Understanding 2016, Lincoln Memorial Cent: What You Need to Know

The term 2016 Lincoln Memorial Cent appears frequently in collector searches, but there is a crucial distinction every coin enthusiast should understand before diving into research or making a purchase. The Lincoln Memorial reverse design ran from 1959 through 2008. By 2016, the U.S. Mint had already transitioned to the Union Shield reverse, meaning the coin most people are actually looking for when they search this phrase is the 2016 Lincoln Shield Cent. Understanding that distinction does not make the 2016 penny less interesting – it just means collectors need accurate information to evaluate what they actually hold.

This article covers the real design history of Lincoln cents, what the 2016 coin actually looks like, its composition and mint marks, known varieties, and what it is worth in today’s market. Whether you stumbled across a jar of modern pennies or you are actively building a Lincoln cent collection, the facts here will help you assess value with confidence.

The Lincoln Memorial Design: What It Was and When It Ended

The Lincoln Memorial reverse was introduced in 1959 to mark the 150th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s birth. Victor David Brenner’s portrait of Lincoln on the obverse remained unchanged, but the reverse shifted from the Wheat Ears design (used 1909-1958) to an engraving of the Lincoln Memorial building in Washington, D.C. Frank Gasparro designed that reverse.

That design ran for nearly five decades. It is one of the longest-running reverse designs in U.S. cent history. Collectors who want a Lincoln Memorial cent from any year between 1959 and 2008 have a wide pool to choose from, with certain dates and mint marks commanding significantly higher premiums than others.

In 2009, the Mint issued four special bicentennial reverse designs honoring Lincoln’s 200th birthday. Those one-year-only reverses depicted scenes from Lincoln’s life: his Kentucky birthplace, his Indiana youth, his Illinois professional years, and his presidency in Washington. None of those designs carried forward into 2010.

Starting in 2010, the Union Shield reverse took over. It has remained the standard reverse design on every Lincoln cent minted since – including every 2016 penny in circulation today.

The 2016 Lincoln Cent: Design, Composition, and Specifications

The 2016 Lincoln cent carries the Union Shield reverse designed by Lyndall Bass and sculpted by Joseph Menna. The shield features a union banner across the top and thirteen vertical stripes representing the original colonies. The inscription “ONE CENT” appears at the bottom, and “E PLURIBUS UNUM” runs along the top of the shield.

On the obverse, Victor David Brenner’s Lincoln portrait remains, along with “IN GOD WE TRUST,” “LIBERTY,” and the date “2016.” The mint mark – P for Philadelphia, D for Denver, or S for San Francisco – appears on the obverse just below the date.

Composition is where the 2016 cent diverges sharply from its predecessors. Pre-1982 Lincoln cents were struck in 95% copper. The 2016 cent is 97.5% zinc with a thin copper plating of 2.5%. That shift happened in 1982 when copper prices made the all-copper cent economically impractical. The modern coin weighs 2.5 grams, compared to the 3.11 grams of the older copper cents.

Mint Marks on the 2016 Lincoln Cent

Three mints produced Lincoln cents in 2016. Each has its own collector significance.

The Philadelphia Mint struck the 2016-P cent. Philadelphia cents did not carry a “P” mint mark until 2017, so the 2016-P is actually one of the first years Philadelphia cents bore that mark – a minor but noted distinction among modern cent collectors.

The Denver Mint struck the 2016-D cent. Denver typically produces cents in large volumes, and 2016 was no exception. Both Philadelphia and Denver issues are common circulation coins with mintages in the billions.

The San Francisco Mint produced the 2016-S cent exclusively as a proof coin for collector sets. Proof cents are struck on specially prepared planchets with polished dies, resulting in sharp detail and mirror-like fields. The 2016-S proof cent is available in standard clad proof sets and as part of silver proof sets. The silver proof set version has a silver outer layer rather than the standard copper plating, giving it a slightly different appearance and a modest premium.

For collectors building a complete date-and-mint-mark set of Lincoln cents, the 2016-P, 2016-D, and 2016-S are the three coins to acquire for that year. None are scarce in circulated grades, but the 2016-S proof in high grades (PR69 or PR70) can carry a premium from grading services like PCGS.

Is the 2016 Lincoln Cent Worth Anything?

In circulated condition, the honest answer is no – not beyond face value. Both the 2016-P and 2016-D are common coins struck in the billions. A circulated example pulled from pocket change is worth one cent.

Uncirculated examples in MS65 or higher can fetch a small premium, typically in the $1 to $5 range depending on grade. That is not a dramatic return, but it reflects the reality of modern, high-mintage coins.

The 2016-S proof cent is more interesting. A PR69 Deep Cameo example from a major grading service can sell in the $5 to $15 range. A perfect PR70 Deep Cameo is rarer and can command $20 to $50 depending on demand and the grading label. These are not investment-grade returns, but they are real premiums above face value.

Error coins are where the 2016 cent can become genuinely interesting. Die errors, doubled dies, off-center strikes, and wrong-planchet errors occasionally appear in modern coinage. A confirmed doubled die on a 2016 cent could push value into the $25 to $100 range or higher depending on the severity of the doubling and the grade of the coin.

PCGS & NGC Coin Verification – Accurate Precious Metals Refineries

Error Varieties to Watch For on the 2016 Lincoln Cent

Modern U.S. Mint production is highly automated and quality-controlled, but errors still occur. The types most likely to appear on 2016 cents include:

• Doubled Die Obverse (DDO): Doubling visible on “LIBERTY,” “IN GOD WE TRUST,” or the date. Use a loupe or magnifier to check these areas carefully.
• Doubled Die Reverse (DDR): Doubling on “ONE CENT” or the shield stripes. Less common but documented on Shield cents.
• Off-Center Strike: The design is noticeably shifted from center. Off-center strikes of 20% or more with a visible date are most desirable.
• Wrong Planchet Error: Extremely rare – a cent design struck on a dime or foreign planchet. These command significant premiums.
• Die Cap or Brockage: Unusual striking errors that create mirror images or distorted designs. Rare but documented.

