Is There a 2019, Lincoln Memorial Cent? Debunking the Myth

Search for a 2019 Lincoln Memorial Cent and you will run into a wall of confusion, because the coin most people are actually asking about does not carry the Memorial design at all. What collectors are really talking about is the 2019-W Lincoln cent, a special release with the first “W” mintmark ever struck on a Lincoln cent. It is a genuinely interesting coin with a real story behind it, but the story is not what most people think.

This article sorts out the myth from the fact, walks through the real history of the Lincoln Memorial reverse, and gives you a straight answer on what the 2019-W cent is actually worth. We will also cover how this fits into the bigger picture of collecting and selling Lincoln-series cents, whether you are chasing a specific mintmark or clearing out an old coin jar.

Is There Really a 2019 Lincoln Memorial Cent?

No. The U.S. Mint did not produce a 2019 Lincoln Memorial Cent, and the Memorial reverse has not appeared on any cent since 2008. What exists instead is the 2019-W Lincoln cent, which uses the Union Shield reverse that has been standard on every Lincoln cent since 2010.

The confusion is understandable. The 2019-W was marketed with words like “historic” and “classic” because of its West Point mintmark, and some sellers and buyers assumed that meant the classic Memorial design was back. It was not. If you see a listing for a “2019 Memorial Cent,” treat it as a red flag. The design simply does not exist for that date.

What Is the 2019-W Lincoln Cent, Then?

The 2019-W Lincoln cent is a special uncirculated coin struck at the West Point Mint, marking the first time a “W” mintmark has ever appeared on a Lincoln cent. It was not released into circulation. Instead, it was included as a premium bonus coin inside the 2019 United States Mint Uncirculated Coin Set.

Because it was never sold individually and never entered circulation, you will not find one by checking pocket change. The only way to get an original example is buying the complete 2019 Uncirculated Mint Set, or buying the coin after it has been removed and sold separately by a previous owner.

What Happened to the Lincoln Memorial Reverse?

The Lincoln Memorial reverse ran from 1959 to 2008, a fifty-year run that makes it one of the most recognized coin reverses in American history. It was retired after the 2008 production year and never brought back.

Frank Gasparro designed the Memorial reverse to mark Lincoln’s 150th birthday, replacing the original wheat ears design that had run since the cent’s debut in 1909. The Lincoln cent itself is the longest-running coin design in U.S. history, and the Memorial reverse is the version most Americans over 30 grew up handling every day.

For collectors chasing older Lincoln-series coins with real numismatic pull, the earlier eras tend to draw more sustained interest than modern issues. Our guide to 1917 Lincoln wheat penny values breaks down what drives premiums on the wheat-ears era, and our look at the 2017 Lincoln Memorial Cent covers varieties and mint marks from the tail end of the Memorial run’s broader collecting context.

Why Did the Union Shield Replace the Memorial Design?

Congress mandated a design change after the Bicentennial year, and the Union Shield became the permanent reverse starting in 2010. The shield represents the unity of the United States as a single nation, a deliberate contrast to the four separate 2009 designs that celebrated different chapters of Lincoln’s life.

2009 served as a one-year bridge, giving the Mint four Bicentennial reverses tied to Lincoln’s birthplace in Kentucky, his formative years in Indiana, his political career in Illinois, and his presidency in Washington, D.C. Once that commemorative year ended, the Union Shield took over and has remained unchanged on every cent minted from 2010 through today, including the 2019-W.

How Much Is a 2019-W Lincoln Cent Worth Today?

A 2019-W Lincoln cent is typically worth $15 to $35 while still sealed in its original 2019 Uncirculated Mint Set, and $25 to $50 if removed and sold on its own in solid uncirculated condition. Coins that grade MS65 or higher through a third-party grading service can bring $50 to $120, and top-tier MS67 examples have sold for $150 to $300 or more.

None of this value comes from the metal itself. A modern cent is 97.5% zinc and only 2.5% copper, giving it a melt value of roughly eight-tenths of one cent, well under face value. Pre-1982 cents made from 95% copper carry a melt value closer to two cents at current copper prices of around $4.50 per pound, but melting any U.S. coin for its metal content remains illegal, so that figure is academic rather than practical.

PCGS & NGC Coin Verification – Accurate Precious Metals Refineries

If you come across a 2019-W cent and want to confirm what you actually have before buying or selling, checking the certification number through a grading service lookup is the fastest way to see the assigned grade and avoid guessing.

How Do You Verify a Genuine 2019-W Cent?

Look for a small “W” mintmark below Lincoln’s shoulder on the obverse, and confirm the reverse shows the Union Shield rather than the Memorial building. If the mintmark is missing entirely, you are holding a standard 2019 Philadelphia or Denver cent, which is worth face value unless it happens to grade in exceptional condition.

