1965 Lincoln Penny Value (No Mint Mark, SMS & Errors Worth)

If your coin collection has an old 1965 Lincoln penny with the iconic Lincoln Memorial building design on the back, you are sitting a hidden gem! Why? Because this small cent can sell for up to $10,000 today! So, if you want to find out where your 1965 copper cent is worth as much, find out all the rare features to look for in this guide!

1965 Lincoln Penny Value

Interesting History of the 1965 Lincoln Memorial Cent

The 1965 Lincoln penny is part of a crucial era in American coinage history. Designed by Victor D. Brenner, the coin features a portrait of Lincoln on the obverse and Lincoln’s memorial building on the reverse. In 1965, the U.S. Mint produced over 1.4 billion pennies.

However, not all the 1965 Lincoln pennies were struck that year; most of them were actually struck in 1966 with the 1965 mint date. All of the 1965 pennies were struck with a mint mark.

This creates a common misconception among coin collectors that all coins were minted at Philadelphia. However, this isn’t true as the 1965 versions were produced at San Francisco and Denver Mints as well.

1965 Lincoln Wheat CentKey Features & Facts
Coin Composition95% Copper, 5% Tin and Zinc
Minting LocationPhiladelphia, Denver, San Francisco
Minting Year1965
Face Value1-cent (0.01$)
Weight3.11 grams
Diameter19.05 mm
Thickness1.52 mm
DesignerVictor David Brenner, Gilroy Roberts
Mint MarksNo Mint Marks
Total Mintage1,497,224,900 coins

Identifying a 1965 Lincoln Penny (Design & Physical Features)

Remember, an old 1965 Lincoln Memorial penny will be worth the money only if it bears its unique features and composition. Identifying these features is crucial to assess its value!

1965 Lincoln Cent Obverse:

1965 Lincoln Memorial Penny Obverse
  • A right-facing portrait of Abraham Lincoln
  • “LIBERTY” to Lincoln’s left (back)
  • The phrase “IN GOD WE TRUST” on the top
  • The minting year “1965” on the lower right

1965 Lincoln Penny Reverse:

1965 Lincoln Memorial Penny Reverse
  • The Lincoln Memorial building with 12 columns, steps, and plinth at the center
  • “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” on the top
  • The denomination, “ONE CENT,” at the bottom
  • The US motto, “E PLURIBUS UNUM,” above the hall
  • The designer’s initials “FG” for Frank Gasparro to the right of the hall’s stairs

Coin Composition, Weight & Dimensions

Without many changes in the composition and size, the 1965 Lincoln penny is made of bronze alloy with 95% copper and 5% zinc just like its predecessors, giving it the distinctive weight of 3.11 grams and the iconic copper-red color.

The coin measures 19.05 mm in diameter and 1.52 mm in thickness. Besides, it has a uniform and plain, non-reeded edge, which is an identifying feature of the Lincoln cents. Always verify these dimensions and weight to verify whether the coin is real or a counterfeit!

How to Find a 1965 Lincoln Penny Value (5 Key Factors)

While most 1965 pennies in average condition range from their face values to a few dollars. But this value significantly changes depending on several factors, such as the coin’s condition, mint marks, special strike, and rare mint errors.

1. Coin Grades & Condition

The condition of your 1965 Lincoln cent greatly impacts its value, as determined by the grading scale ranging from Poor (P-1) to Mint State (MS-70). Higher grades indicate better conditions, which are valued dramatically more than low-grade examples.

For instance, a 1965 No mint mark penny in MS-67 sold for $470 on Heritage Auctions, whereas the coin in MS-65 grade only sells for $7-12 on average.

2. Coin Color & Toning

The color of your 1965 Lincoln copper coin can significantly impact its value as it changes over time due to oxidation. Lincoln pennies mainly exhibit three colors:

  • Red (RD): Lincoln cents with their original vibrant red hue are graded red and are the most valuable of all. The value for a Red 1965 Lincoln penny ranges from $7 to $3,000!
  • Red-Brown (RB): Red-Brown copper coins exhibit a mix of red and brown tones, often worth slightly less, around $1 to $10 in uncirculated condition.
  • Brown (BN): Lincoln pennies that are primarily brown due to extreme oxidation are graded Brown. These coins are only worth 10 to 50 cents unless they have a rare error.

