Have A 1964 Penny Worth $5,000? (It’s The 1964 SMS Penny) See The Current Value For Rare And Common 1964 Pennies

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1964-penny

Do you have a 1964 penny and want to know what it’s worth?

It’s possible that yours might be a type of rare 1964 penny — worth more than $5,000. Or you might just have a regular, worn 1964 penny — worth 2 to 3 cents.

But you won’t know for sure unless you find out more about 1964 pennies, what they’re worth, and which 1964 pennies are especially rare and valuable.

1964 Penny Values

Most worn 1964 pennies are worth the value of their copper content — or 2 to 3 cents, like other copper-based Lincoln Memorial pennies struck from 1959 through 1982. They weigh approximately 3.11 grams.

But some 1964 penny values are much higher. We’ll talk more about this in a minute and explain why some of these rare pennies are worth so much:

  • 1964 Philadelphia penny (no mintmark) – 2,648,575,000 (2.6 billion) minted; 10 to 25+ cents
  • 1964-D penny (Denver mintmark under the date) – 3,799,071,500 (about 3.8 billion) minted; 10 to 25+ cents
  • 1964 proof penny – 3,950,762 minted; $1+
  • 1964 SMS penny (special mint set) – approximately 30 estimated to be minted; $5,000+

*Values are for coins in uncirculated grade, proof finish, and special mint set finish. Circulated 1964 pennies with no errors or special varieties are worth approximately 2 to 3 cents. 

As you can see, the 1964 Lincoln penny was struck by the billions upon billions. Virtually all of these pennies went into circulation and can still be found in your pocket change. In fact, the 1964 Lincoln cent is one of the most common pre-1982 Lincoln Memorial pennies you’ll find in circulation today!

And, as in most years, the United States Mint struck a limited number of 1964 proof pennies as well.

Then there are the 1964 SMS pennies. What exactly are those?

The Story Behind The Rare 1964 SMS Penny

Yes, the 1964 SMS penny really is rare — and it really is worth $5,000!

So now you’re probably wondering what, exactly, a 1964 SMS penny is and how you can find one.

It’s a long story, but I’ll zip right to the main points:

  1. There was a major coin shortage in the early 1960s — due to silver hoarders removing 90% silver dimes, quarters, and half dollars from circulation.
  2. Some U.S. Mint officials blamed coin collectors for the coin shortage.
  3. To focus efforts on making more circulating coinage, the U.S. Mint temporarily stopped producing the long-popular annual uncirculated sets and proof sets, and streamlined the production of coin sets to just a single collector product known as a “Special Mint Set” (SMS).
  4. The Special Mint Sets of the 1960s include one coin of each denomination — and the SMS coins bear a satin-like (sometimes proof-like) finish.

Why they were made is unknown for sure. 1964 SMS pennies and other 1964 SMS coins may have been made as prototype coins for the 1965 Special Mint Sets. Or, perhaps they were intended for a 1964 Special Mint Set possibly including the 1964 Peace dollar. We’ll probably never know the true origin of 1964 SMS pennies for sure.

How To Identify A 1964 SMS Penny

Wondering how can you tell a 1964 SMS penny from a regular 1964 penny?

First, it should be noted that 1964 SMS pennies have normally appeared only in 1964 SMS sets. Therefore, 1964 SMS pennies aren’t the types of coins you will find in ordinary pocket change.

But that doesn’t mean you can’t find these rare 1964 pennies — if you’re lucky, of course! 1964 SMS pennies have turned up before in estates and in other seemingly ordinary situations.

Here’s how to tell SMS pennies apart from regular 1964 pennies and 1964 proof pennies:

  • 1964 SMS pennies have a satin finish and are not reflective (or mirror-like) — as 1964 proof pennies are.
  • The overall strike and details on the 1964 SMS penny are much sharper than on a circulation strike.
  • One of the areas where the strong details show really well on the 1964 SMS penny is its rim. The rims of the 1964 SMS penny are more square in profile — similar to a 1964 proof penny.

So now you know… a 1964 SMS penny isn’t really the type of coin that you just find one day in your grandmother’s attic drawer and then flip at your local coin dealer for $5,000 in cash.

If you think you have a 1964 SMS penny, you should have it certified by a reputable 3rd-party coin grading firm such as PCGS, NGC, ICG, or ANACS.

