1968 Penny Coin Value: How Much Is It Worth?

Coin collectors value the 1968 pennies only if they are rare. It doesn’t mean your regular 1968 penny won’t sell. But how much will your penny go for in today’s market?

It’s easy to get the 1968 pennies because most are circulating. The mints struck them in large numbers, so they have a low value today.

The ones that sell for high prices have rare mint errors. It’s their rarity that makes them go for a high price.

So, in this post, you’ll know every detail about the 1968 penny value. You’ll learn how to best sell or buy your 1968 penny.

1968 Penny Value by different Grades

A price table helps anyone know the coin’s estimated value before buying or selling it. So, focus on the table to see the market price range of various 1968 pennies.

The 1968 Penny Value Chart
Mint Marks	Good	Fine	Extra Fine	Uncirculated
1968 No Mint Mark Penny	At least 0.01 USD	At least 0.01 USD	At least 0.01 USD	At least 0.10 USD
1968 “D” Penny	At least 0.02 USD	At least 0.02 USD	At least 0.02 USD	At least 0.10 USD
1968 “S” Proof Penny				At least 1 USD
1968 “S” Penny	At least 0.02 USD	At least 0.02 USD	At least 0.02 USD	At least 0.15 USD

1968 Penny Value Guide

Once you understand your coin’s value, you’ll know the correct target market as a coin seller. No one will overprice you on the 1986 penny if you are a buyer. Now, look at the value of 1968 pennies under various grades.

1968 “S” Proof Penny value

You’ll buy or sell this coin for at least 1 USD. Remember, proof coins only sell at a high rate of PR 65.

1968 No Mint Mark Penny Value

Every 1968 Penny with no mint mark won’t sell well in their circulated state. You’ll get their profit if the coin is in the uncirculated grade. Here, it goes for at least 0.10 USD.

1968 “D” Penny value

Coins from the Denver mint have a low value in their circulated versions. But when in the higher grades, the penny will earn you at least 0.10 USD. You won’t get anything better than their face value.

1968 “S” Penny value

Here, the penny will give you at least 0.02 USD in their good, fine, and extra fine state. Expect to earn at least 0.15 if the penny is uncirculated.

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1968 Penny Errors

You will be lucky to own a 1968 penny with some mint errors. Such coins aren’t easy to find.

A rarity makes coins to have a high market price. Below are 1968 penny errors present in today’s market.

The 1968 “S” Penny Double Die Obverse (DDO) Error

The 1968 San Francisco artists made a beautiful mistake after the mintage. You’ll see the doubling in the obverse details.

They are visible on the lettering and year mark. Also, Lincoln’s hair curls and nostrils could have doubled.

Such an error penny today is expensive because it is rare. Depending on the present looks, it can go for at least 50 USD to 150 USD.

The 1968 “S” Penny Repunched Mint Mark Error

Though repunch errors are common, expect such a coin to sell at a high price. It came when the artisans at the San Francisco mint struck the mint mark twice.

The aim was to achieve perfection. But instead, it led to a beautiful mistake that is valuable today.

It is easy to note this error on your 1968 “S” penny. You can sell it for 5 to 15 USD. Prices vary with the penny’s grade.

The 1968 Penny with a Die Break on the Obverse

You could also get a 1968 penny from the Philadelphia mint with a breaking die. Such a mistake comes from the pressure of the mintage by the artisans.

Such an error can vary with the position and size of the die cut. It can make some of the letters appear misspelled by the artisans.

Today, it’s not easy to get such a penny. But if you are lucky, the coin goes for at least 5 USD to 10 USD.

The 1968 “D” Penny with a Floating Roof Error

Coin collectors love Lincoln pennies with such a mint mistake. Here, the roof of the Memorial Hall appears to be floating or not touching the building.

The error came because the artisans over-polished the coin’s surface. Also, the error may come without the artist’s signature.

Not all places see this coin as an error coin. But expect it to sell from 1 USD to 5 USD.

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How to Grade the 1968 Penny?

