1960 Penny Coin Value: How Much Is It Worth?

Two mints produced over two billion Lincoln Memorial pennies in 1960. Interestingly, you can find two collectible varieties, with small and large dates. They differentiate by the numerals, which is the primary feature that affects the 1960 penny value.

Besides, this particular year is well-known among collectors for two proof types and the famous D Over D Overdate coins. Even though coins from the regular strikes are worth the same, this unique error can be expensive. You should also pay attention to pieces with red toning since they always bring additional cash.

1960 penny value chart
Condition	1960 No Mint mark small date penny	1960 No Mint mark large date penny	1960 D small date penny	1960 D large date penny	1960 D D over D penny
Mint state 60	$3.30	$0.22	$0.22	$0.22	$227
Mint state 65	$7.88	$0.33	$0.33	$0.33	$558
Proof 65	$24	$2.28	/	/	/

 

1960 Penny Value Guides

1960 No Mint mark penny value

You can recognize two Lincoln Memorial penny variations among 586,405,000 coins minted in Philadelphia in 1960:

• 1960 Large Date Lincoln Memorial penny
• 1960 Small Date Lincoln Memorial penny

Even though their value is similar in low grades, you should pay $450 for the specimen with a Large Date or about $100 more than for a piece with a Small Date.

1960 Lincoln Memorial penny value
Condition	1960 large date RD penny	1960 small date RD penny
MS 60	$2	$2
MS 61	$2.25	$2.25
MS 62	$2.50	$2.50
MS 63	$3	$3
MS 64	$4	$4
MS 65	$5	$5
MS 66	$10	$24
MS 67	$450	$325

The situation is different regarding auction records. The 1960 MS 67 RD Lincoln penny with a Small Date was sold for $4,600 in 2008. On the other hand, one collector paid $4,370 for the coin with a Large Date and deep cameo contrast four years earlier. Both pennies were offered at Heritage Auctions.

1960 proof penny value

The situation is the same with proofs, and the Philadelphia mint produced 1,691,602 Lincoln wheat pennies in 1960 with both date types.

1960 proof Lincoln Memorial penny value
Condition	1960 LD RD penny	1960 LD RD CAM penny	1960 LD RD DCAM penny
PR 66	$5	$7	$30
PR 67	$10	$15	$55
PR 68	$15	$25	$225
PR 69	$90	$150	$1,500

These coins are expectably more pricey, and you should pay $5 to $500 for a piece with a Large Date, depending on the condition. The most expensive are pennies with a deep cameo contrast in a PR 69 grade.

Pieces with a Small Date and beautiful red toning typically cost $15 to $300, depending on the preservation level. However, DCAM coins can cost up to $1,550.

1960 proof Lincoln Memorial penny value
Condition	1960 SD RD penny	1960 SD RD CAM penny	1960 SD RD DCAM penny
PR 66	$15	$25	$60
PR 67	$20	$30	$90
PR 68	$30	$45	$400
PR 69	$300	$450	$1,550

The most pricey specimen is a DCAM-proof coin with a Small Date paid $5,188 at an auction in 2011. The one with a Large Date and a PR 65 grade reached $2,884 in 2006 at Heritage Auctions.

1960 D penny value

The Denver mint produced 1,580,884,000 Lincoln Memorial pennies of 2,168,980,602 pieces minted in 1960. You can find coins with a Large Date for $0.40 to $375, while those with a Small Date typically cost $2 to $130.

1960 Lincoln Memorial penny value
Condition	1960 D large date RD penny	1960 D small date RD penny
MS 60	$0.40	$2
MS 61	$0.50	$2.25
MS 62	$0.60	$2.50
MS 63	$0.75	$3
MS 64	$1.50	$4
MS 65	$3	$6
MS 66	$12	$11
MS 67	$375	$130

The most expensive 1960 D Lincoln Memorial penny ever sold reached an impressive price of $20,000. This red coin with a Large Date won the auction record in 2018.

