1969 values by mint mark
A coin with no mint mark was struck in Philadelphia.
| Coin | Mint | Mintage | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | Philadelphia, no letter | 1,136,910,000 | Face value |
| 1969-D | Denver | 4,002,832,200 | Face value |
| 1969-S | San Francisco | 544,375,000 | Face value |
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Scan your coinIs yours the 1969-S doubled die (front)?
1969-S doubled die (front)
$25,000 or more
The stamp (die) for the front had a doubled image. The date, LIBERTY and IN GOD WE TRUST are strongly doubled. Very rare, and fakes exist.
Listed for 1969-S.
The app shows this checklist for the coin you scan.
The plain 1969, the 1969-D and the 1969-S were all made in huge numbers, so a worn one from your change or a jar is just a 1 cent coin. The doubled die is very rare, and fakes exist.
How to tell
Start with the date and the mint mark, then check the front of any 1969-S.
- Find the date on the front. This guide covers 1969 cents with Lincoln on the front and the Lincoln Memorial on the back.
- Check the mint mark. No mint mark means the plain 1969. A D means 1969-D. An S means 1969-S.
- If you have an S, look closely at the front. The doubled die has a strongly doubled date, a strongly doubled LIBERTY and strongly doubled IN GOD WE TRUST.
- Compare all three spots. On the real coin all three are strongly doubled. Doubling on only one spot, or a faint shadow, is not the variety.
- If it looks right, do not assume it is real. Have a professional grading service or an experienced dealer look at it.
An ordinary 1969 penny
The plain 1969, the 1969-D and the 1969-S are all common, and price guides list each one at face value. An S on its own does not make a 1969 cent rare; only the doubling does. A very worn 1969 penny will not be worth more than face just because of its age.
The 1969-S doubled die
A die is the stamp that strikes the front of the coin. On this variety, the die for the front had a doubled image, so every coin it struck shows a doubled date, LIBERTY and IN GOD WE TRUST.
A genuine one is worth $25,000 or more. Its condition decides how much more. The doubled die is listed only on the 1969-S, so a plain 1969 or a 1969-D does not carry it.
Condition
Wear lowers value. On a rare variety, the condition of the coin matters a great deal, because a sharp, unworn coin sells for more than a rubbed one.
Do not clean the coin. Cleaning lowers a coin's value, and it can destroy the details you need to prove what the coin is. Leave it as you found it and handle it by the edges.
Other cents worth checking
Other Lincoln Memorial cents have valuable varieties too. The 1972 cent has a doubled date and lettering; see the 1972 guide. A 1992 cent whose A and M in AMERICA almost touch is in the 1992 guide, and price guides also list a 1984 with a second earlobe. For the year copper and zinc cents were both made, see the 1982 guide.
For the whole series, read the Lincoln Memorial penny guide or the Lincoln cent values. Older cents with two wheat ears on the back are covered in the Lincoln wheat penny guide.
Metal value
- $0.04 for 95% copper, 5% zinc (3.11 g)
Questions
Is a 1969 penny worth more than 1 cent?
Usually not. The 1969, 1969-D and 1969-S are all worth face value. The exception is a genuine 1969-S doubled die.
Is a 1969 penny made of copper?
Yes. Cents were copper up to 1982, and these 1969 cents are mostly copper with a little zinc. The metal in one coin is worth $0.04 at the day's prices.
Where is the mint mark on a 1969 penny?
Look on the coin for a small D or S, and check the whole face, since the letter is small. If there is no letter, it is the plain 1969.
Should I clean my penny before I sell it?
No. Cleaning lowers a coin's value. Keep it as it is.
More Lincoln cents to check
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