1962 Penny Coin Value: How Much Is It Worth?

In most cases, the 1962 penny value is insignificant because of the high mintage and numerous preserved pieces. However, collectors like this particular Lincoln Memorial cent because it is the first in the brass series produced from 1962 to 1982.

After removing the tin, the composition was changed slightly, but experts recognize two pieces types struck this year. Only a limited number was produced with remaining tin residue, but this difference doesn’t make a change in prices.

1962 penny value chart
Condition	1962 No Mint mark penny	1962 D penny
MS 60	$0.17	$0.17
MS 65	$0.35	$0.35
Proof 65	$1.71	/

 

1962 Penny Value Guides

Two mints produced 2,402,411,419 Lincoln Memorial pennies in 1962. Such a high mintage means surviving coins are relatively inexpensive. Only rare and unique pieces can reach high prices at auctions.

1962 No Mint mark penny value

In 1962, the Philadelphia mint produced 606,045,000 Lincoln memorial pennies. Since pieces in the mint state cost approximately $0.40 to $3, those in circulated condition are not considered collectible.

1962 Lincoln memorial penny value
Condition	1962 RD	1962 D RD
MS 60	$0.41	$0.41
MS 61	$0.51	$0.51
MS 62	$0.61	$0.61
MS 63	$0.75	$0.75
MS 64	$1.51	$1.51
MS 65	$3	$3
MS 66	$25	$18
MS 67	$240	$1,000

You can expect coins rated over MS 66 and with an attractive red toning to be more expensive. You need to set aside $25 to $240 per such piece. However, a rare red Lincoln penny in an MS 67+ grade reached an impressive $8,813 at an auction in 2014.

1962 proof penny value

Besides regular strikes, the mint in Philadelphia produced 3,218,019 proof pennies in 1962. Most of these coins are worth less than a dollar, and you can expect more money only for the best-preserved ones.

1962 proof Lincoln memorial penny value
Condition	1962 RD	1962 RD CAM	1962 RD DCAM
PR 60	$0.25	/	/
PR 61	$0.25	/	/
PR 62	$0.25	/	/
PR 63	$0.25	/	/
PR 64	$0.50	$1	/
PR 65	$1	$2	/
PR 66	$7	$10	$15
PR 67	$12	$18	$30
PR 68	$15	$35	$75
PR 69	$50	$85	$475

For instance, one coin with a PR 69 rating costs about $50, but pieces with cameo and deep cameo contrast can be more costly. In most cases, their prices range from $85 to $475.

The most precious is the 1962 PR 69 DCAM Lincoln penny. One collector paid $2,559 for it at an auction in 2005.

1962 D penny value

Precisely 1,793,148,400 Lincoln Memorial pennies came from the Denver mint in 1962. Thanks to this high mintage, you can find these coins for less than $3 on the coin market. Even those in an MS 66 grade can barely reach $20.

On the other hand, pennies with an MS 67 range are rare and typically cost $1,000. The most expensive Lincoln penny minted this year was the one with the D mint mark. Its high price of $12,000 was a real surprise at an auction in 2013.

1962 Penny Errors

Technically, you can find errors and different anomalies created during production on Lincoln pennies from any year. Therefore, you should check the coin you have and compare it to other error examples.

If you suspect that the penny contains a valuable imperfection, you can check it with one of the trusted sources, like CONECA.

Doubled Die

Some doubled dies contain a drastic design, letter, or numeral doubling, making them valuable. However, only pieces with clearly visible imperfections are precious.

Unfortunately, collectors have not yet discovered significant double dies on the 1962 cents. Those hidden within the date or lettering visible only under a magnifying glass are not worth much. In most cases, you can get $5 to $20 for them.

BIE error

Some Lincoln pennies look like they have a capital letter I in the word LIBERTY, between B and E. These so-called BIE pennies are a variety of a die break and are rare in coins minted in 1962.

Their price is $5 to $10, depending on how strongly the letter I is struck. However, the price goes to $50 when the coin is in the mint state.

Re-punched mint mark

In the early 1960s, the US Mint struck mint marks onto individual working dies, and it was crucial to do it in the correct spot. Sometimes, human error caused incorrect punching onto the dies, and you can find cents minted in Denver with the crooked D mint mark.

Such pieces required correcting the letter D, which was initially placed at the wrong angle, and re-punching it with a new mint mark.

Interestingly, these coins are collectible, although this error type is common. In most cases, you can expect to pay $3 to $10 for this penny. Only rare pieces with a visible error can be worth more.

Penny struck on a silver dime planchet

In rare cases, you can find the 1962 D Lincoln penny with almond-gold toning. This error appeared because of sticking the penny on a silver dime planchet. Such pieces can be valuable, and one coin in an MS 62 grade was sold for $823 at an auction in 2013.

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History of the 1962 Lincoln Memorial Penny

Lincoln pennies are common coins struck from 1909 to nowadays. It is estimated that every American household keeps hundreds of pennies in piggy banks, drawers, and jars without knowing their historical significance.

The 1909 Lincoln wheat penny was the first US coin with a historical person on the obverse. Before its mintage, American coinage contained anonymous Native Americans or Lady Liberty because Americans considered showing real persons on coinage improper.

However, celebrating Abraham Lincoln’s 100th birthday changed everything. The 16th President was so popular that the nation accepted his portrait on the new coin, despite sporadic resistance.

