1964, Lincoln Memorial Cent: A Coin at a History Crossroads
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The 1964 Lincoln Memorial Cent sits at a crossroads in American coinage history – a coin struck by the billions yet capable of fetching thousands at auction depending on condition and variety. Produced during a national coin shortage, this one-cent piece carries 95% copper, a design by two legendary engravers, and a story that connects the Civil Rights era to the modern bullion market. Whether you are a seasoned collector or just found one in a drawer, understanding what makes this coin tick can mean the difference between spending a penny and selling a prize.
Most 1964 cents are worth face value or just above. A handful are worth serious money. Knowing which is which requires attention to mintmarks, surface color, and die varieties – the same kind of careful evaluation that applies to silver and gold coins. This guide covers everything: specifications, history, varieties, pricing, and where to go when you are ready to buy or sell.
Key Specifications of the 1964 Lincoln Memorial Cent
The 1964 cent shares its physical profile with Lincoln cents from 1959 through 1982. It measures 19.00 mm in diameter and weighs 3.11 grams. The composition is 95% copper and 5% tin and zinc – a formula that gives the coin its warm reddish tone when freshly struck.
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 19.00 mm |
| Weight | 3.11 grams |
| Composition | 95% copper, 5% tin/zinc |
| Edge | Plain |
| Obverse Designer | Victor David Brenner |
| Reverse Designer | Frank Gasparro |
That copper content matters beyond aesthetics. At current copper prices, the melt value of a 1964 cent works out to roughly 2.3 cents – more than twice its face value. Compare that to silver at around $82 per ounce or gold at about $4,836 per ounce, and copper looks modest. Still, the melt premium is real, and it is one reason collectors and metal enthusiasts pay attention to pre-1982 cents. Melting U.S. coins is illegal, but the melt value sets a useful floor when evaluating bulk lots.
Historical Background: Why 1964 Was a Turning Point
The Lincoln Memorial reverse debuted in 1959, replacing the wheat ears design that had run since 1909. Frank Gasparro designed it to mark Lincoln’s 150th birthday, and the reverse famously includes a tiny rendering of Lincoln’s statue visible through the Memorial’s columns.
By 1964, the United States was dealing with a severe coin shortage. The cause was straightforward: Americans were hoarding 90% silver dimes and quarters as silver prices climbed, pulling coins out of circulation faster than the Mint could replace them. The dynamic mirrors what happens today when precious metals spike – people hold physical metal and the supply of circulating coins tightens.
President Lyndon B. Johnson’s administration pushed the Mint to produce coins at unprecedented rates. Philadelphia and San Francisco together struck over 2.6 billion cents dated 1964. Denver added another 3.8 billion marked 1964-D. The combined output exceeded 6.4 billion coins, making 1964 one of the most heavily produced years in cent history.
Replaced wheat ears design for Lincoln’s 150th birthday
Silver hoarding drives demand; Mint ramps production
Some San Francisco cents struck in 1965 carry the 1964 date
Clad coinage introduced in 1965 for dimes and quarters
Lincoln cent composition later shifts to copper-plated zinc in 1982
San Francisco, which had been closed since 1955, partially reopened specifically to help meet demand. Coins struck there in 1965 with the 1964 date and no mintmark are technically part of this issue – a quirk that adds collecting interest. This was also the last year before the Coinage Act of 1965 introduced clad dimes and quarters, ending the 90% silver era for those denominations.
For more on coins from this era, the 1964 Jefferson Nickel value guide covers the companion coin from the same year and the same coin shortage context.
Identifying Your 1964 Lincoln Memorial Cent
Three details separate the main varieties: the mintmark location, the surface color, and the presence of any die errors.
Mintmark: Look just below the date on the obverse. A “D” means Denver. No mark means Philadelphia or San Francisco (due to the date freeze). There is no “S” mintmark on business-strike 1964 cents.
Surface color: Grading services assign color designations that significantly affect value.
- Red (RD): 90% or more of original copper luster intact. Highest value.
- Red-Brown (RB): Mixed luster, some toning. Moderate value.
- Brown (BN): Fully toned. Lowest value among uncirculated examples.
Weight check: A genuine 1964 cent weighs 3.11 grams. Post-1982 zinc cents weigh 2.5 grams. A simple postal scale can help you sort copper from zinc when going through rolls.
Varieties and Error Coins Worth Knowing
Most 1964 cents are common. The varieties below are where collector value concentrates.
