Design and Specifications of the Lincoln Cent (Modern)

The Modern Lincoln Cent series began in 1959, commemorating the 150th anniversary of Lincoln’s birth. It replaced the Wheat Ears reverse with the Lincoln Memorial design, maintaining Brenner’s iconic Lincoln portrait on the obverse. In 2009, special reverse designs celebrated Lincoln’s bicentennial, followed by the introduction of the Shield reverse in 2010, symbolizing Lincoln’s preservation of the Union.
Weight 3.11 grams (1959-1982); 2.5 grams (1982-present)
Diameter 19.05 mm
Mint Marks P (Philadelphia), D (Denver), S (San Francisco)
Composition 95% copper, 5% zinc (1959-1982); 97.5% zinc, 2.5% copper plating (1982-present)
Obverse Design Portrait of Abraham Lincoln, designed by Victor David Brenner
Reverse Design Lincoln Memorial (1959-2008), designed by Frank Gasparro; Shield (2010-present), designed by Lyndall Bass
Years of Minting 1959 to Date

Collectibility and Rare Varieties

The condition of Modern Lincoln Cents significantly impacts their value, with uncirculated examples commanding premium prices. Proof issues and special mint sets are also highly collectible. Error coins, such as doubled dies and off-center strikes, can be extremely valuable. The zinc composition introduced in 1982 makes later coins more susceptible to corrosion, affecting long-term preservation and value.
1960 Small Date Scarce variety, especially in high grades
1984 Doubled Ear Rare and valuable error
1970-S Small Date Scarce variety
1972 Doubled Die Obverse Rare and valuable error coin
1983 Doubled Die Reverse Scarce and sought-after variety
1969-S Doubled Die Obverse Extremely rare, with only a few examples known

Explore Lincoln Cent (Modern) Values by Year

1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

Most Valuable Lincoln Cent (Modern)

This section highlights the most valuable coins in the series, based on PCGS price guides. The table shows price ranges for each coin in various conditions.

