Cent · 1959–2008

Lincoln Memorial Cent

Abraham Lincoln's portrait facing right with IN GOD WE TRUST above, LIBERTY to the left, and the date to the right. The Lincoln Memorial building with a tiny statue of Lincoln visible between the center columns, ONE CENT below and E PLURIBUS UNUM above.

Designer

Victor D. Brenner (obverse), Frank Gasparro (reverse)

Diameter

19.05 mm

Edge

Plain

Mint mark

Obverse (front), below the date

Composition

1959–1982: 95% copper, 5% zinc (solid brass; tin included through 1962) · 3.11 g

1982–2008: 97.5% zinc with copper plating (both compositions exist for 1982) · 2.5 g

Did you know? The Memorial cent shows Lincoln twice — his portrait on the front and, if you look closely between the columns on the back, his tiny seated statue inside the Memorial.

Beginner tip: Weigh any 1982 cent (3.11 g copper vs 2.5 g zinc) and drop-test it — copper rings, zinc thuds — because 1982 comes in seven common varieties and one ultra-rare one, and check every 1969-S, 1972, and 1995 for doubling.

Key dates to look for

1960 Memorial Cent

$1 – $5 circulated, more in high grade

Comes with a Small Date (rarer) or Large Date — on the Small Date the tops of the 1, 9, and 6 line up evenly

1970-S Memorial Cent

$30 – $100

The 'Small Date' (also called Level 7, where the 7 lines up with the 0s and LIBERTY looks weak) is the scarce one

1982 Memorial Cent

Face value to a few dollars, but see the 1982-D Small Date copper rarity

Transition year struck in both copper and zinc with large and small dates — seven common combinations exist

Valuable varieties & errors

1969-S Doubled Die Obverse

extreme

$25,000 – $100,000+

A dramatic doubled die so convincing that the Secret Service initially confiscated examples as counterfeits. Fewer than a hundred are known, making it the most valuable Memorial cent.

How to check: Look for bold, fully separated doubling on LIBERTY, IN GOD WE TRUST, and the date — but crucially, NOT on the S mint mark (mint marks were punched separately in 1969, so a doubled S means worthless machine doubling). Real ones are rare enough that certification is a must.

1972 Doubled Die Obverse (Die 1)

rare

$100 – $700 depending on condition

A strong Philadelphia doubled die with roughly 75,000 to 250,000 struck, enough that patient roll searchers still find them. Several weaker 1972 doubled dies exist, but Die 1 is the valuable one.

How to check: Check LIBERTY and IN GOD WE TRUST for clear, separated double outlines shifted toward the rim, plus visible doubling on the date. On the valuable Die 1, the doubling is obvious without magnification; a tiny die gouge above the D of GOD helps confirm it.

1982-D Small Date Copper

extreme

$10,000 – $25,000+

Denver was only supposed to strike its Small Date cents on zinc, but at least two were struck on leftover copper planchets. It is the modern transitional rarity every 1982 hoarder dreams of.

How to check: First confirm the Small Date: the top of the 2 is weak and curved and the date digits look thin and aligned along the top. Then weigh the coin on a scale accurate to 0.01 g — copper weighs about 3.11 g, zinc about 2.5 g. A 1982-D Small Date at 3.1 g is a five-figure coin and must be certified.

1983 Doubled Die Reverse

scarce

$50 – $400 depending on condition

One of the strongest doubled dies ever on the back of a cent, created just after the switch to zinc. Thousands exist, so it is genuinely findable in old rolls.

How to check: Flip the coin over and look at ONE CENT and UNITED STATES OF AMERICA — every letter shows a bold second outline shifted toward the rim, easily visible with a loupe. E PLURIBUS UNUM is doubled too. The front of the coin is normal.

1984 Doubled Ear

scarce

$50 – $250 depending on condition

A doubled die that shows almost entirely on Lincoln's portrait rather than the lettering. Collectors nicknamed it the 'doubled ear' because the extra earlobe is the giveaway.

