1999 values by mint mark
A coin with no mint mark was struck in Philadelphia.
| Coin | Mint | Mintage | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Philadelphia, no letter | 5,237,600,000 | Face value |
| 1999-D | Denver | 6,360,065,000 | Face value |
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Scan your coinIs yours the 1999 wide AM?
1999 wide AM
$400 or more
A wide gap between the A and M of AMERICA. It is a back meant for proof coins (polished coins made for collectors), used on a coin made for everyday use.
Listed for 1999.
The app shows this checklist for the coin you scan.
How to tell
Start with the mint mark, then look at the back.
- Check that the date reads 1999.
- Look for a mint mark, the small letter that shows which mint made the coin. Only a 1999 with no mint mark can be a wide AM. A 1999-D cannot.
- Turn the coin to the Lincoln Memorial side and find the word AMERICA.
- Look at the space between the A and the M. On a wide AM the two letters stand clearly apart.
- Compare it with another 1999 cent if you have one. A normal coin next to it makes the difference easy to see.
A magnifying glass helps. Look in good light and hold the coin by its edges.
The ordinary 1999 and 1999-D
Both were made in huge numbers, so neither is scarce, and a worn one from change is worth face value. They are copper-plated zinc, not solid copper, so the metal does not make them worth saving either. The only 1999 cent worth setting aside is a wide AM.
The 1999 wide AM
The wide AM is a variety, not a separate coin. The back die used for it was meant for proof coins, the polished coins made for collectors, and it was used by mistake on coins made for everyday use. That is why the lettering on the back sits differently.
Price guides list it at $400 or more. Its condition decides how much more: a sharp example with little wear sells for more than a worn one.
Condition matters
Rubbing, scratches and dark spots all lower a coin's value. For a variety like the wide AM, condition is a large part of the price.
Do not clean the coin. Cleaning leaves marks and lowers its value, and a dealer can usually tell. If you think you have a wide AM, store it in a soft holder and let a dealer or a grading service such as PCGS or NGC look at it. Those services grade coins, and a grade from one does not change what the coin is.
Other Lincoln Memorial cents worth a look
The Lincoln Memorial cent ran from 1959 to 2008, and some other years carry valuable varieties:
- The 1969 penny and the 1972 penny can have a doubled date and doubled lettering.
- The 1982 penny was made in both copper and zinc, so metal matters for that year.
- The 1992 penny has a variety where the A and M in AMERICA almost touch.
- The 1983 penny and the 1995 penny have their own guides too.
For the whole design, see the Lincoln Memorial penny guide or all Lincoln cents.
Metal value
- $0.01 for copper-plated zinc (97.5% zinc core, 2.5 g)
Questions
Is a 1999 penny worth anything?
Most are worth face value. Only the wide AM, which has no mint mark, is worth more.
Is a 1999-D penny rare?
No. Denver made a huge number of them, and a 1999-D is worth face value. The wide AM is not found on the 1999-D.
Is a 1999 penny made of copper?
No. Cents from this period are copper-plated zinc, and the metal in one is worth very little.
Where do I find the wide AM?
Look at the back, where it says AMERICA. A wide AM has a clear gap between the A and the M. Compare it with a normal 1999 cent to see the difference.
More Lincoln cents to check
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