Coin Name Circulated Price Uncirculated Price
1982 Penny Bronze Small Date, RD (Regular Strike) – $6.00 – $4,350.00
1969-S Penny Doubled Die Obverse, RD (Regular Strike) – $31,500.00 – $605,000.00
1959-D Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $4.00 – $9,000.00
1972 Penny Doubled Die Obverse, RD (Regular Strike) – $350.00 – $23,500.00
1962-D Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $3.00 – $8,750.00
1964 Penny SMS, RD (Special Strike) – $1,300.00 – $27,500.00
1970-S Penny Small Date, RD (Regular Strike) – $22.00 – $700.00
1964-D Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $6.00 – $4,750.00
1992 Penny Close AM, BN (Regular Strike) $1,200.00 – $2,450.00 –
1982-D Penny Zinc Small Date, RD (Regular Strike) – $8.00 – $425.00
1973-D Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $3.00 – $4,500.00
1983 Penny Doubled Die Reverse, RD (Regular Strike) – $150.00 – $18,500.00
1983-D Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $5.00 – $1,200.00
1959 Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $6.00 – $3,000.00
1968-D Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $6.00 – $3,250.00
1969-D Penny, BN (Regular Strike) – $2.00
1963-D Penny, BN (Regular Strike) – $46.00
1972-D Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $5.00 – $2,850.00
1969-S Penny Doubled Die Obverse, BN (Regular Strike) $13,000.00 – $25,000.00 –
1974-S Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $7.00 – $550.00
1960-D Penny Large Date, RD (Regular Strike) – $8.00 – $475.00
1975 Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $3.00 – $10,500.00
1975-D Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $7.00 – $10,000.00
1968-S Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $3.00 – $7,400.00
1972-S Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $4.00 – $185.00
1995 Penny Doubled Die Obverse, RD (Regular Strike) – $12.00 – $5,000.00
1969-D Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $5.00 – $8,000.00
1968-S Penny, RD (Proof) – $2.00 – $29.00
1994-D Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $6.00 – $3,750.00
1960 Penny Large Date, RD (Regular Strike) – $4.00 – $8,750.00
1960-D Penny Small Date, RD (Regular Strike) – $4.00 – $4,000.00
1971-D Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $6.00 – $275.00
1974 Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $7.00 – $6,500.00
1974-D Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $5.00 – $6,000.00
1981-D Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $6.00 – $5,250.00
1986-D Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $6.00 – $11,000.00
1992-D Penny Close AM, BN (Regular Strike) $1,725.00 – $2,075.00 –
1991-D Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $6.00 – $8,500.00
1979 Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $8.00 – $2,000.00
1992-D Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $6.00 – $4,000.00
1976-D Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $10.00 – $500.00
1966 Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $6.00 – $8,500.00
1979-D Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $7.00 – $3,900.00
1977 Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $3.00 – $4,000.00
2017-P Penny Shield, RD (Regular Strike) – $5.00 – $500.00
1960 Penny Small Date, RD (Regular Strike) – $3.00 – $10,500.00
1977-D Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $8.00 – $7,000.00
1970-D Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $7.00 – $3,500.00
2001-D Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $6.00 – $385.00
2009-D Penny Lincoln-Presidency, RD (Regular Strike) – $7.00 – $6,000.00
1960-D/D Penny Small/Large Date, RD (Regular Strike) – $75.00 – $1,375.00
1971-S Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $10.00 – $1,750.00
1999-S Penny Close AM FS-901, DCAM (Proof) – $45.00 – $10,000.00
2004 Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $6.00 – $335.00
1964 Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $6.00 – $13,500.00
1981 Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $4.00 – $5,000.00
1962 Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $5.00 – $10,000.00
1999-D Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $6.00 – $425.00
1992 Penny Close AM, RD (Regular Strike) – $3,250.00 – $26,000.00
1984-D Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $6.00 – $15,000.00
1978-D Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $10.00 – $1,700.00
1989-D Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $6.00 – $10,000.00
1980 Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $5.00 – $8,000.00