Then, if you wish to sell it, enter it in a coin auction or offer it to a coin dealer who can pay you what it’s really worth:

  • Some 1964 SMS pennies are worth $1,500 or $3,000.
  • Others are worth more than the $5,000 average value listed here.
  • The record price for a 1964 SMS penny is $11,500 — paid at an auction in 2005 for a “Red” specimen in MS-67. (Talk about a pretty penny!)

IMPORTANT: Do You Know The Grade Of Your Penny?

To determine the true value of your 1964 penny, you first need to know what condition (or grade) your coin is in.

Grab a coin magnifier and a copy of the U.S. Coin Grading Standards book. Then, watch this video to see how to grade coins yourself at home:


More Info About The 1964 Penny

In addition to the links I’ve included above, here are some other resources to help you learn more about your 1964 pennies:

READ NEXT: The Ultimate List Of U.S. Penny Errors

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160 thoughts on “Have A 1964 Penny Worth $5,000? (It’s The 1964 SMS Penny) See The Current Value For Rare And Common 1964 Pennies”

  1. Hello Josh this is Lewis again I’m sorry I haven’t been able to get back to you right away unfortunately I’m unable to send you those pictures of that Penny for some reason I’m unable to send them to the address I’m not sure what’s going on with it sorry is there possibly another way thanks Lewis

    Reply
    • No worries, Lewis… Hmm — I don’t know why the photos don’t upload here unless they are very large files. You might consider sending me cropped screenshots of the photos, which should be files that are small enough to be attached to a comment here.

      Thanks!
      Josh

      Reply
    • Hi, KaeDee —

      We have the values for the 1964 penny on this article you posted. What about your 1964 penny makes you think it’s potentially worth something extra? Do you see doubling or something? Please post a photo or two of your 1964 penny here in the comments section and I’d be happy to take a look.

      Thank you!
      Josh

      Reply
    • Hi, Liset —

      This is a 1964-D cent? This appears to be a regular-issue piece, and if so it’s worth about 2 cents for its copper value.

      Best wishes,
      Josh

      Reply
    • Hi, Soulfrost —

      This is a circulation-strike 1964 cent that is worth 2 cents for its copper value. The 1964 SMS penny would have finer strike detail visible in the rim that would be seen even if the coin had a bit of wear as this one does.

      Thank you for reaching out,
      Josh

      Reply
  2. Greetings, Joshua. Hope this message finds you well! I have an intriguing 64 penny that is unmistakably silver in color, but only on one side and partially around the outer rim. The rim is also of interest as it is not the normal smooth finish but rather appears woven or threaded around. The weight is what is perplexes me the most as it is 3.11 grams on the dot Could you please help me figure this anomaly out? Thanks!

    Reply
    • Hi, DJazzyjeffe —

      I’d be glad to help further. Do you by chance have a photo of this coin? It sounds like based on the description that your coin was quite possibly dipped or coated in a thin layer of zinc or pewter, perhaps to preserve the coin as a keepsake. A very thin layer of metal would not necessarily affect the weight of your coin very much. The fact that only one side of the coin is silver colored is, to me, the giveaway that this is a post-mint alteration.

      Those are my thoughts anyway based on not seeing a photo of the coin. I hope this info is thus far helpful in figuring out the story behind this coin…

      Best wishes,
      Josh

      Reply
  3. Hi Joshua,

    I have a 1964 D Lincoln Cent that is in impeccable condition. I thought it to be a Proof Coin or a SMS but they didn’t mint any 64′ Proofs/SMS in Denver only Philly(no mint mark) from what I’ve researched. I believe it to be MS67 maybe even MS67+ but thats doubtful. I’ve uploaded pics of it and any feedback would be greatly appreciated!
    Thank you much!
    Dayle https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/37cf11a376cdcaa7e0708d0720d918305a9b6aaf942009494885f2c9ade6619b.png https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/8970e4ed20588b771677cc73ff8d0378c521486253ec4f9611c60325646889b3.png

    Reply
    • Hi, Dr Johnson 83 —

      This is a very nice Lincoln cent, but unfortunately I can’t provide specific grading insight for two reasons:

      A) I’m not a certified grader and thus my opinion would be anecdotal at best
      B) It’s impractical to grade uncirculated coins down to specific MS numbers by photo alone because at that level in-hand inspection with a 5 to 10X magnifier becomes necessary.