1964 Philadelphia / San Francisco (No Mintmark)
Mintage: approximately 2,648,575,000. This includes San Francisco strikes from 1965 carrying the 1964 date due to the date freeze. Proofs were also struck – about 3,950,762 of them – making proof examples plentiful, though high-grade Cameo proofs with strong contrast between mirrored fields and frosted devices carry meaningful premiums.
1964-D Denver
Mintage: approximately 3,799,071,500 – one of the highest mintages ever recorded for a U.S. cent. The “D” mintmark sits below the date. Despite the enormous production, high-grade Red examples in MS-67 are genuinely rare because most were poorly handled or stored.
Doubled Die Reverse (DDR, FS-802)
The most significant error variety for this date. Doubling appears on the Lincoln Memorial’s steps and columns on the reverse. PCGS has certified examples in MS-66 Red. Values for confirmed DDR examples in MS-65 RD range from around $100 to $500, with the finest known pieces commanding significantly more.
Off-Center Strikes and Wrong Planchets
Off-center strikes – where the die misaligns and leaves part of the coin blank – show up occasionally. Wrong planchet errors, where a cent blank accidentally receives a different coin’s impression, are rarer and can fetch thousands when properly documented. Any suspected error coin should go to PCGS or NGC for evaluation before assuming value.
The 1907 Indian Head Cent guide offers useful context on how error coins and high-grade examples are evaluated across the Lincoln cent’s predecessor series.
Pricing the 1964 Lincoln Memorial Cent
Condition drives value more than mintmark for this date. Here is a realistic pricing framework based on current market data.
PCGS & NGC Coin Verification – Accurate Precious Metals Refineries
| Type | Circulated | MS-65 RD | Top Auction Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 (No Mintmark) | 1¢ | $10-$25 | $7,931 (MS-67+ RD) |
| 1964-D | 1¢ | $5-$15 | $1,000+ (rarities) |
| Proof (PR-65+) | N/A | $5-$20 | $200+ (Cameo) |
| DDR Error (FS-802) | $10+ | $200+ | $1,000+ confirmed |
The record sale of $7,931 for an MS-67+ Red example from 2010 illustrates the ceiling for top-condition 1964 cents. PCGS lists only four coins at that grade level, which is what makes them valuable – not the date itself, but the survival of pristine original luster after six decades.
Proof coins are common as a category. Nearly four million were made. A standard PR-65 trades for a few dollars. Cameo proofs – where the devices show strong frost against mirror-like fields – start to matter at PR-67 Cameo and above, where prices can reach $50 to $100 or more.
1964 Cents vs. Other Mid-Century Collectibles
The 1964 cent is one piece of a broader mid-century collecting picture. Coins from the same era – particularly the last silver issues – attract different buyers for different reasons.
Pre-1965 dimes, quarters, and half dollars contain 90% silver. At $82 per ounce, a 90% silver quarter holds about $1.50 in silver content alone. That melt value creates a hard floor that copper cents cannot match. But numismatic premiums for top-grade 1964 cents can dwarf anything a common silver quarter achieves.
The 1962 Franklin Half Dollar is a good comparison – a coin from the same era with silver content and strong collector demand for high-grade examples. Understanding both sides of mid-century coinage (copper cents and silver halves) gives collectors a fuller picture of what the U.S. Mint was producing before the composition changes of 1965 reshaped American coinage.
For those interested in earlier Lincoln cents, the 1917 Lincoln Wheat Penny guide covers the wheat reverse design that preceded the Memorial reverse and shows how dramatically collecting interest and values differ across the Lincoln series.
Common Misconceptions About the 1964 Cent
A few persistent myths cause collectors to either overpay or overlook what they have.
“It’s a wheat penny.” No. The wheat design ran from 1909 through 1958. The 1964 cent has the Lincoln Memorial on the reverse. Flip it over and check before making any assumptions.
“No mintmark means Philadelphia only.” Not for 1964. San Francisco struck cents in 1965 using the 1964 date due to the date freeze, and those coins carry no mintmark. This is a documented historical fact, not a variety rumor.
“The 1964-D is scarce.” The opposite is true. With over 3.7 billion struck, the 1964-D holds one of the highest mintages in U.S. cent history. Scarcity in this series comes from condition, not mintage.
“Proofs are rare.” Nearly four million 1964 proofs were made. They are common. High-grade Cameo proofs with strong contrast are the exception.
“The copper makes it valuable.” The melt value is about 2.3 cents. That is real, but condition and variety are what push prices into the hundreds or thousands.
