1979 Lincoln Penny Value (D, S & No Mint Mark & Errors Worth)

Did you know that the old 1979 Lincoln Penny in your coin jar could be worth over $5,000 today? Being one of the last copper Lincoln pennies, this small cent is highly collectible today. So, jump on to this guide to learn what features indicate that your 1979 penny is worth big bucks!

On average, the value of a 1979 Lincoln penny in circulated condition ranges 2 to 10 cents, whereas cents in excellent, uncirculated condition or with rare features like mint marks or errors can be worth as much as $5,500 or more!

Brief History of the 1979 Lincoln Memorial Cent

The 1979 Lincoln Penny is part of the series, which was started in 1909 to commemorate the centennial of President Abraham Lincoln’s birth. The front features his profile. On the back, the cent featured a wheat design until it was changed to the Lincoln Memorial design in 1959. 

The total mintage for the 1979 Lincoln penny reached over 6 billion coins minted at the Philadelphia Mint and over 4 billion at the Denver Mint. This high production volume means that while many 1979 pennies are available, certain varieties with errors are more valuable.

This coin is also highly collectible, as it’s one of the last pure copper Lincoln pennies before the production of the copper-zinc clad versions began in 1982.

Identify a 1979 Lincoln Penny (Design & Composition)

To find the value of a 1979 Lincoln cent, the first step is to identify its unique design details on both sides, composition, and dimensions:

1979 Lincoln Penny Obverse:

• A right-facing profile of Abraham Lincoln
• The US motto, “IN GOD WE TRUST,” above Lincoln’s head
• The word “LIBERTY” to the left of Lincoln’s portrait
• The mint date “1979” to the right of Lincoln’s portrait
• The mint mark, if present, below the mint year.

1979 Lincoln Penny Reverse:

• The Lincoln Memorial building in the center
• The denomination “ONE CENT” below the building
• The words “E·PLURIBUS·UNUM” in small font above the Memorial
• The words “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” along the upper rim
• The designer’s initials “FG” (Frank Gasparro) on the Memorial’s stairs’ right side

Coin Composition and Dimensions

The 1979 Lincoln penny is composed of 95% copper and 5% zinc, a bronze alloy used for Lincoln Cents until 1982 when the composition was changed to copper-plated zinc.

As for its physical characteristics, the 1979 penny weighs around 3.11 grams or 0.110 ounces. It has a diameter of 19.05 millimeters (0.75 inches) and a thickness of 1.52 millimeters (0.059 inches) with a smooth edge!

How Much Is a 1979 Lincoln Penny Worth? (4 Key Factors)

As mentioned above, the value of a 1979 penny can range from a few cents to a few thousand dollars, depending on certain factors, such as condition, mint marks, and rare errors. Here’s a detailed breakdown of these factors:

1. Coin Grading and Condition

The condition of a 1979 Lincoln cent is the most vital factor determining its worth. The condition is generally assessed on a grading scale ranging from Poor (P-1) to Perfect Mint State (MS-70); the higher the grades, the more flawless and valuable the coin.

Important visual factors influencing these grades include surface quality, luster, and the absence of wear.

The 1979 Lincoln penny in high grades, such as MS-67 and above, can fetch hundreds of dollars, especially when combined with unique mint marks or errors. For example, an MS68 1979 No mint mark penny sold for a record price of $5,463, while the penny is worth only around $7-$10 in MS65 grade.

2. Coin Toning & Color

The appearance of 1979 Lincoln pennies varies significantly due to toning due to oxidation over the years, which directly affects its final value. Based on the colors, the pennies are classified as:

• Red (RD): These pennies have over 95% of their original red luster and are the most valuable of them all. In uncirculated condition, you can expect a Red 1979 Penny to sell for $5 to a few thousand dollars, depending on the grades.

• Red-Brown (RB): Due to partial toning, RB-graded pennies feature both red and brown tones on their surfaces, making them less valuable and collectible than pure red coins. Depending on grades, mint RB 1979 Lincoln Memorial pennies range from 5 to $10.

• Brown (BN): A 1979 Lincoln cent that has turned entirely brown is graded BN. These coins are generally worth a few cents to $5 unless they are in exceptionally high grade or have a rare error!

3. 1979 Lincoln Penny Mint Marks & Mintage

Although the 1979 Lincoln penny was produced in substantial numbers, making them easily available, coins with certain mint marks can be more valuable than others.

