1956 Wheat Cent Uncirculated MS-66 Brilliant Red - Axiom Grade See Photos ... Includes FREE SHIPPING. Note the U.S. valuable coin market on-average 7% return Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) projected collectible coin market to reach $160 Billion revenue by 2033.
Coin Description and Preliminary Observations:
- Mint Mark: The obverse (front) shows no mint mark below the date "1956," indicating it was minted in Philadelphia.
- Packaging: The coin is housed in a "BRILLIANT UNCIRCULATED OLD WHEAT CENT" holder, which aligns with the condition of the coin.
- Luster: Both front and obverse show the coin retains a significant amount of its original mint luster. The surfaces are reflective and undisturbed by circulation wear.
- Color: The coin exhibits a strong reddish-orange hue, particularly noticeable on the reverse. This indicates a high percentage of original copper color.
The 1956 Wheat Cent holds a special place in American numismatics as one of the final issues of the iconic "Wheat Penny" series, which ran from 1909 to 1958. Struck in a composition of 95% copper and 5% tin and zinc, the 1956 cent features the renowned portrait of Abraham Lincoln on the obverse, designed by Victor David Brenner. The reverse, also Brenner's creation, is distinguished by two stalks of wheat flanking the denomination, a symbol of American prosperity. In 1956, these coins were produced at two U.S. Mint facilities: Philadelphia, which struck over 420 million coins (bearing no mint mark), and Denver, which had a significantly larger mintage of over 1 billion (displaying a "D" mint mark). While circulated examples of the 1956 Wheat Cent are quite common and hold modest value, uncirculated specimens with original mint luster, particularly those with a vibrant red color, are highly sought after by collectors. The year also saw the production of proof coins for collectors, which are of higher quality and command a premium. The 1956 penny represents the penultimate year of a beloved design that defined the American cent for half a century before the reverse was changed to the Lincoln Memorial in 1959.
