5 Rare Coins For You To Find In The Lincoln Memorial Penny Series

For 50 years we used the Lincoln Memorial penny.

However, in 2009, the Lincoln cent underwent a major redesign that permanently removed the Lincoln Memorial design from our pennies.

While most Lincoln Memorial pennies are worth only face value if worn and only 5 to 25 cents if uncirculated, there are a few special Lincoln Memorial cents that are worth hundreds — even thousands — of dollars.

Here are the values of a few Lincoln Memorial pennies you should be keeping an eye out for:

1969-S Doubled Die cent: $50,000 or more in uncirculated grades
1970-S Small Date cent: $50 in Mint State 63
1984 Doubled Die cent: $75 and up in uncirculated grades
1990 Proof No-S cent: $3,000 and up
1995 Doubled Die cent: $10 to $25 in uncirculated grades

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Joshua McMorrow-Hernandez

My love for coins and numismatics began when I was 11 years old. I primarily collect and study U.S. coins produced during the 20th century. I've also been studying meteorology and watching weather patterns for years. I enjoy sharing little-known facts and fun stuff about coins, weather, travel, health, and living green with others.

Find me here:

keith

I have believe it or not a 1957D wheat penny.I put a magnet to it and the penny stuck to it .Is it worth anything ?
- Anonymous
  
  Hi, Keith –
  
  Since copper pennies don’t stick to magnets, the only reason I could suggest a 1957-D Lincoln cent would stick to a magnet is if it was coated in a magnetic metal of some sort by somebody outside of the U.S. Mint.
  
  IF that’s the case, the coin would have no added value because it would be an altered coin.
  
  The only genuine, unaltered Lincoln cents which should stick to a magnet are 1943 steel pennies.
  - Arenshaw
    
    And the 1944 lincoln steel penny (extremely rare)… also any penny (such as 1957) that was struck (by error) on a silver, or nickel planchet.
Lillie

I found a 1960 penny that is steel could you tell me what it is worth if anything?Thanks
- Anonymous
  
  Hi Lillie,
  
  There are no 1960 Lincoln cents made of steel, so what you have sounds like a cent that has been coated in a silver-colored metal. One common method of doing this was to coat pennies in mercury.
  
  At any rate, such a coin is worth no more than face value.
Worktillyourdead

For the 1969-S One cent coin, what does Double Die stand for and how would one be able to tell if there coin is “double die”? I have a coin “1969-S” however there is nothing strange looking about. Thank you for your time!
- Anonymous
  
  Thanks for your question, Work –
  
  Double die coins typically have minor to moderate signs of doubling in the lettering and date (though doubling can appear in the design itself, too). A magnifying glass would reveal on your coin a ghost-like double image of the lettering and numbering of the date.
  
  If you don’t see anything out of the ordinary on your coin, and still can’t find a thing off even with the use of a magnifying glass, it’s likely your coin is simply a normal piece.
Lapittman

I have a 2009 penny and on the back of it, it looks like the back was engraved with what appears to be a cabin. Is it worth anything?
- Anonymous
  
  Lapittman,
  
  Thanks for your question. The 2009 Log Cabin cent honors Lincoln’s place of birth and is worth face value if the coin has any wear on it.
Raybartholomew56

I have 1992 AM touching and also a 2000 AM separated and a 1998 AM separated , ARE THEY WORTH ANYTHING EXCELLENT CONDITION Pennies.
Thank You
- Anonymous
  
  Ray,
  
  The 1998 and 2000 wide AM Lincoln cents are worth around $7 in uncirculated grades. A bona fide 1992 close AM penny has a value of over $5,000.
Mike

I have a 1959 no mint mark penny that I think is a mint error. The penny is missing the I in liberty also in the in god we trust where the I should be there’s like a 5 or something and it looks like theres a 2 over the n also the o in god is messed up looks like a clear upside down g. its in pretty good condition for the most part so im wondering Could this be an error or jest wear and tear.
- Anonymous
  
  Hi, Mike –
  
  It sounds like your penny may have been altered after it left the mint, though I’m not sure based on the description alone. If you’d like, you can post a photo of your coin on The Fun Times Guide to Coins Facebook wall: http://www.facebook.com/?ref=hp#!/TheFunTimesGuideToCoins
- Anonymous
  
  Hi, Mike –
  
  It sounds like your penny may have been altered after it left the mint, though I’m not sure based on the description alone. If you’d like, you can post a photo of your coin on The Fun Times Guide to Coins Facebook wall: http://www.facebook.com/?ref=hp#!/TheFunTimesGuideToCoins
Mike

