2013, Lincoln Memorial Cent: Unraveling the Misunderstood Date

The 2013 Lincoln Memorial Cent is one of the most misunderstood coins in modern U.S. numismatics – and that confusion is exactly what makes it interesting. Collectors searching for this date often expect to find Abraham Lincoln paired with the classic Lincoln Memorial reverse, only to discover that the U.S. Mint had already retired that design years earlier. What actually circulated in 2013 was the Union Shield reverse, introduced in 2010. So what does a “2013 Lincoln Memorial Cent” actually mean? It means you are either holding a collector novelty, a potential error coin, or a misidentified piece – and any of those outcomes can be worth investigating.

This article focuses specifically on the 2013 Lincoln cent in all its forms: the coins that were actually minted, the design history that explains the “Memorial” confusion, the varieties worth hunting, and the grade-driven value differences that separate a face-value coin from a genuine find. Unlike our other guides covering the 1980 Lincoln Memorial Cent and the 1991 Lincoln Memorial Cent – both of which deal with coins that genuinely carried the Memorial reverse – this piece addresses the modern era of Lincoln cent collecting and what the 2013 date specifically means for your collection.

Why There Is No Standard 2013 Lincoln Memorial Cent

The Lincoln Memorial reverse ran from 1959 through 2008. Frank Gasparro designed it to mark the 150th anniversary of Lincoln’s birth, depicting the steps and columns of the Washington, D.C. monument. It replaced the Wheat Ears reverse that had been in place since 1909.

In 2009, the U.S. Mint issued four special Bicentennial reverses to celebrate Lincoln’s 200th birthday. Then in 2010, the Mint made a permanent change: the Union Shield replaced the Memorial. The shield design features 13 vertical stripes representing the original states, topped by a horizontal bar bearing the inscription “E PLURIBUS UNUM.” It carries Civil War-era symbolism and has been the standard reverse ever since.

By 2013, every Lincoln cent struck for circulation carried the shield. No Memorial reverse was produced that year in any official capacity. A coin dated 2013 with a Memorial reverse is either a counterfeit, a privately altered piece, or – in the rarest scenario – a genuine mule error where dies from different years or designs were mismatched during production. The last possibility is what error hunters dream about, but it is extraordinarily uncommon.

The Coins That Were Actually Minted in 2013

Three facilities struck Lincoln cents in 2013, and all used the shield reverse:

The Philadelphia issue alone accounts for nearly 3.75 billion coins. Denver added another 3.3 billion. Combined, over 7 billion Lincoln cents entered circulation that year. That volume makes circulated examples essentially worthless beyond face value – but it also means high-grade survivors are genuinely scarce, because most of those billions were spent, worn, and lost.

San Francisco struck proof versions exclusively for collector sets. These carry a mirror-like finish, sharp detail, and the “S” mint mark. They were not released into circulation and remain the premium option for set builders.

Composition: 97.5% zinc core with 2.5% copper plating. Diameter is 19.05 mm and weight is 2.5 grams. The edge is plain. There is no silver, gold, or platinum content – value is entirely numismatic.

Design Details: Reading the 2013 Lincoln Cent

The obverse has not changed since Victor David Brenner introduced it in 1909. Lincoln faces right, with “IN GOD WE TRUST” above, “LIBERTY” to the left, and the date to the right. The designer’s initials “VDB” appear on Lincoln’s shoulder.

The shield reverse shows a vertical union shield with 13 stripes. Above it sits a horizontal scroll inscribed “E PLURIBUS UNUM.” “ONE CENT” appears on the scroll, and “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” curves along the bottom. The design is clean and intentionally patriotic – a departure from the architectural detail of the Memorial design, but loaded with symbolic meaning.

For collectors comparing this to earlier Lincoln cents, the 1982 Lincoln penny is a useful reference point – that year marked the composition change from 95% copper to copper-plated zinc, the same alloy used in 2013 coins.

Varieties and Errors Worth Hunting in 2013 Lincoln Cents

The billions-strong mintage means most 2013 cents are common. But errors and high-grade survivors create real collecting opportunities.

Doubled Die Obverse (DDO)

The first reported 2013 DDO was submitted by collector Tanaka Davis and documented by Coin World. The doubling appears on “LIBERTY,” specifically visible on the letters E, R, T, and Y. This variety is scarce. A graded example in problem-free condition can fetch $100 to $1,000 or more depending on the degree of doubling and overall grade.

Off-Center Strikes and Broadstrikes

Off-center coins occur when the planchet shifts before striking. A 10-20% off-center 2013 cent with a visible date can sell for $20 to $100 in raw condition. More dramatic off-centers – 50% or greater – push into the $200-$500 range when graded.

Broadstrikes happen when the retaining collar fails, allowing the coin to spread beyond normal diameter. These are visually obvious and collectible.