1985 Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $6.00 – $15,500.00
1996-D Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $6.00 – $2,650.00
1967 Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $8.00 – $425.00
1984 Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $6.00 – $9,000.00
1984 Penny Doubled Die Obverse, BN (Regular Strike) $20.00 – $21.00 –
1974-S Penny, DCAM (Proof) – $4.00 – $10,000.00
1972 Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $6.00 – $3,500.00
1984 Penny Doubled Die Obverse, RD (Regular Strike) – $125.00 – $5,000.00
2003-D Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $5.00 – $140.00
1995-D Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $6.00 – $4,150.00
1998-D Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $3.00 – $3,000.00
1980-D Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $4.00 – $1,750.00
1971 Penny Doubled Die Obverse, RD (Regular Strike) – $185.00 – $5,750.00
1985-D Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $6.00 – $2,500.00
1990-D Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $6.00 – $3,000.00
2010-D Penny Shield, RD (Regular Strike) – $6.00 – $1,400.00
1968 Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $2.00 – $2,900.00
1963-D Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $3.00 – $14,500.00
2000-D Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $6.00 – $1,000.00
1988 Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $6.00 – $7,500.00
1963 Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $6.00 – $9,000.00
1965 Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $5.00 – $6,500.00
1993-D Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $6.00 – $2,500.00
1994 Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $6.00 – $13,000.00
2000 Penny Cheerios Cent, RD (Regular Strike) – $16.00 – $4,000.00
1971-S Penny, DCAM (Proof) – $4.00 – $3,000.00
1990 Penny No S, DCAM (Proof) – $2,100.00 – $6,400.00
2009 Penny Lincoln-Formative Years, RD (Regular Strike) – $7.00 – $3,500.00
1982 Penny Zinc Small Date, RD (Regular Strike) – $3.00 – $16,000.00
1988-D Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $5.00 – $5,500.00
1972 Penny Doubled Die Obverse, BN (Regular Strike) $20.00 – $240.00 –
2002 Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $6.00 – $175.00
1969-D Penny No FG FS-901, RD (Regular Strike) – $75.00 – $650.00
1970-S Penny Lg Date, Doubled Die Obv. Large Date, BN (Regular Strike) $650.00 – $1,100.00 –
1987-D Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $5.00 – $15,000.00
2005 Penny Satin Finish, RD (Special Strike) – $2.00 – $1,800.00
1982 Penny Bronze Large Date, RD (Regular Strike) – $6.00 – $1,600.00
1976 Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $3.00 – $4,500.00
1993 Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $4.00 – $4,750.00
1987 Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $6.00 – $5,000.00
1973-S Penny, DCAM (Proof) – $4.00 – $5,250.00
1970-S Penny Lg Date, Doubled Die Obv., RD (Regular Strike) – $2,000.00 – $22,500.00
1997-D Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $3.00 – $8,000.00
1961-D Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $6.00 – $10,000.00
1983 Penny, BN (Regular Strike) – $4.00 – $10.00
2005-D Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $7.00 – $1,500.00
1972-S Penny, DCAM (Proof) – $4.00 – $325.00
1996 Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $6.00 – $2,600.00
2000 Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $6.00 – $2,150.00
2002-D Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $6.00 – $140.00
2019-D Penny Shield, RD (Regular Strike) – $8.00 – $65.00
1998-S Penny Close AM, DCAM (Proof) – $120.00 – $4,750.00
1999 Penny Wide AM FS-901, RB (Regular Strike) – $150.00 – $220.00
2004-D Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $4.00 – $1,750.00
1969-S Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $8.00 – $10,000.00
2008-D Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $6.00 – $1,600.00
1978 Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $4.00 – $7,750.00
2017-D Penny Shield, RD (Regular Strike) – $10.00 – $1,450.00
2018-D Penny Shield, RD (Regular Strike) – $3.00 – $350.00
1983 Penny Doubled Die Reverse, BN (Regular Strike) $15.00 – $60.00 –
1971 Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $11.00 – $4,600.00
1982-S Penny, DCAM (Proof) – $4.00 – $2,450.00
1998 Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $6.00 – $2,750.00
2007-D Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $6.00 – $1,050.00
1960 Penny Large/Small Date, RD (Proof) – $30.00 – $8,500.00
