Have a 1960 penny and want to know its value?
As you’ll soon find out, determining the value of your 1960 penny may take a little work, as there are several varieties of 1960 pennies — and each of these old pennies is worth different amounts!
Don’t worry, we’ll lay out all of the facts below so you can figure out what variety (or varieties) you have and see how much your 1960 penny is worth.
What Is A 1960 Penny Worth?
Depending on the condition of your 1960 penny and its variety (in the case of 1960 pennies, this is determined by the size of the date) — your coin may be worth anywhere from 2 or 3 cents up to $10 or more.
Here’s a rundown on 1960 penny values:
| Year | Mintage | Large Date Value | Small Date Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 No Mintmark (Philadelphia Mint) | 586,405,000 | 20+ cents | $2.50+ |
| 1960-D (Denver Mint) | 1,580,884,000 | 20+ cents | 20+ cents |
| 1960-D D Over D Overdate-Small Date Over Large Date | Unknown | $200+ | — |
| 1960 proof Lincoln cent | 1,691,602 | $1.75+ | $18+ |
How To Tell The Difference Between A 1960 Large Date Penny & A 1960 Small Date Penny
Wondering how to tell the difference between a 1960 Large Date penny and a 1960 Small Date penny?
For starters, take a look at this photo:
See the tops of the numerals in the date of the 1960 Small Date penny? Notice how the tops of the numerals (except for the “6”) all form an imaginary straight line?
Now look at the 1960 Large Date penny. See the top of the “9” and how it pops up taller than the “1”?
Those are the differences between a 1960 Large Date and 1960 Small Date penny!
I’ll bet you’ll never look at 1960 pennies the same way again…
1960 Penny Facts
1960 pennies are made from a 95% copper composition. They contain approximately 2 to 3 cents’ worth of the valuable metal. That means all 1960 pennies are worth at least 2 or 3 cents — more or less.
While it’s illegal to melt pennies for their copper value, coin hoarders still save old copper pennies anyway. Why? Because they’re hoping that the United States government will repeal the penny melting ban at some point in the future.
In the meantime, a 1960 penny is worth about double its face value.
The great news for coin collectors? There are still many 1960 pennies in circulation — so you may find some in your pocket change if you look carefully enough for them.
More Info About 1960 Pennies
In addition to the links I’ve included above, here are some other resources to help you learn more about your 1960 penny value:
I’m the Coin Editor here at TheFunTimesGuide. My love for coins began when I was 11 years old. I primarily collect and study U.S. coins produced during the 20th century. I’m a member of the American Numismatic Association (ANA) and the Numismatic Literary Guild (NLG) and have won multiple awards from the NLG for my work as a coin journalist. I’m also the editor at the Florida United Numismatists Club (FUN Topics magazine), and author of Images of America: The United States Mint in Philadelphia (a book that explores the colorful history of the Philadelphia Mint). I’ve contributed hundreds of articles for various coin publications including COINage, The Numismatist, Numismatic News, Coin Dealer Newsletter, Coin Values, and CoinWeek. I’ve authored nearly 1,000 articles here at The Fun Times Guide to Coins (many of them with over 50K shares), and I welcome your coin questions in the comments below!