      If you want to get your coin graded, you might want to check this link out: https://coins.thefuntimesguide.com/slabbed_coins/

      Best wishes,
      Josh

      Reply
    • Hi Oliver,

      It looks like your 1961- D cent has been cleaned. It’s therefore worth only its copper metal value of approximately 2 cents.

      Best,
      Josh

      Reply
    • Hi, Kristal!

      Sure thing… A circulated 1964-D Lincoln cent is generally worth about 2 cents for its copper metal value. The SMS coin mentioned in the article would be a particular type of Philadelphia strike with no mintmark (not ANY 1964 cent with no mintmark). And the SMS pennies are generally in mint condition. But keep your eyes peeled!

      Thank you for reaching out!
      Josh

      Reply
    • Hi, Michele —

      I see no evidence in these images that the coin is double stamped, but I think the far more interesting thing about this piece is the claim it was struck on a dime planchet. Have you had this coin authenticated to see if it really is an off-metal error? If it is, it’s worth several hundred dollars. My only concern is that while the size of this piece looks more or less correct, it does not appear this coin was struck on a silver-colored planchet.

      Best wishes,
      Josh

      Best wishes,
      Josh

      Reply
    • Hi, Nighthawk —

      I’m afraid I can’t make out the date on this Lincoln cent in the photo. What year is it? Does it seem to have any errors?

      Thanks,
      Josh

      Reply
        • Hi, Nighthawk —

          It appears to at least be uncirculated (worth about 10 cents or more), but to determine if it’s an SMS, it would need to be authenticated and attributed by a third-party coin grading service that can examine your 1964 cent in-hand.

          Good luck!
          Josh

          Reply
  4. I have a 1964d penny, it looks so different from the others. It’s a deep printing, ( IN GOD WE TRUST) is on the rim, the penny it’s self looks like saucer plate and deep with a red copper tone.

    Reply
    • Hello, Zurab —

      Thank you for reaching out… This 1964-D cent doesn’t appear to have any errors or varieties and looks circulated. It is therefore worth about 2 cents for its copper metal content.

      If this piece is still worth the trouble of selling, your best bet may be to list it on eBay. If you’d rather sell it in-person, you could sell it to a coin dealer. Here’s info on how to find a reputable coin dealer: https://coins.thefuntimesguide.com/coin_dealer/

      Best wishes,
      Josh

      Reply
    • Hi, Zoren —

      Your circulated 1964-D Lincoln penny is worth its copper metal content of approximately two cents.

      Best wishes,
      Josh

      Reply
    • Hi, Mim—

      The rare 1964 SMS pennies will basically only be found in special collector sets that were distributed to a few US Mint employees; these sets have turned up in estates and are being “discovered” by some lucky collectors today.

      Good luck,
      Josh

      Reply
    • Hi, Selina —

      Very observant catch with the “WE” in the national motto! However, this minor quirk with the placement of the letters “W” and “E” has to do with the arrangement of the lettering on the dies of Lincoln cents during their earlier decades and is considered normal for the Lincoln cent series, thus not worth a premium. I’m sorry for the bummer news on the value of your coin! But I do hope you keep looking for varieties and other interesting (and valuable!) finds!

      Best wishes,
      Josh

      Reply
    • Hi, Griffin —

      From what I see in the photo, your 1964-D appears to be a normal circulated piece with no errors or varieties. Thus it is worth about 2 cents for its copper content.

      Thank you for reaching out,
      Josh

      Reply
    • Hi, Jon!

      Thank you for reaching out! Unless I’m missing something that you see on your end that isn’t really coming through in the images, your 1964-D Lincoln cent appears wholly normal and lightly circulated. This being the case, I would appraise it at about two cents for its copper metal content.

      Best wishes,
      Josh

      Reply
    • Hi, Laura —

      Yes, this is a typical 1964-D Lincoln penny and unfortunately it appears to have been cleaned. Between the wear and cleaning, this coin is worth its meta content value of about two cents.

      Thank you for reaching out!
      Josh

      Reply
    • Hi, Erica!

      Unfortunately I don’t see an image attached to this comment but would love to know what you found!

      Thank you,
      Josh

      Reply
    • Hi, Andrew —

      It appears you have a coin that has been either spooned (more on that in a sec) or caught in a situation where centrifugal forces pushed the edges upward.

      In the case of the former, the edges were forced upward by applying intentional force to them by a flat tool. This is could be either for artistic reasons or otherwise.

