Understanding the 2020, Lincoln Memorial Cent: Why It Doesn’t Exist

If you searched for the 2020 Lincoln Memorial Cent hoping to price out your pocket change, here is the short version: that exact coin does not exist. The Lincoln Memorial design was retired in 2008, and every cent struck since 2010, including every 2020 penny, carries the Union Shield reverse instead. This guide clears up that mix-up and walks through what your 2020 penny actually is, what it is worth, and how it fits into the bigger story of Lincoln cent collecting.

Is the 2020 Lincoln Memorial Cent a Real Coin?

No. There is no such thing as a 2020 Lincoln Memorial Cent because the Memorial reverse design ran from 1959 through 2008 only. The coin most people mean when they search that term is the 2020 Lincoln cent with the Union Shield reverse, part of the design series that began in 2010.

The confusion is understandable. For nearly 50 years, “Lincoln penny” and “Lincoln Memorial cent” meant the same thing. Once the shield replaced the memorial building on the reverse, older collectors kept using the familiar name out of habit, and it stuck in casual conversation even though it is not technically accurate anymore.

What Is on the Reverse of a 2020 Lincoln Cent?

The reverse of a 2020 penny shows a Union Shield with 13 vertical stripes, a horizontal bar across the top, and a scroll reading “ONE CENT” draped over the shield. Above it sits “E PLURIBUS UNUM.”

The design was created by artist Lyndall Bass and sculpted for coinage by U.S. Mint engraver Joseph Menna. The 13 stripes represent the original states bound together as one nation, and the horizontal bar stands for the federal government supporting and unifying those states. The Mint chose this imagery specifically to mark Lincoln’s role in holding the country together through the Civil War, shifting the focus from a building to an idea.

Why Did the Mint Retire the Lincoln Memorial Design?

The U.S. Mint moved away from the Memorial building reverse in 2010 as the last step in a four-year series honoring Lincoln’s bicentennial, which began in 2009 with four special one-year designs. The Union Shield became the permanent reverse afterward, chosen to represent national unity rather than a specific landmark. The obverse portrait of Lincoln, created by Victor David Brenner back in 1909, has never changed.

What Metal Is the 2020 Lincoln Cent Made Of?

The 2020 Lincoln cent is struck on a 97.5% zinc core with a thin 2.5% copper plating, the same composition used on every cent since 1982. It weighs exactly 2.5 grams and measures 19.00 millimeters across.

Because zinc trades far cheaper than copper, the coin’s melt value sits well below face value. At today’s spot prices, the metal in a single 2020 penny amounts to a fraction of a cent, nowhere near the one-cent face value, which is one reason pocket-change pennies almost never get melted down for their metal content. It is also illegal to melt U.S. coins for bullion purposes, so there is no legal path to cashing in on the copper or zinc anyway.

How Many 2020 Pennies Were Made?

The Philadelphia and Denver mints struck roughly 3.5 billion or more 2020 Lincoln cents combined for circulation, making it one of the most common coins in American pocket change. San Francisco struck 2020 cents only for proof sets, with an estimated 1.5 million pieces produced, and none of those ever entered circulation.

That mintage split matters for value. Massive circulation numbers mean the average 2020 penny is worth exactly one cent, while the smaller proof-only run from San Francisco carries a modest collector premium simply because far fewer exist and none show wear.

What Are the Different Types of 2020 Lincoln Cents?

There are three practical types of 2020 Lincoln cents: Philadelphia circulation strikes with no mintmark, Denver circulation strikes marked “D,” and San Francisco proof coins marked “S” that only came in proof sets. A fourth category, the 2009 bicentennial cents, gets mistaken for 2020 coins sometimes but belongs to a completely different year.

The takeaway is simple. If you find an “S” 2020 penny loose in your change, check it carefully, because genuine circulation strikes from San Francisco do not exist for this year. What you likely have is either a P or D coin, or a proof that escaped its original packaging.

How Much Is a 2020 Lincoln Cent Worth Today?

A typical 2020 Lincoln cent from circulation is worth exactly one cent, since billions were struck and most show ordinary wear. Uncirculated examples in mint state grades of 60 to 63 usually sell for $0.50 to $2, while gem-quality coins graded MS65 or higher can bring $5 to $25 depending on color and eye appeal.

Color grading drives a lot of the price difference on modern copper-plated zinc cents. Numismatists sort them into three categories:

• Red (RD): retains 95% or more of its original mint luster and brings the highest premiums
• Red-Brown (RB): has lost somewhere between 5% and 95% of its red color
• Brown (BN): shows less than 5% remaining red and typically trades closest to melt or face value

Proof 2020 cents from San Francisco run higher. A single proof coin pulled from its set generally sells for $5 to $15, while a complete 2020 proof set including all denominations tends to bring $25 to $40. Exceptional proofs graded PR69 or better by a third-party service can reach $50 to $150, though results vary by auction and market demand.

Confirmed error coins are the real outliers. A verified doubled die can bring $50 to $500, off-center strikes range from $20 to $200 depending on how far off-center the strike is, and any San Francisco proof missing its mintmark would be an extremely rare and valuable find if genuine. Most “errors” people spot at home turn out to be ordinary wear, dirt, or die deterioration, so having a coin evaluated by our team or a major grading service before assuming it is valuable saves a lot of disappointment.

PCGS & NGC Coin Verification – Accurate Precious Metals Refineries

From Wheat Ears to Union Shield: How Has the Lincoln Cent Changed?