PCGS & NGC Coin Verification – Accurate Precious Metals Refineries

Die Cracks and Cuds

Late-die-state errors include die cracks (raised lines across the coin’s surface) and cuds (raised blobs where a piece of the die broke away). Minor cracks add modest value; large cuds on key design elements are more desirable.

Red Gem Uncirculated (MS65+ RD)

Color designation matters for copper and copper-plated coins. Grading services assign:

• Red (RD): Full original mint luster, 95% or more red surface. Most desirable.
• Red-Brown (RB): Mixed luster, partial toning.
• Brown (BN): Fully toned, original luster gone. Least valuable.

A 2013-P in MS67 Red can bring $50 to $200. The auction record for a 2013-P in MS68 Red has reached approximately $576 according to PCGS records. That is a meaningful return on a coin that started as one cent.

Value by Grade: What a 2013 Lincoln Cent Is Actually Worth

Grade drives everything with modern cents. Here is a realistic breakdown:

Greysheet data places the overall range at roughly $0.20 to $130 for standard strikes, with errors and top-pop grades pushing beyond that. The market for circulated examples is flat – there are simply too many of them. The action is at MS67 and above.

How to Hunt 2013 Lincoln Cents Effectively

Comparing the 2013 Lincoln Cent to Earlier Memorial Issues

The Memorial reverse era (1959-2008) produced dozens of date-and-mintmark combinations worth studying. The 1980 Lincoln Memorial Cent, for example, sits in a transitional period when the Mint was experimenting with composition changes. The key dates and values of Lincoln Wheat Pennies cover an even earlier era where scarcity and silver-era context drove values far higher.

The 2013 shield cent occupies a different space. It is a high-mintage modern coin where condition and errors – not scarcity of the date itself – determine value. Think of it less like hunting a key date and more like cherry-picking gems from a very large pile.

For precious metals collectors who are accustomed to evaluating silver at around $82 an ounce or gold near $4,844 an ounce, the economics look different here. A $500 error cent or top-pop MS68 represents pure numismatic premium – there is no melt value backstop. The zinc core melts at a fraction of a cent. That makes grading accuracy and error identification the only levers available to the collector.

Common Misconceptions About the 2013 Lincoln Cent

“The 2013 Memorial cent is a rare find.” It is not a standard production coin. Any example with a Memorial reverse from 2013 is either a privately altered coin or a genuine mule error – the latter being extraordinarily rare and requiring professional verification.

“All 2013 pennies are worthless.” Circulated examples are worth face value, but graded MS67+ Red coins and verified error pieces carry real numismatic premiums.

“The copper content gives it melt value.” The coin is 97.5% zinc. The thin copper plating is cosmetic. Melt value is well under one cent.

“You need to find a rare date.” With modern cents, the date is not the variable – the condition and error status are. A 2013-P in MS68 Red is rarer in practical terms than many older coins with low mintages, simply because so few people preserved them in pristine condition.

Where Accurate Precious Metals Fits Into Your Collecting Journey

Accurate Precious Metals has been serving collectors and investors for over 12 years from our base in Salem, Oregon. We carry gold, silver, platinum, palladium, and copper in coin, bar, and bullion form – plus diamonds and jewelry. We are a specialized precious metals dealer, not a pawn shop, and that distinction matters when you are trying to get fair, knowledgeable assessments of what you own.

As an NGC Authorized Dealer, our team can help connect you with professional grading services for coins like the 2013 Lincoln cent varieties discussed here. A properly graded error coin or gem-quality example is worth far more than an unverified raw piece, and having expert eyes on your coins before submission can save time and money.

If you have Lincoln cents, other numismatic coins, or precious metals you want to sell, we make the process straightforward. Local customers in the Salem area are welcome to visit us in person. If you are anywhere else in the United States, our mail-in service lets you ship your items with free insured packaging, receive a transparent evaluation, and get paid quickly. Both paths lead to the same outcome: a fair, knowledgeable transaction with a dealer who has earned over 1,000 five-star reviews from customers nationwide.

Whether you are building a Lincoln cent type set, hunting errors in bank rolls, or simply curious about what that old penny jar is worth, Accurate Precious Metals is the resource to turn to. Reach us at (503) 400-5608 or visit our sell-to-us page to get started.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources

1. Littleton Coin – Lincoln Shield Cent History and Mintage Data
2. CoinAppraiser – 2013 Lincoln Shield Cent Value Guide
3. Paradime Coins – 2013-D Lincoln Shield Cent Economics
4. PCGS CoinFacts – 2013 Lincoln Cent Auction Records and Mintage
5. Coin World – First 2013 Doubled Die Obverse Report
6. Greysheet – Lincoln Cents Shield Reverse Price Guide