion of the die’s rim breaks and falls off, leaving a gap that is eventually filled with metal. As the die continues striking the planchet, the metal-filled gap around the die’s edge eventually leaves its impression along the planchet’s rim. This results in the formation of a raised bump along the coin’s rim known as a rim cud.
The value of a rim cud error depends on its size and appearance—a large, dramatic rim cud will generally be worth more than a small, understated one. All in all, expect an additional value of $10-$50 on your 1933 Lincoln penny from a rim cud error.
4. 1933 No-mint mark Missing Clad Error
A missing clad error occurs when the upper layer of a coin cracks and peels off, exposing the underlying copper core. This mostly happens due to the presence of impurities in the alloy during the planchet-making process. The impurities can weaken the alloy such that the upper clad layer does not fully adhere to the copper core, resulting in peeling.
A missing clad layer error can be full or partial—the full version entails the clad layer missing on both sides of the coin while the partial is where the clad layer is missing only on one side of the coin. Partial missing clad layer errors are more common than the full missing clad error.
The value of such an error depends on the extent of peeling—more peeling, lifting or cracking results in a dramatic appearance, making the error more valuable.
Expect a missing clad layer error to increase the value of your 1933 Lincoln penny by $20-$100.
FAQS
Is a 1933 penny rare?
The 1933 pennies are only relatively rare. These Lincoln pennies have a comparably low mintage than in previous years but are still not considered a key date. You can find circulated and uncirculated examples at relatively affordable prices.
Why is a 1933 penny so expensive?
A 1933 Lincoln penny is actually generally affordable for most collectors, even though they are worth more than their face value. Even in Mint State condition, these pennies are within the reach of many collectors given that they are generally plentiful. That said, red gems are genuinely rare and can therefore can be quite expensive.
Is a 1933 penny worth collecting?
Yes, 1933 pennies are worth collecting, especially in Mint State. Ideally, you should look out for red gems as these often command premium prices
