1986 Lincoln Memorial Cent Value Guide

The 1986 Lincoln Memorial Cent is a significant piece of modern numismatic history, representing the post-1982 transition to a copper-plated zinc composition. Featuring Victor David Brenner's iconic obverse portrait, these coins are collected for their high-grade preservation and specific minting varieties.

What Is 1986 Lincoln Memorial Cent Worth?

The typical price range for 1986 Lincoln Memorial Cent is $0 - $0 based on recent sales. However, values can vary depending on the item's condition, rarity, and other factors such as:

• The presence of original mint red (RD) luster significantly increases value over brown (BN) circulated examples.
• Professional grading by services like PCGS or NGC can elevate the value of specimens in MS-67 or higher condition.
• The presence of minting errors, such as double dies or planchet defects, can drive prices above the standard $0.05 range.
• Overall surface preservation, including the lack of 'zinc rot' or bubbling beneath the copper plating.

How to Identify 1986 Lincoln Memorial Cent?

• Verify the copper-plated zinc composition, which replaced the primarily copper alloy used prior to 1982.
• Check for the Lincoln Memorial reverse design, which was standard for the series from 1959 through 2008.
• Examine the obverse for the '1986' date and look for a 'D' mint mark for Denver or no mint mark for Philadelphia.
• Look for sharp details in the pillars of the Lincoln Memorial and Lincoln's hair to determine strike quality.

History of 1986 Lincoln Memorial Cent

The Lincoln Cent series began in 1909, marking the centennial of Abraham Lincoln's birth. The coin's obverse design by Victor David Brenner remains iconic. The reverse featured the Lincoln Memorial from 1959 until 2008. The 1986 cent belongs to the modern era of the coin, specifically following the major composition change in 1982 when the US Mint switched from primarily copper to copper-plated zinc to reduce production costs, a composition still used today.