Do you have a 1984 Lincoln penny in your collection? If so, you might be surprised to know that certain examples of this small cent can fetch up to $9,000 or more today! This price guide will help you uncover the real value of your 1984 penny by spotting features like mint marks and errors that are worth serious cash!
Interesting History of 1984 Lincoln Memorial Penny
The Lincoln penny, first introduced in 1909 to commemorate Abraham Lincoln’s 100th birthday, was well into its 75th year of production by 1984. These pennies continued the Lincoln Memorial reverse design introduced in 1959, replacing the original Wheat Ears design that had served for five decades.
1984 was the second year since the United States Mint deviated from the original copper composition to the modern copper-plated zinc coins to reduce production costs. These coins were struck at all three popular mint locations, as well as West Point.
During this time collecting modern mint errors and varieties was gaining popularity, making the 1984 cents even more popular.
| 1984 Lincoln Penny | Key Features & Facts |
| Material Composition | Copper-plated Zinc (97.5% Zinc & 2.5% Copper) |
| Minting Location | Philadelphia, Denver, San Francisco |
| Minting Year | 1984 |
| Face Value | 1 cent ($0.01) |
| Weight | 2.5 grams |
| Diameter | 19 mm |
| Thickness | 1.55mm |
| Designer | Victor D. Brenner (Obverse), Frank Gasparro (Reverse) |
| Mint Marks | ‘D,’ ‘S’ and No mint mark |
| Total Mintage | 13,723,383,016 coins |
How to Identify a 1984 Lincoln Cent (Design & Features)
The 1984 Lincoln Memorial penny features distinctive design elements that make it easily identifiable, among other old coins. It also possesses unique physical features that help you distinguish between a real penny and a counterfeit!
1984 Lincoln Penny Obverse:
- A right-facing portrait of Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the States
- The minting year ‘1984’ on the lower right side
- ‘IN GOD WE TRUST’ on the top
- ‘LIBERTY’ in compact kerning to Lincoln’s left
- The mint mark “D” or “S” (if present) below the mint date
1984 Lincoln Penny Reverse:
- The image of the Lincoln Memorial (Washington, DC) with 12 columns, steps, and plinth
- ‘UNITED STATES OF AMERICA’ on the top along the edge
- The national US motto, ‘E PLURIBUS UNUM,’ above the hall
- The denomination ‘ONE CENT,’ at the bottom
- Initials “FG” to the right of the staircase
1984 Lincoln Cent Composition, Weight & Size
The 1984 Lincoln penny represents the modern composition of American cents, featuring a zinc core (97.5%) plated with a thin layer of copper (2.5%). This marked a significant change from the traditional copper composition used before late 1982, resulting in a lighter coin with the same copper appearance.
Each 1984 penny weighs exactly 2.5 grams and measures 19.05 millimeters in diameter, with a thickness of 1.55 millimeters. The edge is smooth, unlike many other denominations that feature reeding.
How Much Is a 1984 Lincoln Penny Worth? (4 Key Factors)
A typical circulated 1984 Lincoln penny is worth its face value of one cent. But uncirculated examples can range from 50 cents to several hundred dollars, with exceptional examples reaching as much as $10,000.
The key to finding your old 1984 Lincoln penny value lies in its condition, color, mint mark, and the presence of any errors or varieties.
1. Coin Grading and Condition
The condition of a 1984 Lincoln penny significantly impacts its value, following the standard grading scale ranging from P-1 (Poor) to MS-70 (Gem Mint State):
Most circulated grades (Good-4 through About Uncirculated-58) are worth the face value to 25 cents. Uncirculated grade MS-63 examples typically bring $1-$3, while MS-65 and MS66 pennies command $5-$25.
The real premium begins at MS-67, where prices can reach $20-$50, and MS-68 examples can bring $60-$400. The extremely rare MS-69 1984 penny examples, particularly those with full Red color, have achieved prices over $5,700, like this one sold for $5,750 at Stack’s & Bowers auctions!
The color of the Lincoln Cent is also an important condition factor that impacts its value, often having as much impact as the numerical grade. Copper coins naturally tone over time, leading to three distinct color classifications:
- Red (RD): These pennies retain at least 95% of their original mint red color, showing the pristine copper-orange color. Red 1984 pennies command the highest values, ranging from $5 to $5,000 or more depending on numerical grades.
- Red-Brown (RB): These coins display a mix of original red color and natural brown toning, with red covering between 15% and 94% of the surface. They typically sell for about 50% less than Red pennies.
- Brown (BN): These pennies have completely toned to various shades of brown, retaining less than 15% of their original red color. Brown 1984 cents generally fetch the lowest prices, typically ranging from $5 to $10, though rare examples can still be valuable.