1962 Lincoln Memorial penny
Location	Year	Minted
Philadelphia	1962 No Mint mark penny	606,045,000
Philadelphia	1962 proof penny	3,218,019
Denver	1962 D penny	1,793,148,400
Total	/	2,402,411,419

Lithuanian-born American sculptor, Victor D. Brenner, designed a new penny with a simple and stark Lincoln portrait on the obverse. However, he made a mistake and added oversized initials under the date, making most Americans angry.

The US Mint quickly removed them, making coins with VDB lettering collectible nowadays. Initials were added again in 1918 but were modest and significantly smaller this time.

Even though the obverse has stayed the same over the years, the US Mint changed the reverse and composition several times. The second reverse appeared in 1959, marking Lincoln’s 150th birth anniversary.

Engraver Frank Gasparro created a new design with Lincoln Memorial that replaced famous wheat stalks. Interestingly, he added the President between pillars, making this coin unique, with the same person on both sides.

As for the alloy, coins minted from 1909 to 1942 and 1944 to 1961 contained a high copper percentage (95%) with added tin. Because of war, the US Mint struck zinc-plated steel pieces in 1943.

In 1962, appeared pennies with zinc instead of tin because it was cheaper. Technically, that turned a bronze penny into a coin made of brass without visible change in its appearance. The modern coin version contains copper-plated zinc alloy from 1982 because of the fast-rising copper price.

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How to identify 1962 Lincoln Memorial Penny?

The 1962 Lincoln Memorial pennies are 60 years old, making them collectible. However, they are considered modern, resulting in their relatively low price.

The obverse of the 1962 Lincoln penny

The 1962 Lincoln Memorial penny is a standard coin from the series containing the 16th US President on the obverse. As you can see, Lincoln’s bust facing right is centrally positioned with an inscription IN GOD WE TRUST along the top coin rim.

As always, the word LIBERTY is struck behind his back, while the appropriate DATE, 1962, is on the right coin side. You can quickly determine the mint where each piece was produced by the D mint mark struck under the date.

Coins produced in Philadelphia have this spot without the mark. Finally, the designer’s initials, VBD, are discretely positioned on the truncation.

The reverse of the 1962 Lincoln penny

Like other Lincoln Memorial pennies produced from 1959 to 2008, those from 1962 have the Memorial on the reverse instead of the original wheat ears.

The designer created this coin side based on the Lincoln Memorial from Washington, DC, and positioned it centrally. You can notice the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and the Latin saying E PLURIBUS UNUM above the building.

The ONE CENT denomination, written in capital letters, is struck below the building, along the bottom coin rim. Interestingly, you can see the small Lincoln statue between the pillars. The President’s occurrence on both sides makes this coin type unique.

1962 Lincoln Memorial penny
Face value	1 cent ($0.01)
Shape	Round
Coin thickness	0.05984 inches (1.52 mm)
Coin diameter	0.75 inches (19.05 mm)
Coin weight	0.10970 ounces (3.11 g)
Compound	Copper (95%) with zinc (5%)
Edge	Plain

Other features of the 1962 Lincoln penny

Unlike previous Lincoln Memorial pennies, those minted in 1962 have a bit different compound. After removing the tin, the new brass coins contained copper and zinc as the first such pieces in the series.

However, their measurements are standard for this coin type, so you can expect to see a round piece with a plain edge that weighs 0.10971 ounces (3.11 g). The penny diameter is 0.75 inches (19.05 mm), while the thickness is 0.05985 inches (1.52 mm).

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What makes a 1962 penny rare?

Most 1962 Lincoln Memorial pennies are not rare because of the high mintage and numerous well-preserved pieces offered on the coin market. They are typically scratched or with uneven and dull luster and rough surfaces.

However, cents minted in Denver are considered scarce in an MS 67 grade, and you should set aside about $1,000 per one.

Which 1962 penny is worth a lot of money?

• At David Lawrence RC, one collector paid $12,000 in 2013 for the 1962 D MS 67 RD Lincoln penny
• At Heritage Auctions, one collector paid $8,813 in 2014 for the 1962 MS 67+ RD Lincoln penny
• At Heritage Auctions, one collector paid $2,559 in 2005 for the 1962 PR 69 DCAM Lincoln penny
• At Bowers & Merena, one collector paid $1,840 in 2003 for the 1962 D AU 58 BN Lincoln penny
• At Heritage Auctions, one collector paid $1,495 in 2007 for the 1962 MS 64 BN Lincoln penny
• At Heritage Auctions, one collector paid $1,265 in 2006 for the 1962 PR 65 RD Lincoln penny
• On eBay, one collector paid $520 in 2021 for the 1962 PR 69 CAM Lincoln penny
• On eBay, one collector paid $235 in 2022 for the 1962 PR 68 Lincoln penny
• At Heritage Auctions, one collector paid $44 in 2006 for the 1962 MS 64 RB Lincoln penny
• On eBay, one collector paid $38 in 2021 for the 1962 D MS 65 RB Lincoln penny

How much is the 1962 No Mint mark Lincoln penny valuable?

Be aware that only 1962 Lincoln Memorial pennies in an uncirculated condition are collectible. The well-preserved pieces minted in Philadelphia cost about $0.40 to $3, but you can get $25 for a coin with MS 66 rating.

Rare ones in an MS 67 grade can reach $240, while a scarce red cent rated MS 67+ was sold for $8,813 at an auction in 2014.

What is the most pricey Lincoln penny?

Any of the mysterious 1943 Lincoln pennies are the most pricey in the series. It seems that 20 to 40 coins were struck on copper-alloy planchets by accident.

Even though rare pieces typically reached a price of tens of thousands of dollars in previous auctions, one collector set aside $1.7 million to get one in 2019. That way, this piece became the most valuable penny worldwide.