      In the latter, the coin ended up in something like a clothes dryer and rolled around inside at high speeds. While this may sound improbable it’s actually one of the more common forms of post-mint damage. Either way, your piece is worth its copper content value of about 2 cents, but it is a looker to be sure!

      Best wishes,
      Josh

      Reply
    • Hi, Noel —

      These are two nice, uncirculated 1964 pennies. While they show evidence of surface marks and such that would bring the grade below a point worth getting the coins certified, they’re still worth 10-25 cents apiece.

      Nice finds,
      Josh

      Reply
  5. oh josh on that 1964 penny post it’s a copper proof i had in the original envelope it came in i took it out with rubber gloves so i could get a better photo of it

    Reply
    • Hi, James —

      In this case, making this type of call really requires an in-hand evaluation by a third-party grading professional who can examine the coin under particular lighting and 5-10x magnification to check for diagnostics against other known examples. However, I will tell you that to date all the 1964 SMS cents — extremely rare coins that were probably prototypes for the 1965 SMS production — have all been found through channels originating from a circa 1991 discovery in the estate of former Mint Director Eva B. Adams. In other words, and unfortunately, these 1964 SMS pennies most likely won’t just be randomly showing up in proof sets.

      Based on that, I’m 99.99% certain your coin is an ordinary proof. It is a nice example though!

      Best wishes,
      Josh

      Reply
    • Hi, Melody —

      The technical specs for a 1964-D Lincoln penny are 3.11 grams, but variances are allowed — as low as 2.98 grams up to 3.24 grams. Remember that heavily worn or corroded pieces will weigh significantly less. Hope this info helps!

      Best,
      Josh

      Reply
    • Hi Brenda —

      If you found your 1964 penny in circulation (pocket change, etc.) it’s a normal 1964 Lincoln cent — the special 1964 SMS coins were struck in very limited numbers and were given to certain government employees, and these coins are now turning up in private collections by way of auctions or special estate finds.

      A little good news is that even normal 1964 pennies are worth about two cents for their copper metal content, so it’s worth a tad more than face value.

      Thank you for reaching out,
      Josh

      Reply
  6. I have a penny 1964 no mint mark but on back of penny its different like its two different colors an
    it like something was on top of it when it got made hard two describe but if u like to see it I could send a picture

    Reply
  7. Have a penny looks omder than 1964 but its what it says and were the head is on the back it has machinie error one sisde mpre red then other dark

    Reply
  8. Hi Josh, I see you get bombarded with questions but I also see that you answer them. Is are there truly valuable Lincoln cent coins from the sixties and seventies in circulation today? And I guess more so what are the odds of me finding one in my pocket change? Are error coins real? I can sometimes recognize them with the naked eye. Is a dime that looks to have a growth on the face valuable?

    Reply
    • Hi, Darrell —

      It’s a nice-looking 1964-D from the standpoint of outward presentation and color. However, I’m afraid nothing stands out in these photos in terms of errors, varieties, or other high-value abnormalities. It’s hard to peg its grade due to lighting and shadows, but given surface quality, even if it’s uncirculated, I’d say it’s worth around 10 to 20 cents, less if worn.

      Hope this info helps,
      Josh

      Reply
    • Hi, Gabriela —

      Yes, it’s worth about 2-3 cents for its copper value… No valuable errors visible here but at least it’s something more than face value! All pre-1982 Lincoln Memorial pennies are worth about as much due to their copper bullion content. Keep your eyes peeled for them!

      Best wishes,
      Josh

      Reply
    • Hi, Kasey —

      These circulated 1960s pennies show no evident errors or varieties in this image and are worth around 2 cents each for their copper value.

      Best wishes,
      Josh

      Reply
  9. Hello Josh,
    Happy New Year!! First and foremost! And secondly could you or would please let me know what a person could and would think about this fine piece of art. The Obverse and Reverse are both taken with the flash of the camera and therefore are not showing high gloss or mirror like appearances. Also the stairs on the reverse are extremely visible for the date of the cent. And the devices are all in a condition that would lean more towards a SMS piece!? You’re info is greatly appreciated and needed in this world of numismatics! Thanks a million! One more piece if info is it was found in a safety deposit box https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/40d0588483c0d7ec7d14dd0617055f5d2d8c35558b641d9c4696abb49843418a.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/36bd38d31cdea8c18dbfe1b0475f35c16df12e2b8c9224025dfc049f692de033.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/c4b0196800aa38908d8fec43c4a00af1446ce77b6529fefb91c0e9bd36cce593.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/0bb834b1532caf546fc8f4a941e82e30b5408c03ec529ca0a001daa184e7454b.jpg

    Reply
    • Hi, Justin,

      While this is a nice About Uncirculated to lower-end Uncirculated piece the strike isn’t calling this out as an SMS; it appears to be a normal business strike.