2. 1984 Lincoln Memorial Penny Mint Marks
| Coin Grades | Condition Details | 1984 No Mint Mark Penny Value | 1984 D Penny Value |
| Poor (0) to Extremely Fine (XF45) | Significant wear, faded but visible details | Face Value | Face Value |
| Almost Uncirculated (AU50) to Mint State (AU58+) | Slight wear on highest points, visible marks or blemishes | 20 cents to 50 cents | 10 cents to 30 cents |
| Mint State (MS60 – MS64) | Uncirculated with minimal wear | $1 – $5 | $1 – $6 |
| Mint State (MS65 – MS66+) | Nearly flawless with very minor imperfections | $5 – $15 | $7 – $25 |
| Mint State (MS67 – MS67+) | Well-preserved with no major flaws | $10 – $35+ | $25 – $50+ |
| Mint State (MS68 – MS68+) | Nearly perfect, luster, no major marks or flaws | $60 – $130+ | $170 – $350+ |
| Mint State (MS69 or Above) | Almost perfect coin | $5,000 – $5,800+ | $1,000 – $1,500+ |
The 1984 Lincoln penny was produced at three different mints, with a combined total mintage of 13,557,204,000 pieces. However, different mints released different numbers of cents with unique mint marks, impacting their overall rarity and values.
1984 No Mint Mark Penny Value (Mintage – 8,151,079,000)
The 1984 Lincoln penny with no mint mark was produced at Philadelphia as well as the West Point Mint, with a total reaching over 8.15 billion coins. These are the most common variety, typically worth face value in circulated state and $5 to $130 in mint state.
An MS69 1984 no mint mark penny is quite rare and can easily fetch up to $5,000-6,000 in fully Red condition. According to PCGS, the most valuable 1984 penny no mint mark coin sold for a whopping $9,250 on eBay, that too for MS68 grade!
1984 D Lincoln Penny Value (Mintage – 5,569,238,906)
The Denver Mint struck over 5.56 billion pennies in 1984, marked with a “D” mint mark below the date. Denver strikes often show slightly better average quality than Philadelphia issues, though circulated coins are still worth the face value or a few cents more.
An uncirculated 1984 D penny can fetch $7 to $40 in MS-62 to MS-67 grades. MS-68 examples are generally worth $170 to $350, while MS-69 pennies can reach up to $1,000 to $2,000. An MS68RD 1984-D Lincoln cent once sold for an exceptional price of $4,025 on Heritage Auctions!
3. 1984-S Lincoln Proof Penny
The San Francisco Mint produced only proof coins in 1984 with a total mintage of 3,065,110, exclusively for collectors. Each 1984 Lincoln penny proof bears a unique “S” mint mark and superior detail and finish compared to circulation strikes.
While Lincoln cents are often found in three varieties; Standard Proofs, Cameo Proofs, and Deep Cameo Proofs, the 1984 penny has only been discovered with DCAM surface.
These coins exhibit the maximum possible contrast between mirror-like fields and devices with an intense white frost on the raised design. A 1984 DCAM Lincoln penny proof typically sells for around $10 in PR-65, while PR-67 and higher examples can reach $10-$400.
4. 1984 Lincoln Penny Errors & Varieties
The 1984 Lincoln penny series includes several valuable error varieties that command significant premiums:
Double Die Obverse
The most common error to be found on a 1984 Lincoln penny is the Doubled Die Error, which happens due to a faulty obverse die with doubled design which is impressed on the cent. To spot it, look for doubling on the letters of “LIBERTY” and “IN GOD WE TRUST” as well as Lincoln’s silhouette (like “Double Ears”) and the mint date.
A 1984 Lincoln penny with a DDO error can be highly valuable compared to a regular penny. For example, an MS65 1964 DDO penny is typically worth $150-300. MS67 examples of this error can fetch $250 to $850, while MS68 examples can reach up to $3,500 or more, like this rare example sold for $3,910 at Heritage Auctions!
Off-center Strike Error
An off-center strike occurs when the planchet is not properly centered between the dies during the striking process, resulting in the design being partially off the planchet. The degree of off-center can vary greatly, impacting its value!
Off-center Lincoln pennies are relatively common errors, with values typically ranging from $10 to $50, like this MS62RB example with 55% off-center strike sold for over $30 in coin auction!
Unplated Planchet Error
Normally, 1984 Lincoln pennies are struck on copper-plated zinc planchets. Occasionally, a planchet without the copper plating gets mixed in and struck, resulting in a steel-colored 1984 penny.
These “steel cents” are easy to identify, as they lack the normal copper color. They are fairly scarce, with uncirculated examples typically selling for $20-100, while high-grade examples fetch more! For example, an MS63 1984 unplated Lincoln cent sold for $65 at Heritage Auctions!
Double Denomination on 10C Planchet
This error occurs when a penny planchet is accidentally struck with a dime die with a double denomination impression. Both sides of the penny will have the Lincoln design overlapping with the Roosevelt Dime design.
This error is quite rare and highly sought after by collectors. On average, the value ranges from $300-1,000 at auction, like this MS64 example on Heritage Auctions bought for almost $735!
Apart from these look for the following errors:
- Double Struck Off Center
- Die Crack or Cud Die Break Error
- Rotated Die Error
Remember, while a regular old 1984 Lincoln cent is just worth a few cents, rare features like high grades, red color, and rare errors can manifold its value crazily. So before you buy or sell a vintage 1984 Lincoln penny, use this guide to find its real value!