I have a 1959 no mint mark penny that I think is a mint error. The penny is missing the I in liberty also in the in god we trust where the I should be there’s like a 5 or something and it looks like theres a 2 over the n also the o in god is messed up looks like a clear upside down g. its in pretty good condition for the most part so im wondering Could this be an error or jest wear and tear.
DRAY-PIMPMYRC

WHY IS A 1990 PENNY WITH PROOF NO S WORTH SO MUCH ?
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_6CTNXOTY4WFV5I5TC7H5KPHQW4 John

Question, I have a shiny silver colored 1960 D penny. I have never seen or heard of any other such coin.
Has anyone else?
- JoshuaTheFunTimesGuide
  
  Hi, John -
  
  It sounds like your penny may have been coated with pewter, silver, or perhaps even mercury. In any case, this happened after the coin left the U.S. Mint and does not in any way enhance its value.
  - http://pulse.yahoo.com/_6CTNXOTY4WFV5I5TC7H5KPHQW4 John
    
    Thanks, I’ve had it for at least 30-35 years, never tried to clean it and hadn’t thought about it having some “help” to look so silvery.
    - JoshuaTheFunTimesGuide
      
      You’re welcome, John! Glad we could help!
- Misty Brightwell
  
  I had the same question. I have a 1960 shiny penny that I have had for years not knowing it’s value. That is odd that we both have the same issue with a coin.
Jhudson38

I have a 1990 penny with metal missing from it. I’m a welder and it is obvious to me that this penny didn’t have enough metal in the dye when it was pressed or something like that but this is definitely an issue that happened at the mint. Everything else about it is perfect. Anyone know anything about it?
Monkeycmonkeydo72254

Hi, My boyfriend and I just came across a 1990 no S penny, and what we’ve read on the internet, some aren’t worth any. This penny is definitely different from a regular one. It has this shiny metallic-ish color when you turn it, and the letters appear to look as if they’re “popping off” unlike a regular penny. Is this worth anything?
bobbywhiteteeth

I have a 2000 lincoln penney and only about 3/4 of each side is stamped into the blank of copper. Is it worth anything?
- JoshuaTheFunTimesGuide
  
  Hi, Bobby -
  
  Such a piece is worth $5 to $10! Nice find.
John

i have a1990 u.s. penny that has been described by a element detecter as 85% zinc on the outside and 15% copper on the inside no mercury was detected. what is the value of this
http://www.facebook.com/mwwaldrop Mike Waldrop

In regards to the 1960 silver penny post, I have one as well but this one looks like the die pressed it too hard and it has a weel defined ridge on the head side leaving no ridge at all on the tail. Is THIS worth anything?
disqus_DocHHPk6CA

I have a 2009 penny lincon memorial penny i beleive there called on the back is a guy standing by a builing with his hand held out to the side by a offical looking building it has intials ji to the left of were the man is standing and the to the right of the word cent it has D and what looks like a E or backwards 3 if its a E or a 3its not a very good one also there away from thr closest structure and the E or 3 what ever it is is dropped down like its falling whats this worth if anyone has any info on this please email me at jibberish38@gmail.com thank you
http://www.facebook.com/ar.pacholski AR Pacholski

I have one of these silver colored 1960 pennies as well, including the odd ridge partially around the diameter. I have found other questions like this on various sites about silver colored 1960 pennies. Seems more than a coincidence.
- JoshuaTheFunTimesGuide
  
  Hi, AR -
  
  It’s possible that your Lincoln cent was struck on a silver dime planchet (coin blank); if so, your coin could be worth $900 to $1,000. However, if the lettering around the rim of the coin (such as IN GOD WE TRUST) is fully visible, then it’s more likely that your coin was plated with mercury or solder and is therefore worth only face value.
  - http://www.facebook.com/ar.pacholski AR Pacholski
    
    Thanks for the info Joshua. I’m just curious though – why would coins have been plated with mercury or solder? And why 1960? I’ve found a handful of examples online.
    - JoshuaTheFunTimesGuide
      
      You’re welcome, AR -
      
      Mercury, solder, pewter, and silver plating were frequently used in coating pennies for special effect; many people presumably were trying to recreate the visual novelty of the 1943 steel pennies (more info here:
      
      As for 1960, perhaps that was a special year to the person who plated the coin; it could’ve been a birth year, wedding year, or the year of another significant event.