An average condition 1942 Lincoln wheat penny carries a value of $0.20 to $0.35, according to experts at CoinTrackers.com and CoinValues.com. Coins in certified, mint condition and uncirculated states may carry a value ranging from $4.00 to $5.00, as of 2015.
Since nearly one billion of the coins were minted in all – 657,796,000 in Philadelphia Mint (no mintmark), 206,698,000 in Denver (D) and 85,590,000 in San Francisco (S) – the 1942 Lincoln wheat penny is still widely in circulation and not highly sought-after by collectors. Rarer "proof" coins issued that year fetch anywhere from $50 to $75 from collectors.
