Do you collect Lincoln pennies? Think you might have a valuable 1969 doubled die penny?
Or maybe you just found a 1969 penny.
Want to see the current 1969 penny values?
1969 pennies can still be found in pocket change, but they’re getting more difficult to find with each passing year.
So, what are 1969 pennies worth? How rare are they?
Here’s everything you want to know about 1969 penny values…
Interesting 1969 Penny Facts
Unlike pennies made since 1982 (which are mainly zinc), all 1969 Lincoln cents are made from a composition consisting of 95% copper, 5% zinc.
Due to the coin’s high copper content and the value of the metal, any 1969 pennies you find are worth keeping and are generally valued at about 2 cents each. Most 1969 pennies are common.
But there’s a type of 1969 penny that’s worth many times more than its face value, and it’s actually one of the most valuable coins around. It’s the 1969 doubled die penny — worth more than $25,000!
Everything you want to know about rare and valuable doubled die coins.
What Are 1969 Pennies Worth Today?
As mentioned above, most worn 1969 pennies are worth only 2 cents for their copper value.
If you found your 1969 Lincoln cent in your spare change, it’s likely rather worn and is therefore worth about 2 cents.
If you have uncirculated 1969 Lincoln cents, proof 1969 pennies, or believe you have a 1969 doubled die cent, here are the values of those pennies — along with mintage numbers (how many of each coin was made):
- 1969 penny – 1,136,910,000 (1.3 billion) minted; 25 to 50+ cents
- 1969-D (Denver) penny – 4,002,832,200 (4 billion) minted; 20 to 40+ cents
- 1969-S (San Francisco) penny – 544,375,000 minted; 40 to 60+ cents
- 1969-S proof penny – 2,934,631 minted; 70 cents to $1+
- 1969-S doubled die penny – mintage unknown; $25,000+
*Values are for problem-free coins (no cleanings, holes, porosity, etc.) in uncirculated condition or proof, as with the case of some 1969-S pennies. Circulated pieces are generally worth about 2 cents, with the exception of the 1969-S doubled die penny.
IMPORTANT: What Is The Grade Of Your 1969 Penny?
To determine the true value of your 1969 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:
These are the best coin grading apps that make grading coins yourself much easier.
More Info About Valuable 1969 Pennies
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!
