Lincoln Memorial Cents Value Guide

The Lincoln Memorial Cent, introduced in 1959 to mark the 150th anniversary of Lincoln's birth, replaced the classic Wheat reverse with Frank Gasparro’s architectural tribute. These specific 1960-1964 examples are highly collectible for their high copper content before the transition to zinc-heavy compositions.

What affects the value of Lincoln Memorial Cents?

• The presence of original 'Red' (RD) mint luster significantly increases value over circulated brown examples.
• Specific varieties, such as the 1960 Small Date vs. Large Date, can impact the desirability for specialized collectors.
• Overall strike quality and the absence of contact marks or 'bag marks' on Lincoln's profile.
• The current market price of copper, as these coins contain significantly more bullion value than their face value.

How to Identify Lincoln Memorial Cents?

• Verify the reverse design features the Lincoln Memorial building rather than the earlier Wheat stalks.
• Check the date range specifically for 1960 through 1964 to ensure they are from the early production era.
• Confirm the metallic composition is 95% copper, which gives these coins a distinct weight and ring compared to post-1982 versions.
• Look for the 'D' mint mark for Denver or no mint mark for Philadelphia strikes below the date.

History of Lincoln Memorial Cents

Designed by Victor David Brenner to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birth, the Lincoln cent was the first regularly circulating US coin to feature a real person. In 1959, the reverse was changed from the 'Wheat' design to the Lincoln Memorial to mark his 150th anniversary. These specific coins date from the early 1960s, a period when pennies were still composed of 95% copper.