Collection: Lincoln Cent (Modern) (1959 to Date)

The Lincoln Memorial Cent series, introduced in 1959, marked the 50th anniversary of the Lincoln cent and brought a significant redesign to America’s most collected coin. While Victor D. Brenner’s iconic portrait of Abraham Lincoln remained untouched on the obverse, the reverse transitioned from the classic "Wheat Ears" motif to a frontal depiction of the Lincoln Memorial, ... Read More

The Lincoln Memorial Cent series, introduced in 1959, marked the 50th anniversary of the Lincoln cent and brought a significant redesign to America’s most collected coin. While Victor D. Brenner’s iconic portrait of Abraham Lincoln remained untouched on the obverse, the reverse transitioned from the classic "Wheat Ears" motif to a frontal depiction of the Lincoln Memorial, designed by Frank Gasparro. Uniquely, this design features a tiny image of Lincoln seated inside the memorial—making it the first U.S. coin to depict the same figure twice. This detail continues to be a favorite among numismatic trivia enthusiasts.

Spanning 1959 to 2008, the Lincoln Memorial Cent series offers tremendous breadth for collectors and variety specialists. The series includes numerous significant die varieties, errors, and transitional pieces. Notable among these are the 1990-S No S Proof Cent—an ultra-rarity caused by the omission of the mintmark on a San Francisco Proof die—and the popular 1972 Doubled Die Obverse, 1983 Doubled Die Reverse, and 1984 Doubled Ear varieties. Additionally, Close AM and Wide AM reverses have surfaced across several dates in the late 1990s and early 2000s, often the result of Proof dies being mistakenly used for circulation strikes.

A key turning point in the series came in 1982, when the composition was changed from the traditional bronze alloy (95% copper) to a copper-plated zinc core due to rising metal costs. Both compositions were produced during that year, and they can be distinguished by weight: bronze cents weigh 3.11 grams, while the zinc-based cents weigh 2.5 grams. Today, high-grade bronze 1982 Lincoln cents are particularly sought after by collectors and bullion enthusiasts due to their copper content.

Despite the presence of scarce and valuable varieties, most dates in the Memorial Cent series are readily obtainable in high grades, making this an ideal starting point for beginning numismatists. Mint State and Proof examples are widely available, especially for issues struck post-1968, when Proof production resumed at the San Francisco Mint.

For collectors, investors, and Registry Set participants seeking certified Lincoln Memorial Cents, ParadimeCoins.com offers a curated selection of premium PCGS and NGC-certified examples, including key varieties, high-grade Red (RD) designations, and modern conditional rarities. Whether you're looking to build a full date-and-mintmark set, focus on variety hunting, or invest in copper-rich early issues, the Memorial Cent series delivers affordability, historical context, and collecting depth across five decades of American coinage.