Lincoln Cent Web
Lincoln Cent Web
Lincoln Cents
The humble Lincoln Cent is our longest-lived
obverse design, dating back over 100 years to
1909, when it replaced the Indian Head Cent.
Designed by Victor D. Brenner, it was popular upon
its release, and for the next half century or so, the
coin served regular service in circulation. Though
inflation has since eroded its buying power,
many collectors can trace the beginning of their
collecting days back to this coin.
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For the first 50 years (1909-1958), the reverse featured the large
words “ONE CENT” surrounded by two wheat ears. These are the
“Wheaties” and have long since disappeared from circulation.
In 2009, to mark the bicentennial of Lincoln’s birth (and the centennial of the cent), a series of four commemorative reverse
designs marking milestones in Lincoln’s life appeared on the cent.
The first date of the big three came about because the
earliest coins struck displayed Brenner’s initials at the
1909-S VDB
bottom of the reverse. They were quite visible (previously,
designers had either not signed their work, or concealed
their initial(s) within the design), and public criticism
resulted in the initials being removed a short time later that
year. (They were returned in 1918 at the base of Lincoln’s
bust in very tiny letters.) Just under half a million coins were
struck in San Francisco with “VDB” initials on the reverse,
and while that mintage may not sound low for a $10 gold
piece, it is quite low for a 1 cent coin.
Finally, the 1931-S was just another low mintage date (struck
at the depth of the depression), and with only 866,000
made, it was recognized early as a date to save. As a result,
while infrequently found in pocket change during the 1940s
and 1950s, a number were saved in uncirculated condition, 1914-D
and today it is not particularly rare in that grade.
1931-S
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Doubling is also found on some cents dated 1917, 1936, 1958, 1969-S, 1971, 1971-S, 1972 and 1995, but none are as dramatic
or well known as the famous 1955 Double Die.
The kings of all Lincoln Cent errors, though, are the incorrect metal strikings of 1943 and 1944. While all cents for 1943 were
supposed to be struck in zinc-coated steel, a VERY few were struck (by mistake?) in bronze. Examples from all three mints
(Philadelphia, Denver and San Francisco) are known. Similarly, while the bronze alloy was resumed for 1944, a few 1944s struck
in zinc-coated steel have turned up. Again, all examples from all three mints are known, leading one to doubt how “accidental”
all this might have been. Regardless of their origin, all six of these “off metal” strikes of 1943-1944 are extremely valuable, with
prices in the five to six-figure range.
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1909 VDB 27,995,000 $8.00 - $10.00 $11.00 - $13.00 $13.00 - $14.00 $18.00 and up
1909 S 1,825,000 $65.00 - $75.00 $90.00 - $105.00 $125.00 - $140.00 $250.00 and up
1909-S VDB 484,000 $475.00 - $550.00 $575.00 - $650.00 $800.00 - $900.00 $1200.00 and up
1910 146,798,813 $0.50 - $1.00 $1.50 - $2.00 $2.50 - $3.00 $18.00 and up
1910 S 6,045,000 $12.00 - $14.00 $16.00 - $18.00 $24.00 - $27.00 $85.00 and up
1911 101,176,054 $0.50 - $1.00 $2.00 - $2.50 $4.00 - $4.50 $22.00 and up
1911 D 12,672,000 $3.00 - $4.00 $8.00 - $10.00 $27.00 - $30.00 $95.00 and up
1911 S 4,026,000 $28.00 - $32.00 $35.00 - $40.00 $60.00 - $65.00 $160.00 and up
1912 68,150,915 $0.50 - $1.00 $1.00 - $1.50 $7.50 - $8.50 $30.00 and up
1912 D 10,411,000 $5.00 - $6.00 $9.00 - $11.00 $45.00 - $50.00 $110.00 and up
1912 S 4,431,000 $15.00 - $17.00 $23.00 - $26.00 $55.00 - $60.00 $160.00 and up
1913 76,529,504 $0.50 - $1.00 $2.00 - $2.50 $11.00 - $12.00 $25.00 and up
1913 D 15,804,000 $1.50 - $2.00 $2.00 - $2.50 $27.00 - $30.00 $80.00 and up
1913 S 6,101,000 $8.00 - $10.00 $17.50 - $20.00 $40.00 - $45.00 $165.00 and up
1914 75,237,067 $0.25 - $0.50 $0.50 - $1.00 $12.00 - $13.00 $40.00 and up