Practical Tips for Collectors and Investors
Sorting rolls: Bank rolls of cents occasionally contain 1964 examples in decent shape. Weigh them – 3.11 grams confirms copper. Set aside any with strong luster for closer inspection under magnification.
Storage: Copper reacts to sulfur in the air the same way silver does. Air-tite holders and cool, dry storage preserve the Red designation that adds the most value. Avoid PVC flips, which cause green haze over time.
Grading submissions: If you find a 1964 cent in what appears to be MS-65 or better condition with strong red luster, a PCGS or NGC submission is worth considering. The cost of slabbing a common coin does not make sense, but a potential MS-67 RD is another matter entirely.
Selling: Common circulated examples sell for face value at most shops. For anything in uncirculated condition or with a suspected error, get a second opinion before selling. Heritage Auctions and major numismatic venues handle the top-end material. For everyday examples, a local coin dealer or estate sale is practical.
Confirm 3.11 grams. Lighter means post-1982 zinc.
Memorial design confirms 1964 cent, not wheat penny.
D below date = Denver. No mark = Philadelphia or San Francisco.
Red, Red-Brown, or Brown? Red commands highest premiums.
Use a loupe on reverse columns and steps for DDR variety.
If MS-65+ Red looks possible, consider a professional submission.
Buying and Selling with Accurate Precious Metals
Accurate Precious Metals has been helping collectors and investors evaluate coins and bullion for over 12 years from our Salem, Oregon location. With more than 1,000 five-star reviews and an inventory that spans gold, silver, platinum, palladium, and copper in coin, bar, and bullion form, we approach every piece – including a 1964 Lincoln cent – with the same careful evaluation process.
We are an NGC Authorized Dealer, which means we can help facilitate professional grading submissions for coins that warrant it. Our team inspects coins thoroughly, assessed for their numismatic and metal content value through a trusted and transparent process. We are not a pawn shop. We are a specialized precious metals dealer, and that distinction matters when you are trying to get a fair price.
If you are local to Salem, Oregon, stop in and bring your coins in person. We can take a look, discuss what you have, and make an offer on anything from a single key-date cent to a full estate collection.
If you are anywhere else in the United States, our mail-in service makes selling easy. We provide a free insured shipping kit, evaluate your items, and pay quickly. There is no obligation and no guessing about what your coins are worth.
Beyond coins, Accurate Precious Metals carries gold bars, silver rounds, and bullion products at competitive online prices updated to reflect live spot prices. We also offer Gold and Silver IRA services for retirement investors who want physical metals in a tax-advantaged account. Reach us at (503) 400-5608 or visit AccuratePMR.com to learn more.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a 1964 Lincoln Memorial Cent worth?
Most circulated examples are worth face value or about 2.3 cents for the copper content. Uncirculated examples in MS-65 Red trade for $10 to $25. The finest known pieces in MS-67+ Red have sold for nearly $8,000 at auction.
How do I tell a 1964 cent from a wheat penny?
Check the reverse. Wheat pennies show two wheat stalks flanking the words “ONE CENT.” The 1964 cent shows the Lincoln Memorial building. The wheat design ended in 1958.
Is the 1964-D penny rare?
No. Denver struck over 3.7 billion 1964-D cents – one of the highest mintages in U.S. cent history. Common examples are worth face value. High-grade MS-67 Red examples are rare by survival, not mintage.
What is the Doubled Die Reverse on the 1964 cent?
The DDR (FS-802) is a die variety where doubling appears on the Lincoln Memorial’s columns and steps on the reverse. Confirmed examples in MS-65 Red can sell for $100 to $500 or more depending on the grade.
Can I melt 1964 cents for their copper value?
No. Melting U.S. coins is illegal under federal law. The melt value of about 2.3 cents per coin is useful as a pricing floor for bulk lots, but melting is not a legal option.
How do I sell a 1964 cent to Accurate Precious Metals?
Local customers can visit our Salem, Oregon location in person. Customers anywhere in the U.S. can use our mail-in service – we provide insured shipping, evaluate your coins, and pay promptly.
What storage is best for preserving a 1964 cent’s Red designation?
Use air-tite holders and store in a cool, dry environment away from sulfur sources. Avoid PVC flips, which cause chemical damage over time. The Red designation requires that 90% or more of original copper luster remains intact.
Are 1964 proof cents valuable?
Standard proof examples in PR-65 sell for a few dollars because nearly four million were made. High-grade Cameo proofs – PR-67 Cameo and above – can reach $50 to $200 or more depending on the strength of the contrast between fields and devices.