Other valuable coins with the D mint mark reached far fewer prices but were still expensive. For instance, one collector set aside $3,525 for a piece in an MS 67+ grade with a Small Date and fantastic red toning in 2021.

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1960 Penny Errors

1960 D D Over D overdate

The 1960 D Lincoln Memorial penny with a Small Date over a Large Date is the most famous error in American numismatics. You can recognize two variations:

• A standard error coin with the D mint mark with a Small Date struck over a Large Date (typically doubling the zero, sometimes number six)
• An error coin with a doubling and a third, so-called ghostly D mint mark above the standard one

1960 Lincoln Memorial penny value
Condition	1960 D SD/LD BN penny	1960 D SD/LD RB penny	1960 D SD/LD RD penny
MS 60	$50	$55	$65
MS 61	$55	$60	$75
MS 62	$60	$70	$85
MS 63	$75	$85	$95
MS 64	$90	$100	$110
MS 65	$120	$135	$150
MS 66	$165	$200	$300
MS 67	$300	$400	$750

Most error coins from regular strikes minted in Denver are worth $50 to $750, depending on the preservation level. The 1960 D SD/LD MS 66 RD Lincoln penny is considered the most expensive after one collector paid $4,025 for it at an auction in 2008.

1960 proof D Over D overdate

A similar thing happened in the Philadelphia mint with proofs. Nowadays, you can recognize rare proof errors, including:

• A coin with a Large Date over a Small Date with a price of $135 to $1,100
• A coin with a Small Date over a Large Date that costs $180 to $1,500
• A coin with a Tripled Die Obverse that is worth approximately $225 to $600

1960 proof Lincoln Memorial penny value
Condition	1960 LD/SD RD penny	1960 SD/LD RD penny	1960 SD/LD RD CAM penny	1960 SD/LD RD DCAM penny	1960 TDO RD penny
PR 65	$135	$180	$200	$260	$225
PR 66	$160	$210	$325	$425	$250
PR 67	$180	$340	$500	$700	$300
PR 68	$450	$1,050	$1,500	/	$600
PR 69	$1,100	/	/	/	/

The most pricey 1960 proof Lincoln penny with a Large Date over a Small Date was sold for $7,475 in 2003. The SD/LD coin was a bit less expensive, and one collector added it to his collection for $4,800 in 2006.

Related Posts: 19 Most Valuable Lincoln Memorial Penny Worth Money

History of the 1960 Lincoln Penny

The Lincoln penny minting began in 1909 to honor Lincoln’s 100th birth anniversary. The first Lincoln Memorial penny appeared in 1959 when Americans celebrated his 150th birth anniversary. It was also the 50th anniversary of the first minted Lincoln penny.

While the original Brenner’s obverse design stayed the same, engraver Frank Gasparro redesigned the reverse. 1960 was the second year of these coins’ production.

1960 Lincoln Memorial penny
Location	Year	Minted
Philadelphia	1960 No Mint mark penny	586,405,000
Philadelphia	1960 proof penny	1,691,602
Denver	1960 D penny	1,580,884,000
Total	/	2,168,980,602

However, this mintage was primarily appreciated among collectors for two other reasons. The first thing is two penny variations, with small and large dates. The other is a rare and unique overdate error.

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how to identify 1960 Penny

The obverse of the 1960 Lincoln Memorial penny

The 1960 Lincoln Memorial penny is a round coin with a plain rim. You can see the 16th US President Abraham Lincoln’s bust on the obverse facing right with the motto IN GOD WE TRUST above his head.

The DATE 1960 is struck on his right side, and you should always check the numbers type in this case since it can affect this coin price. Typically, there are two date variations, with small and large digits, but you can come across the 1960 D D Over D overdate penny if you are lucky.

The word LIBERTY is placed behind the President’s back, while three letters, VDB, representing the designer’s initials, are hidden on the bust’s shoulder truncation. Finally, you will see the mint mark D in coins minted in Denver.

The reverse of the 1960 Lincoln Memorial penny

The 1960 Lincoln penny is the second date with the Memorial on the reverse since this design replaced famous wheat ears the previous year.