1914 D 1,193,000 $125.00 - $140.00 $175.00 - $200.00 $600.00 - $650.00 $1700.00 and up
1914 S 4,137,000 $17.00 - $19.00 $23.00 - $26.00 $60.00 - $65.00 $250.00 and up
1915 29,090,970 $0.50 - $1.00 $4.00 - $4.50 $35.00 - $38.00 $75.00 and up
1915 D 22,050,000 $0.50 - $1.00 $3.00 - $3.50 $14.00 - $15.00 $65.00 and up
1915 S 4,833,000 $16.00 - $18.00 $22.00 - $25.00 $50.00 - $55.00 $225.00 and up
1916 131,832,627 $0.10 - $0.25 $0.25 - $0.50 $5.00 - $5.50 $18.00 and up
1916 D 35,956,000 $0.25 - $0.50 $1.00 - $1.50 $9.00 - $11.00 $50.00 and up
1916 S 22,510,000 $0.50 - $1.00 $3.00 - $3.50 $15.00 - $17.00 $75.00 and up
1917 196,429,785 $0.10 - $0.25 $0.25 - $0.50 $3.00 - $3.50 $15.00 and up
1917 D 55,120,000 $0.25 - $0.50 $1.00 - $1.50 $20.00 - $22.00 $55.00 and up
1917 S 32,620,000 $0.25 - $0.50 $0.50 - $1.00 $7.00 - $8.00 $65.00 and up
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1917 S 32,620,000 $0.25 - $0.50 $0.50 - $1.00 $7.00 - $8.00 $65.00 and up
1918 288,104,634 $0.10 - $0.25 $0.25 - $0.50 $2.50 - $3.00 $10.00 and up
1918 D 47,830,000 $0.25 - $0.50 $1.00 - $1.50 $7.00 - $8.00 $60.00 and up
1918 S 34,680,000 $0.25 - $0.50 $0.50 - $1.00 $7.00 - $8.00 $80.00 and up
1919 392,021,000 $0.10 - .25 $0.25 - .50 $1.00 - $1.50 $8.00 and up
1919 D 57,154,000 $0.25 - $0.50 $0.50 - $1.00 $6.50 - $7.00 $55.00 and up
1919 S 139,760,000 $0.25 - $0.50 $2.00 - $2.50 $3.50 - $4.00 $45.00 and up
1920 310,165,000 $0.10 - $0.25 $0.25 - $0.50 $1.50 - $2.00 $10.00 and up
1920 D 49,280,000 $0.25 - $0.50 $1.00 - $1.50 $12.00 - $13.00 $60.00 and up
1920 S 46,220,000 $0.25 - $0.50 $0.50 - $1.00 $7.00 - $8.00 $85.00 and up
1921 39,157,000 $1.50 - $2.00 $2.00 - $2.50 $6.00 - $6.50 $25.00 and up
1921 S 15,274,000 $0.50 - $1.00 $2.00 - $2.50 $20.00 - $22.00 $100.00 and up
1922 D 7,160,000 $11.00 - $13.00 $17.50 - $20.00 $22.00 - $25.00 $70.00 and up
1923 74,723,000 $0.25 - $0.50 $1.00 - $1.50 $4.00 - $4.50 $10.00 and up
1923 S 8,700,000 $3.50 - $4.50 $6.50 - $7.50 $22.00 - $25.00 $160.00 and up
1924 75,178,000 $0.10 - $0.25 $0.25 - $0.50 $3.50 - $4.00 $13.00 and up
1924 D 2,520,000 $24.00 - $27.00 $35.00 - $40.00 $75.00 - $85.00 $200.00 and up
1924 S 11,696,000 $0.25 - $0.50 $1.00 - $1.50 $12.00 - $13.00 $115.00 and up
1925 139,949,000 $0.10 - $0.25 $0.25 - $0.50 $1.00 - $1.50 $8.00 and up
1925 D 22,580,000 $0.25 - $0.50 $2.00 - $2.50 $7.50 - $8.50 $55.00 and up
1925 S 26,380,000 $0.25 - $0.50 $0.50 - $1.00 $7.00 - $8.00 $95.00 and up
1926 157,088,000 $0.10 - $0.25 $0.25 - $0.50 $1.00 - $1.50 $7.00 and up
1926 D 28,020,000 $0.25 - $0.50 $2.00 - $2.50 $9.00 - $11.00 $60.00 and up
1926 S 4,550,000 $6.50 - $7.50 $8.00 - $10.00 $20.00 - $22.00 $200.00 and up
1927 144,440,000 $0.10 - $0.25 $0.25 - $0.50 $1.00 - $1.50 $7.00 and up
1927 D 27,170,000 $0.25 - $0.50 $0.50 - $1.00 $4.00 - $4.50 $40.00 and up
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1928 134,116,000 $0.10 - $0.25 $0.25 - $0.50 $1.00 - $1.50 $5.00 and up
1928 D 31,170,000 $0.25 - $0.50 $0.50 - $1.00 $4.00 - $4.50 $25.00 and up
1928 S 17,266,000 $0.25 - $0.50 $1.00 - $1.50 $6.00 - $6.50 $50.00 and up
1929 185,262,000 $0.10 - $0.25 $0.25 - $0.50 $1.00 - $1.50 $5.00 and up
1929 D 41,730,000 $0.25 - $0.50 $0.50 - $1.00 $3.50 - $4.00 $15.00 and up
1929 S 50,148,000 $0.25 - $0.50 $0.50 - $1.00 $4.00 - $4.50 $15.00 and up
1930 157,415,000 $0.10 - $0.25 $0.25 - $0.50 $0.50 - $1.00 $4.00 and up
1930 D 40,100,000 $0.10 - $0.25 $0.25 - $0.50 $1.00 - $1.50 $7.00 and up
1930 S 24,286,000 $0.10 - $0.25 $0.25 - $0.50 $0.50 - $1.00 $7.00 and up
1931 19,396,000 $0.25 - $0.50 $0.50 - $1.00 $2.50 - $3.00 $14.00 and up
1931 D 4,480,000 $2.50 - $3.00 $5.00 - $6.00 $7.50 - $8.50 $45.00 and up
1931 S 866,000 $70.00 - $80.00 $80.00 - $90.00 $85.00 - $95.00 $120.00 and up
1932 9,062,000 $0.50 - $1.00 $1.00 - $1.50 $3.00 - $3.50 $10.00 and up
1932 D 10,500,000 $0.50 - $1.00 $1.00 - $1.50 $2.50 - $3.00 $8.00 and up
1933 14,360,000 $0.50 - $1.00 $1.00 - $1.50 $3.00 - $3.50 $10.00 and up
1933 D 6,200,000 $2.00 - $2.50 $4.00 - $4.50 $5.00 - $5.50 $8.00 and up
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