Price Guide for 1968 Cent Variants
This guide presents price ranges for variants from three sources: eBay sales, third-party auctions, and PCGS guides. Values are shown for various conditions, allowing collectors to compare across different market segments. Price estimates may vary between sources, especially for rarer variants.
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3rd Party PriceUncirculated: $3.00 – $2,300.00
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eBayUncirculated: $0.99 – $575.00
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PCGS Price GuideUncirculated: $6.00 – $3,250.00
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3rd Party PriceUncirculated: $6.00 – $3,995.00
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eBayUncirculated: $0.99 – $5,000.00
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PCGS Price GuideUncirculated: $3.00 – $7,400.00
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3rd Party PriceUncirculated: $3.00 – $14,375.00
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eBayCirculated: $13.01 – $32.99Uncirculated: $1.00 – $157.00
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PCGS Price GuideUncirculated: $2.00 – $29.00
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $219.00Uncirculated: $6.00 – $2,880.00
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eBayUncirculated: $0.99 – $425.00
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PCGS Price GuideUncirculated: $2.00 – $2,900.00
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $15.28Uncirculated: $6.00 – $3,795.00
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eBayUncirculated: $1.99 – $1,140.00
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PCGS Price GuideUncirculated: $4.00 – $1,650.00
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3rd Party PriceUncirculated: $65.00 – $517.00
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eBayUncirculated: $102.50 – $491.00
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PCGS Price GuideUncirculated: $26.00 – $750.00
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eBayUncirculated: $145.00 – $285.00
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PCGS Price GuideUncirculated: $65.00 – $575.00
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $18.00 – $207.00Uncirculated: $276.00 – $546.00
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eBayCirculated: $1.00 – $4.11Uncirculated: $4.75 – $115.38
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3rd Party PriceUncirculated: $94.00 – $228.00
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eBayUncirculated: $37.99 – $239.00
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PCGS Price GuideUncirculated: $35.00 – $275.00
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eBayUncirculated: $10.00 – $153.50
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3rd Party PriceUncirculated: $3.00
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eBayUncirculated: $5.65 – $158.40
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3rd Party PriceUncirculated: $8.00 – $253.00
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eBayUncirculated: $1.25 – $45.00
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eBayCirculated: $109.00Uncirculated: $119.95
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3rd Party PriceUncirculated: $20.00 – $81.00
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eBayCirculated: $39.00 – $120.00Uncirculated: $41.00
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eBayCirculated: $3.25 – $4.16Uncirculated: $2.50 – $225.41
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3rd Party PriceUncirculated: $499.00
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eBayUncirculated: $9.50 – $32.95
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PCGS Price GuideUncirculated: $2.00 – $500.00
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3rd Party PriceUncirculated: $9.00 – $2,760.00
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eBayUncirculated: $4.04 – $295.00
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PCGS Price GuideUncirculated: $3.00 – $70.00
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eBayUncirculated: $113.20
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PCGS Price GuideUncirculated: $225.00 – $850.00
Design and Specifications of the 1968 Cent
The 1968 Lincoln Cent continued the Lincoln Memorial reverse design introduced in 1959. This year marked the last full year of copper-alloy cents before the composition was temporarily changed to brass in 1982 due to rising copper prices. The 1968 cent was minted during a period of increased coin production to meet the growing demand for circulating coinage in the United States.
| Weight | 3.11 grams |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 19.05 mm |
| Mint Marks | P (no mint mark), D, S |
| Composition | 95% copper, 5% zinc |
| Obverse Design | Portrait of Abraham Lincoln, designed by Victor D. Brenner |
| Reverse Design | Lincoln Memorial, designed by Frank Gasparro |
Rarity Factors and Value Drivers
The condition of 1968 Lincoln Cents significantly impacts their value, especially for circulation strikes. Uncirculated examples with full original mint luster are highly sought after by collectors. For circulation strikes, coins graded MS65 Red and above can command premium prices, with MS67 Red examples being quite scarce.
For proof coins, the presence and quality of cameo contrast between the fields and devices can greatly enhance value. Deep Cameo proofs are particularly desirable and can fetch significant premiums.
Mintage: 1,707,880,970
Rarity Scale: Common
Circulation Status: Widely Circulated
Preservation Rarity: Common in grades up to MS66, scarce in MS67 and above
Varieties Errors: None significant
Market Demand: Moderate, primarily for high-grade specimens
Mintage: 2,886,671,700
Rarity Scale: Common
Circulation Status: Widely Circulated
Preservation Rarity: Common in grades up to MS66, scarce in MS67 and above
Varieties Errors: None significant
Market Demand: Moderate, primarily for high-grade specimens
Mintage: 3,041,506
Rarity Scale: Common for proofs
Circulation Status: Not Intended for Circulation
Preservation Rarity: Common in grades up to PR68, scarce in PR69 and above
Varieties Errors: None significant
Market Demand: Moderate, higher for cameo and deep cameo specimens
Strike quality is an important factor for 1968 cents. Well-struck coins with sharp details, especially on Lincoln’s hair and the Memorial columns, are more desirable. Toning can also affect value, with coins displaying attractive, natural red color being most sought after for uncirculated examples.
While not particularly rare, error coins such as doubled dies, off-center strikes, or wrong planchets can be valuable to collectors. However, major errors are uncommon for this year. The preservation of original mint red color is crucial for circulation strikes, as coins with significant fading or spotting are less valuable.
