The Power of the Wheat Cent

“Which U.S. coin design is the most beautiful?”

This is a question that numismatists encounter often. And the answer is never wholly agreed upon. Fans of the Saint-Gaudens double eagle (gold $20) will go head to head with Morgan-dollar enthusiasts. Others might nominate Walker halves or even Mercury dimes for the title. Some collectors will claim that Barber quarters, or dare I say, Liberty Head “V” nickels, are the most beautiful U.S. coins. I’m sure you have strong opinions about which coin would “win the pageant, ” and some might disagree with some of the coins I’ve named. Unfortunately for collectors, there will never be a concrete and universally accepted answer to this question. So, it’s time to raise a new question.

Which coin is the most powerful?

My answer is a coin that isn’t particularly valuable, rare, or even beautiful. But it is a small and unassuming coin that has touched the hearts of collectors nationwide—the Lincoln Wheat Ears Reverse cent.

The Wheat Cent

For many, “Wheats” are the reason they started collecting. Cracking open 50-cent rolls and sifting through piles of cents on the hunt for these precious Wheats, whether alone or with like-minded friends, is often the first step to being a numismatist. For many, their first collection was a blue cardboard folder of Wheats, with each slot carefully filled with a coin plucked from a sea of Lincoln Memorial Reverse cents. These books are often never fully filled, particularly the slots labeled “VDB.”

For many, “Wheats” are the reason they
started collecting.

1909-S Lincoln Wheat Ears Reverse cent. (Photos: Heritage Auctions)

These beautiful unfinished collections are the foundation for a lifetime of love for the hobby. The excitement that comes from finding a Wheat while roll searching, no matter the date, ignites both curiosity and passion. The hunt for Wheats also places new types of coins directly into an aspiring numismatist’s hands. It’s common for obsolete Canadian pennies, shiny euros, tarnished dimes, and more to make their way into penny rolls. While worthless to some, these coins are treasure in the eyes of collectors in the making. A spark of curiosity is all it takes for someone to dive headfirst into the world of numismatics. Wheat cents become Buffalo nickels, roll searching becomes attending coin shows, and before you know it, you’re trying to complete a collection of Carson City Morgans.

A Special Coin

Wheat cents will always have a special place in many collections. These are the coins they recognized when they walked into their first coin show and that dealers gifted them. These are the coins they showed their children and grandchildren.
Wheat cents aren’t just worth one cent; they’re priceless. The joy and memories formed around these coins cannot be quantified. When I see a Wheat cent, I’m reminded of summer days with my dad. I remember him jumping into a lake in celebration of finding a particularly exciting coin in a roll. I remember going to coin shows with my brother and pressing pennies into books in the kid’s corner. I remember showing my finds to my mom and getting penny rolls in my stocking every Christmas. I’m a collector today because of these coins.

Wheat cents may be small, but they are undoubtedly mighty. The curiosity they spark, the collections they form, and the people they bring together can’t be quantified. These coins inspire people to learn new things and explore new hobbies. These coins help to pass down a passion for collecting from generation to generation. The Wheat cent is the center of countless memories. A coin that can do all that is undeniably powerful.