3. 1965 Lincoln Cent Mint Marks & Mintage

Coin GradesCondition Details1965 No Mint Mark Penny Value
Poor (0) to Extremely Fine (XF45)Significant wear, faded but visible detailsFace Value
Almost Uncirculated (AU50) to Mint State (AU58+)Slight wear on highest points, visible marks or blemishes20 cents to 50 cents
Mint State (MS60 – MS64)Uncirculated with minimal wear$1 – $5
Mint State (MS65 – MS66+)Nearly flawless with very minor imperfections$7 – $50
Mint State (MS67 – MS67+)Well-preserved with no major flaws$150 – $500+
Mint State (MS68 or Above)Nearly perfect, luster, no major marks or flawsN/A

The 1965 Lincoln Penny was struck (in 1966) at three locations: Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco. However, none of these coins bear any mint mark to distinguish them. That’s why all the coins are valued similarly.

The total mintage of 1965 penny at three mints are:

  • 1965 No Mint Mark Lincoln Penny – 301,470,000
  • 1965 D Lincoln Penny – 973,364,900
  • 1965 S Lincoln Penny – 220,030,000
  • 1965 S Lincoln Penny SMS – 2,360,000

4. 1965 Lincoln Penny SMS (Special Mint Set)

1965 Lincoln Memorial SMS Penny Value

The United States Mint also released the SMS or Special Mint Sets of the 1965 Lincoln penny for collectors. However, these coins also have no mint mark on them. So, you need to identify a shiny, satin-like surface with exceptionally sharp details in order to identify an SMS penny.

Like regular 1965 pennies, the SMS cents are also graded and valued based on colors.

For instance, a Red 1965 SMS penny can be valued at $7 to $50 in 64 to 67 grades, while SP68/MS68 examples can fetch $200 to $1,600 or more. Red-Brown and Brown SMS coins generally fetch $10 to $55.

Screenshot 2024 10 28 163643
Source: eBay – THE SILVER EAGLE STORE

The most expensive Red 1965 SMS cent sold for $2,990 in MS-68 grade.

In addition to this, some 1965 Lincoln penny SMS coins may exhibit unique contrasting surfaces which can impact their values:

  • Cameo (CAM): Cameo SMS coins have a subtle contrast between the satin-like background and frosted raised designs and letterings. These coins are worth $50 – $800 in SP64 to SP66 grades, while SP-67 examples can reach up to $1,700 or more like this coin sold for $1,725 in a coin auction!
  • Deep/Ultra Cameo (DCAM/UCAM): These coins feature an even stronger contrast, making them more sought-after than Cameo SMS coins. As of now, only a very few 1965 Ultra Cameo SMS pennies have been found; one graded MS67 was sold at Heritage Auctions for a stunning price of $4,140!

5. Rare 1965 Lincoln Penny Errors

Some rare minting errors (production flaws) can greatly boost your 1965 penny value. Here are some notable types:

Struck 45% Off-Center on Unusual Planchet

This dramatic error happened when an off-center strike error combined with the wrong planchet stock, creating a rare dark red coin (not bronze alloy) with 45% of the design missing. One of these rarely-found 1965 error pennies sold for almost $1,000 on Heritage Auctions!

Struck on a Silver Dime Planchet

The 1965 cent struck on a silver dime planchet occurred when a Roosevelt dime blank accidentally made its way into the cent press. This error coin appears smaller and thinner than normal cents, with a silvery appearance.

Recent auction data shows this selling for $1,200-1,800 in circulated grades, while uncirculated examples can reach $2,500-3,500. The most expensive 1965 Lincoln Cent Struck on a Silver Dime, graded MS-65, sold for an auction record price of $9,980 at Heritage Auctions!

Double Struck in Collar and Rotated 20 Degrees

This one also combines two errors: a double struck in collar error with the rotated die error, resulting in two distinct impressions on the 1965 Lincoln cent with the second strike rotated.

These dramatic mint errors generally sell for $200-400 in circulated grades, while uncirculated examples can reach $500-800, like this Red-Brown coin in MS-63 grade sold for $600 in 2023!

Broadstruck Error

A broadstruck error occurs when a 1965 Lincoln penny planchet is struck outside of the collar die, spreading outward during striking, resulting in a wider coin with no defined rim. Based on recent auction data, 1965 broadstruck cents typically sell for $30-50 in circulated condition, while uncirculated examples can bring $75-125.

Also, look out for errors like cud errors and Doubled Die errors on your 1965 penny as they can also increase its value. In a nutshell, your old copper may be worth just a few cents unless it has any of the rare features mentioned above. So, use this guide to spot the most valuable 1965 Lincoln cent!

Judith Miller
Judith Miller

Judith is an antique expert with nearly 20 years of experience in the field of antique identification and valuation. She has reviewed over 30 thousand vintage items and has worked with numerous antique shops. She enjoys seeing new places, attending antique shows and events, and sharing her knowledge with people! Know more about me