Please take a look at our US Coin book on ebay selling at a reasonable price for a downloaded copy. This is the only coin book in the world that is close to being accurate for realistic coin values derived from real auctions and coin shows. This download comes with a free coin(s) of your choice and it will be mailed to you absolutely free! Take advantage of this offer will it lasts since some of these coins have been selling on ebay for over $3.00 each. Selections for your free coin in BU condition: Roosevelt dimes: 1965 66 67 68P 68D 69 69D 70 70D 71 71D. Jefferson BU nickels: select any four dated from 1959 through 1970-that is correct four coins!!! Why can we do this? Because this book is ours, published and protected under US copyright laws.

The first Lincoln cent was minted in 1909 from the Philadelphia and San Francisco mints. The first coins contained the initials of the designer in large letters on the reverse of the coin at the bottom. Victor D. Brenner's initials caused an uproar and the result was the removal of the initials during the 1909 minting process. This meant that the 1909-S VDB and the 1909 VDB coins would be made in limited quantities. Although both mints were effected the 1909-S VDB would become the rarest Lincoln cent made for circulation to this day. The 1909 VDB and the 1909 without the VDB issues were common in circulation in the very early sixties. They disappeared from circulation along with all wheat cents on a speculation that copper would rise in value enough to make the coins worth a lot more than one cent.

Actually the mint did not change the content of the Lincoln cent with the end of the wheat cent. The last minted wheat cent was in 1958. The mint then changed the reverse of the coin to show the Lincoln Memorial building in Washington D.C. The copper content of Lincoln cents was not changed until 1982. In 1982 the mint made both copper and copper coated zinc coins making seven different varieties in this year, including large and small dated coins. It is difficult to tell the difference between the copper and copper coated zinc coins unless they are weighed. The sound of a copper coin is also much different than the zinc coins which may also be used to tell the difference.

Wheat cents were produced at all three mints, with some years lacking one mint production or another. The years in which the Denver mint did not make coins was: 1909, 1910 and 1921. The years in which the mint did not make S minted wheat cent coins for circulation were: 1922 1932 1933 1934 1956 1957 & 1958. In 1922 the mint did not make any coins from Philadelphia, however, extreme use of the Denver mint dies revealed the wearing of the D mint mark such that many coins were minted without the D.

The only wheat cents that are of significant value are those dated before 1920, with very few exceptions. The key coins in the Lincoln cent series are: 1909-S 1909-S VDB 1914-D 1922 (D missing) and the 1955 double die. Semi key coins are: 1910-S 1911-D 1912-D 1912-S 1914-S 1915-S 1922-D 1924-D and the 1931-S. By the time the 1960's rolled around these coins were basically gone from circulation along with the 1932 and 1933 Lincoln cents. It was not impossible to come close to completing a Lincoln cent collection in 1962.

Contrary to any belief the 1943 Steel cents have no significant value. These coins were very common in the early 1960's. Many of these coins were melted down in the years following the war since they rusted. Many of these coins have since been resurfaced taking the rust off the steel layer. The mint made 1943 coins from all three mints. There were a handful of 1943 copper cents but all of these reside in museums or with a few wealthy collectors.

The Lincoln cent remains the only US coin that does not have a P on the coin for the Philadelphia mint. In 1965, 1966 and 1967 there were no mint marks on Lincoln cents. All three mints produced the 1968, 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 & 1974 series coins for circulation. Many of the the S minted Lincoln cents can still be found in circulation today. The first Lincoln Memorial cents in 1959 would be minted from Philadelphia and Denver only. The mint continued to mint only from these two mints until 1968. After 1974, the S minted coins were made for proof sets only.

The Lincoln Memorial cent has remained unchanged since its inception in 1959. In 1960 there was a lot of exactment in the collecting community when it was discovered that the coins were minted with two size dates at both mints. Today, the difference in these coins has seen a reduction in price to a point that they are not valued in significance to one another in any condition except uncirculated. Both the 1960-D small and large date can still be found in circulation. The 1960 small date is most difficult to locate in circulation if at all.

In 1970 the mint made both small and large dated 1970-S coins. The 1970-s small date can still command around $50 in MS65 condition. There are no 1970-S small dates in circulation or at least SMCcoins has never found one. In 1972 the mint made another double die coin and the value of this can reach as high as $375 in MS65 condition.

Grading

About Good - Many of the earliest Lincoln cents circulated long enough for them to wear down significantly. An about good coin will  have the rim worn down into the coin. The wheat stalks on the reverse side of the coin will be worn down flat.

Good - "In God We Trust" will be visible but worn into the rim of the cent. There will be no lines in the wheat stalks, but the stalks will be well outlined.

Very Good - Half of the wheat lines in the upper wheat stalks will be visible with some worn spots.

Fine - Lincoln's bow tie and ear must be showing. All of the line details in the upper wheat stalks must show, but there can be some weak spots.

Very Fine - All of the lines in the upper wheat stalks will be clear and separated. Lincoln's portrait must be strong with the cheek and jaw bone clearly separated.

Extra Fine - An extra fine Lincoln cent will still have much of its luster and only the very high spots of the coin can be worn.

 Counter-Stamped Coins.

Someone emailed me regarding a Lincoln cent that they found in circulation with a US state engraved into the obverse of the coin near Lincoln's portrait so I decided to add these notes.

Actually what this person found in circulation was a Lincoln cent that was counter-stamped by a company that was selling coins with the states engraved on them during the 1976 US Bi-Centenial. These coins are not of any significant value. Most likely someone tired of the coin and spent it.

Email received: SMCcoins - how much is a 1940 Lincoln cent worth? A 1940 Lincoln cent in circulated condition is valued at the copper content in the coin. That current value is around $.015-.02 per wheat cent. 

QUESTION: I have found a 1962-D Lincoln cent that is all zinc and it can be picked up by a magnet. How much is this coin worth?

Answer: SMCcoins reply: This coin must have been coated by someone as a novalty. There are no records of the mint experimenting with alloys inthe 1960's. It was  not until the seventies when the mint decided to experiment with alloys of zinc and tin.

QUESTION: How much are Lincoln cents worth with the wheat ears on the back? SMCCcoins reply: The actual value of the coin fluctuates with the market for copper.

Answer: SMCcoins: Currently, a roll of common wheat cents may command near $1.00 at auction. I have whitnessed people bidding higher on large lots of wheat cents with the hope of finding some rare coins.

QUESTION: I have a lot of old Lincoln cents that I inherited. A coin dealer has offered me cash for the coins, but can I get more for the coins than quoted?

Answer: SMCcoins: You can most likely get the most for your coins on ebay. If you already have an ebay account with some history it will help you more than if you have just started. If you do not want to take the time to sell on ebay, then perhaps we can help you get hte most money since we generally pay 20% more than any dealer - Our book has guaranteed prices which are again 20% or more higher than a coin dealer.