Most coin dealers and collectors dwell more on your coin’s grade. Though it’s challenging, grading determines your coin’s best quality. Here are the various grades of the 1968 penny to help you determine its best price.

Proof

Every 1968-proof coin will sell because of having no flaws. You’ll sometimes see some blemishes, but the coin looks best.

Expect the coin’s color to be red. The 5% zinc coating is still fresh on the penny.

It will also have a shiny and mirror-like surface. Such a feature attracts the hearts of most buyers.

Remember, proof coins never came out for circulation. The Mint made them for some collectors and some Denver mint officials.

As for those that have wear marks, it’s because the owners don’t handle them well. Most proof coins have a high rating of PR 65RD. It can go up to PR 67RD if the coin has no marks.

Uncirculated

Like the proof coins, the 1968 uncirculated pennies never fell into the hands of commerce. But as for these coins, they don’t have a shiny, mirror-like surface.

Here, expect the coins to have a rating of almost uncirculated (AU) to mint state (MS) 70.

The difference is in the mint luster quality and the wear quantity. In this range, some pennies can be red-brown to show more wear. If the 1968 penny is red, it will have a high rating.

Every detail on both sides of this penny is sharp. The few marks on the coin come from poor care.

Sometimes, you won’t see the wear marks with your naked eyes. Also, it can be that the coin has passed through several owners.

Extra Fine

The 1968 pennies in this class circulated but had fewer wear marks. It’s because the coins went through a few trading hands.

You’ll be lucky if your coin is in this grade and has some luster. Expect to enjoy this view under the sun.

Wear marks will be present on the hair above Lincoln’s ear. It will also have an outline of the ear and Memorial Hall pillars.

More than half of the hall’s steps will be visible. There will be an outline of the top part of the building. Such great details will interest most coin collectors.

Also, the coin can be brown if it has no luster. If the 168 penny has some luster, expect it to be almost red-brown.

In this grade, your 1968 penny will have a rating of EF 40 or 45. It will vary with the amount of wear and luster quality.

Fine

In this grade, the 1968 penny will have moderate to heavy wear on both sides. The coins here have gone through many hands of trade.

Despite the wear marks, some of Lincoln’s hair is still present. But you won’t see the hairline and the curls.

Lincoln’s jaw, earlobe, and tie are present but flat. Also, the lettering is present without any luster.

A 1968 penny in this class will have a rating of F 12 because of the level of wear. The coin will also be brown because of losing much of the zinc coating. On the reverse, a few steps leading to the Memorial Hall are present.

Good

The pennies in this grade have much wear. But all hope isn’t lost. You’ll still see the coin’s key details.

Such coins have gone through many circulation years. Also, the owners gave it poor care that gave them heavy wear.

President Lincoln’s head will have some details on the ear. Dates and lettering will be present but faded. Sometimes, they’ll be so close to the coin’s rim.

Better still, on the reverse, the Memorial pillars are visible and apart. Don’t expect to see any steps in the hall.

Your 1968 penny will have a grade of G 4 in this class. Anything below this rating shows your coin will be nothing more significant than its face value. It is because the coin has lost most of its qualities.

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History of the 1968 Penny

Like most ancient coins, expect the 1968 penny to have interesting facts. Two designers created the art on the reverse and obverse.

Victor David Brenner designed the coin’s obverse in 1909. It was to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Lincoln’s birthday.

Also, in 1966 and 1967, the pennies didn’t have mint marks. But it was historical for the 1968 pennies because it was when the US resumed minting the coins with mint marks.

In 1959, Frank Gasparro created the coin’s reverse art. The design gave the coin the name “1968 Lincoln Memorial Penny.” Every detail on the tail helps the nation celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Lincoln penny.

The three US mints struck 4,855,462,080 units of the 1968 pennies. Around 1,707,880,970 pieces came from the Philadelphia mint.

As for the Denver mint, they struck the highest number of the 1968 pennies. They made around 2,886,269,600 units. So, expect the 1968 pennies from Denver to have a low rarity and price.

