The wheat penny was minted from 1909 – 1958. The span of years for when this coin existed, coincides with a time period in which the US Mint produced some of the finest silver coinage in its history. This includes;
20th Century US Silver Coins
- Barber Dime 1892 – 1916
- Barber Quarter 1892 – 1916
- Barber Half Dollar 1892 – 1916
- Mercury Dime 1916 – 1944
- Standing Liberty Quarter 1916 – 1932
- Walking Liberty Half Dollar 1916 – 1947
- Morgan Dollar 1878 – 1904, 1921
- Peace Dollar 1921 – 1928, 1934, 1935
Not to mention the Franklin Half Dollar, 1948 – 1963 along with the Roosevelt Dime and Washington Quarter which were made of silver until 1964.
Finding Silver Coins With a Metal Detector
I can’t begin to tell you how many times I’ve found silver coins in close proximity to wheat pennies when I’ve been out metal detecting. Therefore, some of the best advice that I can give you is that when you find a wheat penny; slow down and work that area very carefully! Because as we detectorists say: “Where there’s wheat, there’s silver!”
Also, don’t forget to double check the dates on the wheat pennies that you find with your metal detector. There are some incredibly valuable wheat pennies out there that you would be thrilled to come across!
Most Valuable Wheat Pennies
- 1909 S
- 1909 S VDB
- 1911 S
- 1914 D
- 1922
- 1931 S
- 1943 Copper Wheat Penny
- 1944 Steel Wheat Penny
- 1955 Double Die Obverse