The Lincoln Memorial from Washington, DC, takes a central position, while the inscription UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and the denomination ONE CENT extend along the rim and surround it.

The fascinating thing about Memorial pennies is that they have President Lincoln on both coin sides. While his bust is placed on the obverse, a tiny statue finds its place between the Memorial pillars.

The Latin saying E PLURIBUS UNUM is struck between the country name and the Memorial top edge in two lines. You can also spot the designer’s initials FG right of the steps.

1960 Lincoln Memorial penny
Face value	1 cent ($0.01)
Coin weight	0.10970 ounces (3.11 g)
Coin thickness	0.05984 inches (1.52 mm)
Coin diameter	0.75 inches (19.05 mm)
Compound	Copper (95%) with tin and zinc (5%)
Edge	Plain
Shape	Round

Other features of the 1960 Lincoln Memorial penny

The 1960 Lincoln Memorial penny is a one-cent coin weighing 0.10970 ounces (3.11 g). This 0.05984 inches (1.52 mm) thick piece made of 95% copper comes with a diameter of 0.75 inches (19.05 mm).

What makes a 1960 penny rare?

Most Lincoln pennies produced in 1960 are abundant, but three things make them unique and rare. These coins are the second date struck with the Lincoln Memorial on the reverse and come with two date types, small and large dates.

Plus, you can find a rare error typical for this year with two dates of different sizes struck over each other.

Which 1960 penny is worth a lot of money?

• On eBay, 1960 D LD MS 67 RD Lincoln penny won the auction record of $20,000 in 2018
• At Heritage Auctions, 1960 LD/SD PR 69 RD Lincoln penny won the auction record of $7,475 in 2003
• At Heritage Auctions, 1960 SD PR 68 DCAM Lincoln penny won the auction record of $5,188 in 2011
• At Heritage Auctions, 1960 SD/LD PR 68 RD Lincoln penny won the auction record of $4,800 in 2006
• At Heritage Auctions, 1960 No Mint mark SD MS 67 RD Lincoln penny won the auction record of $4,600 in 2008
• At Heritage Auctions, 1960 LD PR 69 DCAM Lincoln penny won the auction record of $4,370 in 2004
• At Heritage Auctions, 1960 D SD/LD MS 66 RD Lincoln penny won the auction record of $4,025 in 2008
• At Heritage Auctions, 1960 No Mint mark LD MS 67 RD Lincoln penny won the auction record of $3,819 in 2013
• At Legend Rare Coin Auctions, 1960 D SD MS 67+ RD Lincoln penny won the auction record of $3,525 in 2021
• At Heritage Auctions, 1960 D LD AU 50 BN Lincoln penny won the auction record of $2,990 in 2004
• At Heritage Auctions, 1960 LD PR 65 RD Lincoln penny won the auction record of $2,884 in 2006
• At Great Collections auction, 1960 SD/LD PR 68 CAM Lincoln penny won the auction record of $1,824 in 2014
• At Heritage Auctions, 1960 LD PR 70 CAM Lincoln penny won the auction record of $1,725 in 2003
• On eBay, 1960 SD PR 69 RD Lincoln penny won the auction record of $1,450 in 2019
• At Great Collections auction, 1960 LD/SD PR 67 CAM Lincoln penny won the auction record of $1,177 in 2014
• At Heritage Auctions, 1960 D SD AU 53 BN Lincoln penny won the auction record of $1,006 in 2002
• At Heritage Auctions, 1960 SD PR 68 CAM Lincoln penny won the auction record of $863 in 2005

How much is 1960 No Mint mark Lincoln Memorial penny worth?

An average 1960 Lincoln penny is worth $2 to $325, depending on condition and the date type.

What is the rarest 1960 Lincoln Memorial penny?

The rarest and the most valuable Lincoln Memorial penny minted in 1960 is the one from the Denver mint with a unique D Over D overdate. This coin has a Small Date struck over the Large Date on the obverse.