• Check the mintmark position below the date on the obverse
• Confirm the reverse is a shield, not the Memorial building
• Weigh the coin if possible: it should read 2.50 grams
• Buy from a dealer who will stand behind the coin’s description
• Be skeptical of any listing claiming a “2019 Memorial” design

A doubled die or striking error would add extra value, but no significant error varieties have been documented for the 2019-W as of this writing. Compare that to older Lincoln cents like the famous 1969-S doubled die, where errors created genuine six-figure rarities within a series that otherwise trades for pennies.

How Does the 2019-W Compare to Other Classic Lincoln Cent Reverses?

The 2019-W is scarce in the sense that it was only sold in one limited product, but it is not rare in absolute numbers, with roughly 346,000 struck. That puts it in a different category from genuinely rare classic-era Lincoln cents, where low original mintages or wartime metal shortages created coins that are hard to find in any grade.

Earlier one-cent designs in American history carry their own collecting stories worth knowing if you are building out a broader cent collection. The 1907 Indian Head Cent predates the Lincoln series entirely and shows how design changes and mint output shaped values long before Lincoln appeared on the coin. Comparing that history to a modern limited release like the 2019-W helps put “special edition” claims in perspective: age and original scarcity usually matter more than marketing language.

Is the 2019-W a Good Investment Compared to Bullion Coins?

The 2019-W Lincoln cent is a numismatic collectible, not a bullion investment, and its resale value depends entirely on collector demand rather than metal content. If your goal is metal exposure rather than coin history, products like an [American Silver Eagle] or a [1 oz gold bar] track spot prices directly and carry predictable premiums.

At the time of writing, gold sits at about $3,975 per ounce, silver at about $56 per ounce, platinum at about $1,560 per ounce, and palladium at about $1,236 per ounce. Bullion coins and bars move with those numbers day to day. A cent like the 2019-W does not, because its price is set by what collectors will pay for a specific mintmark and mint set, not by the ounce.

How Do You Sell Lincoln Cents or Other Numismatic Coins?

The best way to sell Lincoln cents, whether it is a 2019-W set coin or a jar of old wheat pennies, is to get them in front of a dealer who buys both bullion and numismatic coins and can evaluate them properly rather than by weight alone. Selling to a general buyer who only prices by metal content can leave real numismatic value on the table.

If you are local to the Willamette Valley, bringing coins in person to a dealer’s counter lets you get an on-the-spot look and a fair offer. If you are anywhere else in the country, a mail-in program with insured shipping is the practical alternative, and it is worth reading through first-time seller tips for maximizing payout before you send anything.

• Sort coins by date and mintmark before selling
• Keep original mint sets intact rather than breaking them apart
• Ask whether a dealer evaluates for numismatic value or just metal weight
• Use insured shipping for any mail-in transaction
• Get an offer in writing before agreeing to sell

For readers considering the mail-in route, our mail-in coin and jewelry service walks through how the process works step by step, from requesting a kit to receiving payment.

Where Should You Buy or Sell the 2019-W and Other Lincoln Cents?

Accurate Precious Metals is the clear standout option for collectors in Salem, Oregon and buyers nationwide who want a dealer that handles both bullion and numismatic coins with the same level of care. We have been in business more than 12 years, hold over 1,000 five-star customer reviews, and operate as an NGC Authorized dealer, which means we can help with grading questions on coins like the 2019-W rather than just guessing at value.

Our inventory covers gold, silver, platinum, palladium, and copper in coin, bar, and bullion form, along with diamonds and jewelry, so whether you are adding a Lincoln cent to a set or diversifying into bullion, you are working with one trusted source. We ship nationwide with insured delivery, offer Gold and Silver IRA services for retirement investors, and price everything against live spot prices rather than stale numbers. Learn more about our background as a trusted bullion dealer since 2012.

We are not a pawn shop. We are a specialized precious metals and numismatic dealer, and that distinction matters when you are trying to get a fair number on a coin with real collector interest, not just melt value. Local customers are welcome to visit our Salem location in person, and customers anywhere in the U.S. can use our mail-in service with free insured shipping and fast payment.

If you are ready to sell a Lincoln cent collection, an inherited coin jar, or bullion you have been holding, reach out to our team at (503) 400-5608 or start with our sell silver coins online guide to see how the process works before you ship anything.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources

1. Wikipedia – Lincoln Cent
2. LincolnCents.net – 2019-W Lincoln Cent Details
3. United States Mint – Coin Specifications
4. GetLuckyCoin.com – Lincoln Cent Reverse History
5. APMEX Learning Center – Lincoln Cent Design History
6. PCGS – Lincoln Cent Price Guide and Grading Data