1960 Lincoln Cent Value Guide

The 1960 Lincoln Cent is a cornerstone for copper penny collectors due to the famous 'Small Date' and 'Large Date' varieties produced at both the Philadelphia and Denver mints. Struck in a composition of copper and zinc, this year represents a significant design transition that makes even common circulation finds interesting to numismatists.

What affects the value of 1960 Lincoln Cent?

• Variety type, as the 1960 Philadelphia Small Date is generally scarcer and more valuable than the Large Date.
• The presence of original 'Red' (RD) mint luster versus 'Brown' (BN) circulated surfaces.
• Overall strike sharpness, particularly on the Lincoln profile and the Lincoln Memorial reverse.
• The presence of any doubling errors, which can occasionally occur on the date or lettering.

How to Identify 1960 Lincoln Cent?

• Examine the '0' in the date; the Small Date variety features a '0' that is rounder and sits lower than the '6'.
• Check the '6' in the date; on the Large Date, the tail of the '6' is much longer and extends higher toward the rim.
• Verify the mint mark located below the date; 'D' indicates Denver, while no mark indicates Philadelphia.
• Look for the 'VDB' initials on the base of Lincoln's shoulder to confirm the Victor David Brenner design.

History of 1960 Lincoln Cent

The Lincoln Cent was first introduced in 1909 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birth. The obverse design, featuring Lincoln's profile, has remained largely unchanged, while the reverse has seen several iterations. The 1960 issue is notable for two distinct varieties: a 'Small Date' and a 'Large Date', referring to the size of the year digits.