      Best wishes,
      Josh

      Reply
    • Hey, Megan —

      This coin exhibits post-mint damage/alterations. The appearance of lettering/design elements from the back of a Lincoln penny is simply an impression that was hammered into this piece. Looks like somebody placed another penny on top of this one and viced them/impressed them together. This is evidenced by the fact that the lettering is reversed and goes INTO the surface of this coin.

      Thank you for reaching out,
      Josh

      Reply
    • Hi Adela —

      I’m afraid there are no doubled dies or apparent errors in this photo, but as these are all copper pennies, they are worth about three cents each for their metal value — not too shabby!

      Best wishes,
      Josh

      Reply
    • Hi, Tiffany —

      I’m afraid none that I can see in the photo of the heads side of the coin you posted. It is worth about three cents for its copper metal value.

      Best wishes,
      Josh

      Reply
    • Hi, JR —

      This is a regular 1964 Lincoln penny worth about 2 to 3 cents for its copper value.

      Thank you for reaching out,
      Josh

      Reply
    • Hi, Kerry —

      Please upload clear photos of your penny here so I can help you further.

      Thank you!
      Josh

      Reply
        • Hello, Moises —

          Virtually all of the 1964 and 1964-D pennies you find in pocket change with wear are worth about two to three cents for their copper value only. Just a relative rare few have errors or varieties, and but a handful known in special collections are of the rare SMS variety listed in this article worth up to $5,000; finding any of these SMS pennies in circulation or in rolls would entail looking for uncirculated specimens with outstanding and unusual detail.

          If you want to sell your 1964 pennies, you could search a coin dealer database for one in the Vegas area. You might consider searching a dealer directory such as this one: https://www.greysheet.com/dealerdirectory/categories/all

          Here’s an article with more tips on finding a reputable coin dealer: https://coins.thefuntimesguide.com/coin_dealers/

          Good luck!
          Josh

          Reply
    • Hi, Cory —

      Please post clear photos of your coin here in the forum so I can help as best I can.

      Thank you!
      Josh

      Reply
  10. I have a1964 penny with the L on the edge and no mint mark ..it say it’s worth $4500.00 is this true ? I’m not at home to post a picture of it…but I’ll be. Home in a few

    Reply
    • Hi, Heidi —

      The only “64”-dated penny where the appearance of an “L” comes into play is the 1864 Indian cent (not a 1964 Lincoln penny). If you find a 1964 penny with an “L” on it, it’s a post-mint alteration (probably a counter stamp or something etched into it). I’ll be glad to check out a photo of your coin when you get the chance to post one here, but that’s my early information for you.

      As for values, I’m not sure where you found the info about a 1964-L penny being worth $4,500, but there is no 1964 L penny, and the 1864 Indian cent with L is worth closer to $100 to $250 in moderately circulated grades; values of $4,500+ would only be for an 1864 Indian cent with L in the very best uncirculated grades.

      Hope this info helps,
      Josh

      Reply
        • Hi, Kimo —

          I’d need to please see clear photos of the coin and the issue with the “L” to provide a good opinion about your specific coin. You can post photos here.

          Thank you!
          Josh

          Reply
  11. Hello!
    So I just came across a 1964 penny mint stamp is D. Details are very sharp, but what gets me is ots makes o. The rim with multiple 925 stamps..? Silver penny? Can somebody help identify what I have on my hands..please.

    Reply
    • Hi, KC —

      Could you please upland photos of your coin here so I can take a look at what you have and offer my opinion?

      Thank you!
      Josh

      Reply
  12. I’ve got what I believe to be an unknown error on a 1979 Lincoln memorial penny it’s hard to explain but I’ll send you a picture if you want to see it and say raising under the word America where it’s almost like extra Penny or something I sure would like to get somebody to look at this I’ve been collecting odd pennies since I was a child but this is one that I’ve never been able to figure out. I’m looking here and I don’t see where I can download a photo of this.

    Reply
    • Hi, Jos —

      I’d certainly need to please see a clear photo or two to help further. Please post images here in the comments forum, and I’ll do my best to help!

      Thank you,
      Josh

      Reply

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