The Lincoln cent has carried three different reverse designs since 1909: wheat ears from 1909 to 1958, the Lincoln Memorial building from 1959 to 2008, and the Union Shield from 2010 onward. Each change reflects a shift in what the Mint wanted the coin to communicate, from agricultural abundance to a specific monument to a broader idea of unity.

Collectors chase the earlier designs far more aggressively than modern shield cents, and the value gap is wide. A common circulated wheat penny might bring a few cents to a dollar, but scarce dates and mintmarks change everything. Guides on the 1917 Lincoln Wheat Penny, the 1915 Lincoln Wheat Penny, the 1919 Lincoln Wheat Cent, and the 1939 Lincoln Wheat Penny all show how mint location, condition, and small design details can push a 100-year-old cent well past face value. By contrast, a 2020 penny’s value depends almost entirely on grade and color rather than rarity, since so many were struck.

That difference is a useful lesson for new collectors. Age alone does not create value. Mintage numbers, surviving population, and condition matter far more, which is why a well-preserved 1919 wheat cent can outvalue a much older but heavily worn coin from decades earlier.

Are There Valuable Error Coins Among 2020 Pennies?

Yes, though confirmed errors are uncommon and worth checking before you get excited. Doubled dies, off-center strikes, and other minting mistakes occasionally slip past quality control, and when verified they can carry real premiums over a normal 2020 cent.

A 10x magnifier is the first tool to reach for. Look for doubling in the lettering or Lincoln’s hair, cracks running through the design, or a strike that sits noticeably off-center on the planchet. A coin scale is also useful, since a genuine 2020 cent weighs exactly 2.5 grams; anything meaningfully off that weight deserves closer inspection. Before assuming you have found something rare, get a second opinion from a knowledgeable dealer or a grading service, since online “error” claims are frequently just ordinary wear or environmental damage.

How Should You Store a 2020 Lincoln Cent to Protect Its Value?

Store any Lincoln cent you want to keep in nice condition in acid-free coin holders or flips, away from PVC plastics that cause discoloration and haze over time. Handle coins by the edges, avoid cleaning them with cloths or chemicals, and keep proof sets in their original government packaging whenever possible.

Cleaning is the single biggest value killer on modern cents. Even a light rub with a cloth can remove the microscopic luster that separates a red MS65 from a duller brown example, cutting the coin’s value significantly. If you think you have a genuinely nice or unusual 2020 cent, leave it exactly as you found it and have it evaluated before doing anything else to it.

Will Pennies Still Be Made After 2025?

No. The U.S. Treasury has confirmed that cent production will stop once existing blank inventories run out, with a ceremonial final strike planned for November 2025. After that, the penny will join a short list of denominations the Mint has phased out over the decades.

That announcement has already stirred interest in penny collecting broadly, since the end of new production tends to draw attention back to older series too. It is a reasonable moment to start paying closer attention to any wheat cents or early shield cents sitting in old jars and drawers, since interest in complete date runs often grows once a series formally closes.

What Should You Do If You Want to Sell Old Coins or Jewelry?

If you have a collection of old pennies, wheat cents, silver coins, or jewelry you want to sell, you have two straightforward options: bring them in person if you are near Salem, Oregon, or ship them in using a mail-in service if you live anywhere else in the country. Both routes get your items evaluated for metal content and numismatic value before you receive an offer.

Accurate Precious Metals handles both paths every day. Local customers can walk in and get items looked over on the spot, while customers across the country can use our mail-in service with free insured shipping and a straightforward appraisal process. If gold jewelry is part of what you are selling, our gold mail-in program is built specifically for that, and our broader mail-in gold buyer guide walks through what to expect at each step.

While pure wheat pennies and shield cents rarely carry huge dollar values individually, a large jar of old coins, a set of silver coins, or a mix of jewelry and bullion adds up fast. It is worth having any sizable collection looked at rather than guessing at value from online searches alone.

Why Buy or Sell Coins Through Accurate Precious Metals?

Accurate Precious Metals is a specialized precious metals dealer based in Salem, Oregon, in business since 2012 and over 1,000 five-star customer reviews. Unlike a pawn shop, our focus stays entirely on gold, silver, platinum, palladium, coins, bars, diamonds, and jewelry, so evaluations come from people who work with these items every day.

We ship nationwide with insured delivery, offer Gold and Silver IRA services for retirement investors, and keep our online pricing updated against live spot prices so you are never guessing at fair market value. As an NGC authorized dealer, we also support grading services for collectors who want their coins evaluated by a recognized third party. Whether you are adding a 2020 proof set to a growing collection, hunting for scarce wheat cents like the 1917 wheat penny, or ready to sell a full estate box of old coins and jewelry, our team can walk you through the process without pressure.

For buyers exploring precious metals beyond pennies, our inventory covers everything from single ounce bullion coins to full silver dollar sets, including the complete Morgan Silver Dollar set for collectors chasing a full date run. Local visitors in the Salem area get in-person service, while customers anywhere in the U.S. can rely on our mail-in options for both buying and selling.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources

2. Wikipedia – Union Shield Cent History and Design
3. United States Mint – Lincoln Cent Design Information
4. CoinValueChecker – Modern Lincoln Cent Pricing and Color Grades
5. Lincoln's Cottage – Lincoln Memorial Cent Background
6. Collectors Alliance – Union Shield Symbolism on U.S. Coinage