What is the value of a 1946 wheat head penny that has no mark under the year?

Answer 1

1946 is not a rare date for Lincoln cents. In circulated condition, it's worth about 3 cents. A nice uncirculated one is worth about 25 cents.

Also note that the only head on the coin is that of President Abraham Lincoln; the wheat stalks on the back are called "ears". Yes, part of a head, sort of, but not the whole thing ...

The lack of a mint mark means the cent was minted in Philadelphia. For many years Phila. was the only mint so a mark was not needed. When other mints were established Philadelphia coins continued to be issued without marks. The P mark was first used on the so-called "war nickels" issued from late 1942 through 1945. The coin's composition was changed to a silver-copper-manganese alloy, since nickel was needed for war purposes. The P mark was discontinued starting in 1946. The SBA dollar became the first current-issue coin to display a P mark in 1979. The mark was added to all other denominations except the cent in 1980. Only Denver cents carry mint marks (at least for circulation; proofs have "S") since some cents are also made at auxiliary facilities and the Mint does not want to create so-called short runs.