Only 258,270,001 circulating pieces of the 1968 penny came from the San Francisco mint. Also, the San Francisco mint struck around 3,041,506 proof coins.

Today, these 1968 pennies from the San Francisco mint sell for a reasonable price. It is because they have a higher rarity than the ones from Denver and Philadelphia. But beware of buying fake 1968 pennies.

how to identify 1968 Penny?

Before you know the value of your 1986 penny, you must know its appearance. It will help you escape from buying a fake 1986 penny.

Also, if you are selling the coin, you’ll know how well to bargain for the best price. So, below are the significant aspects of the 1958 pennies.

The Obverse of the 1968 Penny

Victor David gave every Lincoln penny a touch of beauty on the obverse. You’ll see President Lincoln’s bust facing the right.

The late President’s face was to mark the 100th anniversary of his birthday. Such honoring began in 1909 with the first Lincoln pennies. Remember, Lincoln appears in a suit and bow tie.

You’ll see the words “IN GOD WE TRUST” on that curve on the top. The words carry the US motto.

On the coin’s center-left, there’s the word “Liberty.” It’s a sign to encourage US citizens to be loyal to their values.

Also, the artist’s symbol, “VDB,” is present under Lincoln’s shoulder. The aspect shows how much the Mint respected Victor David.

There’s the date on the bottom right, next to Lincoln’s chest. Most of these aspects appear beautiful if your 1968 penny has less wear.

The Reverse of the 1968 Penny

The back of your 1968 penny is a continuation of your coin’s beauty. Frank Gasparro designed it with a beautiful portrait of the Memorial Hall.

Expect the hall to have all 12 pillars and a beautiful staircase. Behind the pillars is a small image of the actual 19-foot-tall visage.

It shows respect to the 50^th time the US has honored the 100th anniversary of Lincoln’s birth since 1909. Such details are small but attractive to many collectors.

At the bottom right of the hall’s stairs, there is the “FG” symbol. Remember, it’s not easy to clone such a sign on the 1968 penny.

The words “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” curve at the top. They urge US citizens to love their nation.

The words “E. PLURIBUS. UNUM.” show the US motto. They appear in two lines above the Memorial Hall.

Also, the coin’s “ONE CENT” denomination words are below the Memorial Hall. All these beautiful features look great if the coin has sweet looks and less wear.

Other Essential Aspects of the 1968 Penny

The inner aspects of the 1968 penny give it a clear definition. So, no one will ever sell you a fake 1968 penny.

All 1968 pennies have 95% copper and 5% zinc, and a tin coating. It gives the coin a brown color. You’ll see the aspect when the coin is average to the top.

Also, the pennies have a diameter of 19 millimeters (0.75 inches). Still, on the size, 1968 pennies have a thickness of 1.52 mm (0.0598 inches).

Focusing on the coin’s weight, it weighs around 3.11 grams. Expect the weight to reduce because of excess coin wear and poor handling.

As for 1968 pennies with mint marks, you’ll see the marks below numbers “9” and “8” on the date. The ones from San Francisco have the symbol “S.” The Denver mint coins have the “D” mark.

FAQs

Going through common issues raised by other coin traders is essential. You’ll improve your experience and skills when selecting and trading any 1968 penny. So, read on to see the regular queries people ask.

is there any rare 1968 penny?

Several types of the 1968 penny aren’t easy to get today. Such coins are rare because of the mint mistakes they have.

Note that most coin dealers love coins that have unique mint errors. Getting them isn’t easy, and they have a huge price tag.

Where can you buy or sell your 1968 penny?

Today, you can sell your 1968 penny at a pawnshop or online stores like Etsy. Also, attending auction events and top coin forums like Coin Community will help you sell your 1968 penny. Remember, auction places are for rare varieties.

Why do the 1968 pennies have more value than the 1967 pennies?

Both the 1967 and 1968 pennies look similar. But the 1968 penny variety is rarer because it has more error coins. It’s not easy to get these error coins, but they are on the market.