How to check: With a loupe, examine Lincoln's ear: on the doubled die there is a clear second earlobe below and slightly behind the normal one, and his beard shows minor doubling too. The date and mottos look normal, which is why this one slips past casual checks.

1992 Close AM

extreme

$3,000 – $25,000+ (certification essential)

In 1992 a reverse die intended for 1993-style coins (where the A and M of AMERICA nearly touch) was accidentally used a year early, at both Philadelphia and Denver. Only about 20 examples of the two are known combined.

How to check: On the back, find the AM of AMERICA: on normal 1992 cents there is a clear gap between the A and M, but on this rarity their bases nearly touch. Also check the designer initials FG near the Memorial's right corner — they sit close to the building on the Close AM die. Works for 1992 and 1992-D.

1995 Doubled Die Obverse

scarce

$20 – $75 depending on condition

A popular, affordable doubled die that made national news when it was discovered, sending everyone digging through pocket change. Tens of thousands exist, making it the perfect first doubled die for a beginner.

How to check: Look at LIBERTY and the word GOD in the motto: the doubled die shows a clear second outline on the letters, shifted up toward the rim, strongest on LIB and GOD. It is visible with a basic loupe and even sharp naked eyes.

1998 Wide AM

scarce

$5 – $25, more in high grade

The opposite mix-up of the 1992 Close AM: a proof-style reverse die (with a clear gap between the A and M of AMERICA) was used on regular Philadelphia cents. It happened in 1998, 1999, and 2000.

How to check: Check the AM of AMERICA on the back: business-strike cents of this era should have the A and M almost touching, so a clear gap between them means you have a Wide AM. Confirm with the FG initials, which sit noticeably farther from the Memorial on the proof-style die.

1999 Wide AM

rare

$75 – $500 depending on condition

The scarcest of the three Wide AM years — far fewer 1999s have turned up than 1998s or 2000s. It is a genuine find still pulled from circulation.

How to check: Same check as the other Wide AMs: on the back, a clear gap between the A and M of AMERICA (they should nearly touch on a normal 1999), plus FG initials spaced away from the Memorial. Philadelphia coins only — no mint mark under the date.

2000 Wide AM

scarce

$5 – $20, more in high grade

The most common Wide AM year, with enough made that roll searchers find them regularly. It is many collectors' first 'real variety' find.

How to check: On the back, look at the AM of AMERICA: a clear gap between the letters instead of them nearly touching means Wide AM. Check only Philadelphia coins (no mint mark), and use the widely spaced FG initials near the Memorial corner as confirmation.

Error types found on this series

Doubled Die (Obverse)

The front design shows a second, shifted image because the die itself was made doubled.

Doubled Die (Reverse)

Same as a doubled die obverse, but the doubling appears on the back of the coin.

Repunched Mint Mark (RPM)

The mint mark was punched into the die more than once, slightly off position, leaving a doubled letter.

Off-Center Strike

The blank wasn't centered when struck, so part of the design is missing and part of the coin is blank.

Broadstrike

The coin was struck without its retaining collar, so it spread out wider and thinner than normal.

Clipped Planchet

A bite-shaped piece of the coin is missing because the blank was punched from an already-punched part of the metal strip.

Wrong Planchet

A coin struck on a blank intended for a different denomination or country — like a quarter design on a nickel blank.

Die Clash

The dies slammed together with no coin between them, imprinting each side's design faintly onto the other.

Machine Doubling

The die bounced or chattered at the moment of striking, smearing a flat shelf-like second edge onto the design.

Grease-Filled Die (Struck Through Grease)

Grease and debris packed into the die's recesses blocked part of the design, leaving weak or missing details.

Improperly Annealed Planchet

A heat-treatment mistake turned the blank's surface an unusual color — most famously the coppery-red 'sintered' state quarters and dollars.

Real photos where available (credits); others are illustrations.

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