1964 Penny, RD (Proof) – $4.00 – $2,350.00
2001 Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $6.00 – $265.00
1960 Penny Large Date, RD (Proof) – $5.00 – $150.00
1973 Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $6.00 – $4,600.00
1961 Penny, RD (Proof) – $5.00 – $150.00
2011-D Penny Shield, RD (Regular Strike) – $6.00 – $585.00
1995 Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $6.00 – $7,850.00
2003 Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $7.00 – $120.00
1970-S Penny Large Date, RD (Regular Strike) – $12.00 – $2,000.00
1992-D Penny Close AM, RB (Regular Strike) – $2,250.00 – $7,250.00
1962 Penny, RD (Proof) – $4.00 – $275.00
1971 Penny Doubled Die Obverse, BN (Regular Strike) $5.00 – $120.00 –
1995-D Penny DDO FS-103, RD (Regular Strike) – $235.00 – $5,250.00
1980 Penny DDO FS-101, RD (Regular Strike) – $110.00 – $2,600.00
1983 Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $5.00 – $5,000.00
1997 Penny FS-101 Doubled Ear, RD (Regular Strike) – $85.00 – $4,500.00
1979-S Penny Type 1, DCAM (Proof) – $3.00 – $2,700.00
1959 Penny, RD (Proof) – $5.00 – $450.00
1980-S Penny, DCAM (Proof) – $3.00 – $1,500.00
1991 Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $6.00 – $11,000.00
1986 Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $6.00 – $12,500.00
2019-W Penny Shield, RD (Regular Strike) – $8.00 – $1,050.00
1964 Penny SMS, RB (Special Strike) – $1,250.00 – $9,500.00
2008 Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $6.00 – $1,100.00
2012-D Penny Shield, RD (Regular Strike) – $5.00 – $3,000.00
1963 Penny, RD (Proof) – $6.00 – $160.00
1982 Penny Zinc Large Date, RD (Regular Strike) – $6.00 – $8,500.00
1965 Penny SMS, RD (Special Strike) – $2.00 – $1,100.00
2011 Penny Shield, RD (Regular Strike) – $6.00 – $425.00
1997 Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $6.00 – $6,500.00
2016-D Penny Shield, RD (Regular Strike) – $3.00 – $875.00
2006-D Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $6.00 – $525.00
2015-D Penny Shield, RD (Regular Strike) – $6.00 – $500.00
2020 Penny Shield, RD (Regular Strike) – $6.00 – $45.00
2009-D Penny Lincoln-Professional, RD (Regular Strike) – $7.00 – $725.00
1981-S Penny Type 2, DCAM (Proof) – $10.00 – $7,500.00
2006 Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $8.00 – $2,150.00
1995 Penny Doubled Die Obverse, BN (Regular Strike) $2.00 – $3.00 –
1992-S Penny, DCAM (Proof) – $1.00 – $42.00
1989 Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $6.00 – $3,250.00
1983-S Penny, DCAM (Proof) – $1.00 – $650.00
2005 Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $6.00 – $2,000.00
2013-D Penny Shield, RD (Regular Strike) – $6.00 – $100.00
2009-S Penny Lincoln-Early Childhood, DCAM (Proof) – $3.00 – $150.00
1982-D Penny Zinc Large Date, RD (Regular Strike) – $6.00 – $400.00
1969-D Penny No FG FS-901, BN (Regular Strike) $2.00 – $55.00 –
1968-S Penny, DCAM (Proof) – $4.00 – $1,650.00
2009 Penny Lincoln-Presidency, RD (Regular Strike) – $7.00 – $1,500.00
1983 Penny DDR FS-801, RD (Regular Strike) – $145.00 – $12,000.00
1967 Penny SMS, RD (Special Strike) – $2.00 – $175.00
2014-D Penny Shield, RD (Regular Strike) – $6.00 – $2,750.00
2020-D Penny Shield Early Find, RD (Regular Strike) – $20.00
2012 Penny Shield, RD (Regular Strike) – $8.00 – $1,150.00
1982 Penny Bronze Small Date, BN (Regular Strike) – $5.00 – $10.00
1964 Penny, DCAM (Proof) – $6.00 – $12,500.00
1968-S Penny DDO FS-101, RD (Proof) – $26.00 – $750.00
2005-D Penny Satin Finish, RD (Special Strike) – $2.00 – $5,250.00
2007 Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $6.00 – $1,400.00
1992-D Penny Close AM, RD (Regular Strike) – $3,850.00 – $12,250.00
1959 Penny, DCAM (Proof) – $14.00 – $19,000.00
1969-S Penny, DCAM (Proof) – $4.00 – $625.00
1975-S Penny, DCAM (Proof) – $4.00 – $15,000.00

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Chris McPherson is a lifelong collector turned shop owner who opened ChrisMcPherson's Souvenir Shop in 2005. With over 20 years as a professional antique dealer and appraiser, Chris expertly curates a selection of the most unique political, pop culture, and historic collectibles available. His passion is hunting one-of-a-kind artifacts and sharing the fascinating stories behind them. Chris graduated with a BA in American History, informing his specialty in political memorabilia. As a seasoned antique hunter, Chris utilizes his skills to deliver an ever-changing inventory of must-see relics and conversation pieces to his shop.

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