Looking for treasure in your pocket change? Find this old 1986 Lincoln Penny which might be worth up to $7,800 today! Even more exciting, some rare error coins from 1986 have commanded impressive prices, with the “Struck on Dime” error reaching up to $5,000 in recent sales.
While a circulated 1986 Lincoln Memorial cent examples are worth face value, a perfect MS-69 Red specimen or those with rare mint mark or errors can be worth much more! Let’s understand how to find and value them!
How to Identify a 1986 Lincoln Memorial Penny (Design & Features)
To identify a genuine vintage 1986 Lincoln Memorial penny, you must verify the design details on the front and back as well as its size, weight, and composition!
1986 Lincoln Penny Obverse:
- A right-facing portrait of Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the States
- ‘IN GOD WE TRUST’ on the top
- ‘LIBERTY’ in compact kerning to Lincoln’s left
- The mint date ‘1986’ on Lincoln’s right
- The mint mark “D” or “S” (if present) below the mint date
1986 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
- ‘E PLURIBUS UNUM,’ above the hall
- The denomination ‘ONE CENT,’ at the bottom
- Initials “FG” to the right of the staircase
1986 Lincoln Cent Composition, Weight & Size
The 1986 Lincoln penny follows the modern composition and dimension of the Lincoln Memorial cent, which are as follows:
| 1986 Lincoln Penny | Key Features & Facts |
| Material Composition | Copper-plated Zinc (97.5% Zinc & 2.5% Copper) |
| Minting Location | Philadelphia, Denver, San Francisco |
| Minting Year | 1986 |
| 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 | 4,937,272,688 coins |
Assessing a 1986 Lincoln Penny Value? (3 Key Factors)
The value of 1986 Lincoln Memorial cent majorly depends on its condition, color, mint marks, and rare errors, as explained below:
1. Coin Grading and Color
A 1986 Lincoln Cent’s grade and color are the primary value drivers. Grading follows the standard Sheldon Scale (1-70), with Mint State (MS) coins ranging from MS-60 to MS-70. Most uncirculated 1986 pennies fall between MS-63 and MS-66 typically worth $3 to $20, while higher examples can fetch up to a few thousand.
As for the color, the Lincoln Memorial Penny has three main designations: Red, Red-Brown, and Brown. Among these, Red 1986 Lincoln pennies are worth the most, ranging from $7 to $1,000 or more in mint state.
Red-Brown and Brown 1986 pennies are worth $2 to $50 in mint state. These coins are generally worth less, but can fetch premium prices in exceptional grades or with rare mint errors.
1986 No Mint Mark Penny Value (Mintage – 4,491,395,493)
The Philadelphia Mint produced almost 4.5 billion 1986 no mint mark pennies, which are typically worth $5 to $850 in mint condition. The most expensive 1986 no mint mark penny was sold for an auction record price of $2,400 on eBay, as per PCGS!
- MS-65RD: $5-$8
- MS-66RD: $9-$20
- MS-67RD: $15-$35
- MS-68RD: $80-$210
- MS-69RD: $850+
1986 D Lincoln Penny Value (Mintage – 4,442,866,698)
With slightly lower mintage, the Denver-minted 1986 D penny is typically worth the same as the no mint mark cent. In 2021, an MS69RD 1986 D Lincoln cent was bought for a stunning price of $7,840!
Here are the average values of a 1986 D Lincoln Memorial penny in mint state:
- MS-65RD: $5-$8
- MS-66RD: $10-$15
- MS-67RD: $15-$25
- MS-68RD: $50-$220
- MS-69RD: $7.840
1986 S Lincoln Penny Proof (Mintage – 3,010,497)
The San Francisco Mint only produced about 3 million proof pennies in 1986, known for their highly reflective surface and sharp details. Standard 1986 proof pennies are worth only a few dollars, while Deep Cameo (with strong contrast between fields and devices) examples can fetch up to $3,500!
Here are the average values of a 1986 S Deep Cameo or Ultra Cameo penny proof:
- PR-67: $2-$5
- PR-68: $5-$7
- PR-69: $8-$20
- PR-70: $50-$300
3. Valuable 1986 Lincoln Penny Mint Errors
A mint error on your 1986 Lincoln cent can significantly increase its value! These are the rarest errors to look for:
Struck on a 1986-P Dime
One of the most valuable errors, this one happens when a 1986-P dime gets into the minting machine and is struck with a 1986 penny design. These error pennies can command $500 to $1,000 in mint condition, like this MS66 example sold for over $880 on Heritage Auctions!
Double Denomination on Struck 10C
This spectacular error occurs when a 1986 penny design is double-struck over an existing dime. The value of this rare error penny can range from $300 to $1,500, depending on the condition and how much of both designs is visible.
An MS66 example of this rare 1986 error penny sold for over $860 on Heritage Auctions!
Double Strike Error
Another dramatic error found on 1986 pennies is the double strike, which occurs when a coin receives two separate strikes from the dies instead of just one. This error penny can fetch $50 to $500 depending on the strike type and the coin’s condition.
Obverse Clad Layer Missing
These errors show the zinc core exposed on the obverse due to a missing clad layer while the reverse retains its copper plating. The value of a 1986 penny with a missing clad layer can range from $50-$200 depending on the extent and location of the missing plating, like this MS63 example sold for almost $60 in a coin auction!
Off-Center Strike Penny Error
This rare error happens when a planchet is misplaced in the die causing a part of the 1986 penny design to be missing from the coin. An off-center 1986 penny can typically sell for $25 to $150.