1979 No Mint Lincoln Penny Value (Mintage – 6,018,515,000)

The regular 1979 Lincoln penny with no mint mark was produced at three different mints:

• Philadelphia Mint: 3,560,940,000
• West Point Mint: 1,705,850,000
• San Francisco Mint: 751,725,000

However, since there is no specific feature to identify which penny was minted at which location, all these pennies are valued equally.

In average condition, a 1979 no mint mark penny is worth around $0.01, but the value of uncirculated examples can range from $5 to $5,500, depending on the grades.

1979 D Lincoln Penny Value (Mintage – 4,139,357,254)

The Denver Mint produced over 4.1 billion 1979 Lincoln cents, identified by the small D mint mark on the obverse. Due to its smaller mintage than the no-mint mark pennies, the 1979 D penny can be slightly more valuable.

While the circulated cents are still worth a few cents, those in mint condition can range from $5 to $4,000 in MS60 to MS67+ grades. MS68 or higher 1979 D pennies can be worth more than $5,000, though no such examples have been discovered or graded yet.

1979 Lincoln Penny Proof (Mintage – 3,677,175)

Apart from regular no mint mark pennies, the San Francisco Mint also produced over 3.6 million proof pennies intended only for coin collectors. Along with the S mint mark, the 1979 proof cents can also be identified by their sharp devices and highly mirrored proof finish.

However, some proof coins may also display a sharp contrast between the mirror-like fields and raised designs, known as “Cameo;” those with even stronger contrast are known as “Deep Cameo” or “Ultra Cameo.”

Among these, Deep Cameo 1979 S Penny proof coins are the most sought-after. While in common PR grades, like PR65 to PR69, DCAM cents are worth $5 to $45, PR70 examples can fetch up to $4,000!

In addition, the 1979 proof pennies have two varieties: 1979 S Type I Filled S (with a bold S mint mark) and 1979 S Type II Clear S (with a thin, clear S mint mark). Although the exact mintage of each variety is unknown, Type II proofs can be slightly more valuable.

4. 1979 Lincoln Penny Mint Errors

The final factor that significantly influences a 1979 penny value is the minting errors, the anomalies occurring to a single coin or a batch of coins during the striking process.

To find the most valuable 1979 Lincoln pennies, look out for the following 1979 penny errors:

1979 Penny Struck on a 1979 Dime

This is a rare off-metal error in which a 1979 penny design is struck on an existing 1979 dime, resulting in a rare coin with mixed features. This unique penny will be smaller, silvery, and weigh about 2.27g instead of 3.11 grams.

Depending on the condition, this rare coin can fetch $500 – $1,000+. For example, this MS67-grade 1979 Lincoln Cent Struck on a 1979 Dime sold for $690! You can clearly see the Lincoln cent overlapping the Dime design.

Curved Clip

This 1979 error penny features a crescent-shaped missing section along the coin’s edge. It happens when a piece of the planchet (blank coin) is cut away before striking, often due to overlapping punches when blanks are cut from metal sheets.

The value of a 1979 Curved Clip penny largely depends on the size and location of the clip as well as the coin’s condition. While minor clips are worth $5 – $50, major ones can fetch around $40 – $100+.

Cud Die Break

In this minting error, a piece of die breaks, extending to the rim, creating a raised (cud), blank area on the coin. The size and location of the cud affect the value of this error penny, typically ranging from $25 – $100+ for significant cuds. An MS64 Brown 1979 with a major cud on the lower right side sold for a stunning price of $1,020 on Heritage Auctions!

Struck Through Fragment, Capped Die

This rare minting error happens when a foreign object (like metal fragments) gets between the die and planchet during striking, creating interesting textures or indentations on the coin. A rare AU55-graded 1979 penny with this error combined with the capped die error sold for almost $1,200 on Heritage Auctions!

Saddle Triple Strike Error

This is a rare error in which the 1979 penny is struck three times, with the coin getting partial impressions of the design on its edges, in a saddle-like shape. An MS64 Red example of this rare 1979 error penny sold for over $300 in a coin auction in 2014. Since then, no such error has been discovered again.

Off-center Strike

This error coin has a part of the design missing with a blank crescent on the coin due to misplacement in the die. Sometimes, the coin is double-struck, with the planchet moving around between strikes, resulting in a double-strike off-center strike.

The value of this rare coin increases with a percentage off-center, and if the date is visible on both strikes. You can expect a price of $50 – $200+ for dramatic examples.

In addition to these, common errors, such as Double Die errors and repunched mint mark errors, can also increase your 1979 penny value to a great extent. So, don’t forget to spot these errors and other rare features, as shown in this guide, to find the most valuable 1979 Lincoln cent in your collection!