How the 2016 Cent Compares to Earlier Lincoln Memorial Coins

The Lincoln Memorial cents (1959-2008) occupy a different position in the collector market. Certain dates within that era are legitimately scarce or carry known varieties that drive real value.

The 1980 Lincoln Memorial cent sits at a transitional period – copper content was already being debated, and the coin represents the final years of the all-copper cent era before the 1982 composition change. The 1991 Lincoln Memorial cent is a useful comparison point for grading and variety research within the Memorial design era.

By contrast, the 2016 Shield cent is a modern, common coin. It does not carry the design nostalgia of the Memorial era, nor does it benefit from the scarcity of key-date Memorial cents like the 1969-S or 1972 doubled die. For collectors interested in Lincoln cents as a serious numismatic pursuit, the Memorial era offers far more depth.

That said, the 2016 cent has its place. It belongs in any complete Lincoln cent collection, and proof examples in top grades are affordable entry points for collectors who want professionally graded coins without a large outlay.

Grading the 2016 Lincoln Cent

Grading determines value. For circulated 2016 cents, the grades run from AG (About Good) through AU (About Uncirculated), but these grades matter little for common-date modern cents – they are all worth face value in circulated condition.

Uncirculated grades (MS60 through MS70) are where the 2016 cent gains collector interest. Key things graders examine:

1. Luster: Full, original mint luster with no breaks or dulling from handling.
2. Strike: Sharpness of the shield stripes and Lincoln’s cheekbone and hair detail.
3. Surface preservation: Absence of contact marks, hairlines, or bag marks from mint handling.
4. Eye appeal: Overall visual impression, including color (Red, Red-Brown, or Brown for copper-plated cents).

Red designation (RD) is the highest color designation for Lincoln cents. A 2016 cent in MS65RD or higher is a clean, attractive coin worth submitting to a grading service if you believe it is exceptional.

For proof coins, the Deep Cameo (DCAM) designation from PCGS or Cameo (CAM) from NGC indicates strong contrast between frosted devices and mirror fields. PR70 DCAM is the top grade, and 2016-S cents in that grade are available but not abundant.

Collecting Lincoln Shield Cents as a Series

The Union Shield series started in 2010 and continues today. Building a complete set of Shield cents by date and mint mark is an achievable goal for any collector. The coins are inexpensive, widely available, and easy to find in high grades since many collectors pull them directly from mint rolls.

A complete circulated set of Shield cents from 2010 to present costs only a few dollars in face value. An uncirculated set in MS65 or better, sourced from rolls or mint sets, might run $30 to $80 depending on how many coins are included and their grades.

Proof sets add cost but also add presentation quality. Annual proof sets from the U.S. Mint include the S-mint proof cent each year, and buying them directly from the Mint at issue price is typically the most cost-effective route.

For collectors who want to go deeper, valuable Lincoln pennies by mint mark covers the broader Lincoln cent series and helps identify which dates and mint marks carry the most numismatic weight across the entire series – useful context when deciding where to focus a collection budget.

Copper Content and Metal Value of the 2016 Cent

One question that comes up often: does the 2016 cent have any metal value beyond face value?

The short answer is no. The coin is 97.5% zinc with 2.5% copper plating. At current copper prices, the metal value of the copper plating alone is a fraction of a cent. The zinc core adds negligible value at current market rates. Unlike pre-1982 pennies, which contained about 95% copper and can have melt value approaching or exceeding face value depending on copper prices, the modern zinc cent has no meaningful metal value.

Pre-1982 Lincoln cents are a different story. Those coins contain approximately 0.109 troy ounces of copper per pound of coins. At current copper market rates, they can carry a small premium over face value in bulk. The copper coins category on our site includes copper-related products for collectors and investors who want exposure to the metal in coin form.

Where to Buy, Sell, or Have Lincoln Cents Evaluated

Whether you have a single 2016 cent you suspect is an error coin or a larger Lincoln cent collection you want appraised, working with a knowledgeable dealer matters. Accurate Precious Metals, based in Salem, Oregon, has been serving coin collectors and precious metals buyers for over 12 years. With more than 1,000 five-star reviews, the team brings genuine numismatic knowledge to every transaction – not just bullion pricing.

As an NGC Authorized Dealer, Accurate Precious Metals can assist with coin grading submissions for collectors who want their Lincoln cents professionally evaluated. That matters if you believe you have a high-grade uncirculated example or a confirmed error variety worth submitting.

If you have Lincoln cents or other coins to sell, two easy options are available. Local customers in Oregon and the surrounding area can visit the Salem location in person for a direct evaluation. Customers anywhere in the United States can use the mail-in service – a convenient option that includes insured shipping, professional assessment, and fast payment. There is no need to be local to work with Accurate Precious Metals.

The team buys all types of coins – numismatic and bullion – along with gold, silver, platinum, palladium, jewelry, diamonds, and more. Whether your coins are common circulation finds or rare varieties, the evaluation process is transparent and straightforward. Visit AccuratePMR.com or call (503) 400-5608 to get started.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources

1. Liberty Coin and Currency – Lincoln Cent Design History
2. Littleton Coin Company – Lincoln Memorial Cent Overview
3. Wikipedia – Lincoln Cent History and Design Transitions
4. Coin Appraiser – Modern Lincoln Cent Values
5. PCGS – Lincoln Shield Cent Grading and Population Data