1990 Lincoln Penny Value Guide

The 1990 Lincoln Penny is a copper-plated zinc coin featuring the classic Lincoln Memorial reverse design used from 1959 to 2008. While common in circulation, it remains a staple for collectors completing date-run sets of the long-standing Lincoln cent series.

What affects the value of 1990 Lincoln Penny?

• Circulated examples typically hold a face value of $0.01.
• Uncirculated specimens with high Mint State grades can command a slight premium among collectors.
• The presence of rare minting errors, such as the 'No S' proof variety, significantly increases value.
• Overall luster and the absence of zinc rot or oxidation spots affect the coin's aesthetic appeal.

How to Identify 1990 Lincoln Penny?

• Verify the 1990 date located on the bottom right of the obverse side.
• Check the reverse for the Lincoln Memorial building design, which preceded the 2010 Union shield.
• Confirm the composition is copper-plated zinc, which has been standard for the series since 1982.
• Look for the 'D' mint mark for Denver or no mint mark for Philadelphia-struck coins.

History of 1990 Lincoln Penny

The Lincoln cent was first issued in 1909 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birth. It was the first U.S. coin to feature the likeness of a real person. The reverse side, originally featuring two wheat stalks, was changed in 1959 to depict the Lincoln Memorial and again in 2010 to show a Union shield. The coin pictured, from 1990, features the Lincoln Memorial reverse, a design that was in production from 1959 to 2008.