Lincoln Cent (Modern): History, Types, Key Issues & Mintages

Modern Lincoln cents move from the Memorial reverse to four 2009 life scenes and the Union Shield while changing from copper alloy to copper-plated zinc.

This guide treats 1959–2025 as the normal modern Lincoln sequence. Three provisional 2026 dual-date records remain in the local catalog but belong to the separate Semiquincentennial Cent guide.

Core specifications

Issue period: 1959 to date
Catalog mints: 4
Reported catalog mintage: 521,493,607,289
Composition: Varies by type
Diameter: 19 mm
Weight: Varies by type

One portrait through changing reverses and metals

Frank Gasparro's Lincoln Memorial reverse arrived in 1959. The cent changed to copper-plated zinc during 1982, creating an important composition transition within a single date.

Four Bicentennial reverses marked 2009, followed by the Union Shield in 2010. The Mint ended circulation production in 2025 and continues limited collectible cent production, making finish and distribution context essential.

Obverse, reverse, and the details that identify the type

Confirm the major design, date, and mint mark before studying smaller die differences.

The main portrait and date

Brenner's right-facing Lincoln remains the anchor; date, mint mark, designer initials, and relief treatment change across the long period.

Denomination, subject, and mint mark

The Lincoln Memorial serves 1959–2008, four life-stage designs appear in 2009, and the Union Shield begins in 2010.

Where the cataloged coins were made

Totals are calculated from reported issue records in this catalog; unknown figures are not counted as zero.

P — Philadelphia: 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026; 260,686,199,174. Philadelphia issues commonly carry no P mint mark in classic series; confirm the expected blank area rather than searching for a letter.
D — Denver: 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026; 257,525,338,664. Confirm the D mint mark together with its expected year, position, and issue format.
S — San Francisco: 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026; 3,280,703,914. Confirm the S mint mark together with its expected year, position, and issue format.
W — West Point: 2019; 1,365,537. W identifies West Point; use the year, product, and finish to separate circulation releases from collector issues.

Representative issues that explain the series

Separate Memorial, 2009 four-design, and Shield goals first; then add composition, proof, West Point, and recognized spacing or doubled-die varieties.

1959 P — 610,864,291. Open the issue page and read this record together with its type, mint, finish, and grade context.
1960 P - Small Date — 588,096,602. Open the issue page and read this record together with its type, mint, finish, and grade context.
1982 P - Copper - Small Date — N/A. Open the issue page and read this record together with its type, mint, finish, and grade context.
1992 D — 4,448,673,300. Open the issue page and read this record together with its type, mint, finish, and grade context.
2009 P - Birth and Early Childhood Kentucky — 284,800,000. Open the issue page and read this record together with its type, mint, finish, and grade context.
2017 P — 4,361,220,000. Open the issue page and read this record together with its type, mint, finish, and grade context.

Start with the major type, then study smaller die differences

The current catalog records 16 varieties. A variety name describes repeatable die features; it does not automatically mean error, rarity, or added value.

The issue catalog keeps all 16 modeled varieties attached to their parent issue records.

Issue catalog

From one type coin to a complete catalog

One representative coin: Choose one problem-free, readable example and learn the size, edge, and major design.
Major-type set: Use one coin per major design to show changes in artwork, composition, or production.
Dates and mints: Work through the issue catalog by date and mint, defining special finishes separately.
Variety study: Choose one date or diagnostic family and record several matching markers for every attribution.

Catalog status note

The current normalized catalog retains three 2026 Semiquincentennial bridge records with null mintages. The dedicated 2026 guide is the controlling editorial scope for those dual-date collector issues; this page preserves the bridge only until a verified catalog migration.

Sources

Penny: Designs and History — United States Mint
Lincoln Cent (Modern) category reference — PCGS CoinFacts