Lincoln Memorial Cent
3,373+ LuckyCoin collectors track this series
Spanning 1959 to 2008, the Lincoln Memorial Cent catalog contains 181 year-and-mintmark variants. Across the series, the key date is the 1959 Lincoln Memorial Cent at just 1,149,291 struck and the highest-value variant is the 1969-S Lincoln Memorial Cent at up to $70,000 in top grade.
Lincoln Memorial Cent · All Strikes Mintage by Year
Peak 17BCombined mintage per year across every strike type (circulated, proof, and specimen) and all mintmarks.
About the Lincoln Memorial Cent
The Lincoln Memorial Cent, which was first minted in 1959 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birth, is one of the most popular and widely recognized coins in the United States. The coin features the profile of President Lincoln on the obverse side, and the Lincoln Memorial on the reverse. The Lincoln Memorial Cent was minted from 1959 to 2008, and is composed of 95% copper and 5% zinc.
The original design of the Lincoln Memorial Cent, which was created by Victor D. Brenner, was released into circulation on February 12, 1959. This design featured a bust of Lincoln on the obverse side, and two wheat stalks on the reverse side. This design was in circulation until 2009.
The Lincoln Memorial Cent was produced by the United States Mint at three different branches; Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco. During its production, the coin had a variety of different mint marks, including a "P" for Philadelphia, a "D" for Denver, and an "S" for San Francisco.
The Lincoln Memorial Cent is a popular coin among collectors and is widely sought after due to its historic significance. The coin is available in a variety of grades and conditions, ranging from uncirculated to circulated. The coin is also available in both proof and business strike versions, with the proof coins being struck multiple times with special dies to give it a glossy finish.
The Lincoln Memorial Cent is an iconic piece of United States coinage, and it is sure to remain a favorite for years to come.
Most-collected Lincoln Memorial Cent coins on LuckyCoin
Looking for coins from a specific year across every denomination? Browse US coin values by year →
Which Lincoln Memorial Cent coins do collectors actually own? See the 2026 rarity & ownership report →
Frequently Asked Questions
- When was the Lincoln Memorial Cent minted?
- The Lincoln Memorial Cent was minted by United States from 1959 to 2008.
- How many Lincoln Memorial Cent coins were minted?
- Across every year and mintmark, approximately 427,527,689,671 Lincoln Memorial Cent coins were struck.
- What mintmarks exist for the Lincoln Memorial Cent?
- Lincoln Memorial Cent coins were struck with the following mintmarks: D, S. Some years were also produced without a mintmark.
- What is the Lincoln Memorial Cent made of?
- The Lincoln Memorial Cent is made of copper plated zinc, weighs 2.5 grams, and measures 19.05 mm in diameter.
- How much is a Lincoln Memorial Cent worth?
- Value depends on year, mintmark, and condition. Common dates in average circulated condition trade for near face value, while the rarest varieties in top grade can fetch up to $70,000. See individual year pages for grade-by-grade estimates.