1961 Penny (No Mint Mark)

Notes: 3.2 million of the coins produced above were minted as proof 1961 Lincoln Pennies. Those are worth on average $1.75 each.

1961 Penny Basic Facts

Minted at both the Denver (D), and Philadelphia (no mint mark).

Production Numbers

• 753 million - 1961 P Pennies
• 1.75 billion - 1961 D Pennies

Copper Penny Color Guide

Are 1961 Pennies Copper?

Yes, Pennies minted in 1961 are indeed copper, with the mint making the big change to zinc mid year in 1982.

Are there any 1961 Penny Errors?

Yes there are a few to look out for and they are...

• 1961 Struck on 10c Planchet - Silver dime planchets from 1961 accidentally were struck with 1961 1c dies.
• Defective Planchet - When a defective planchet is struck this is what you get.
• Curved/Clipped Planchet - When the planchet has a segment clipped off and then makes its way through the mint marking procedure this is the result. There are variations to the clip, this example is curved.
• Double Die (DDO / DDR) - Look closely at dates and letters to find double die errors. Coins created by imperfect dies. DDO- double die obverse, DDR- double die reverse.
• Struck on 10c -10c silver planchet that was struck by accident using a 1961 1c die. Silver in color and composition.
• L on Edge Rim - Look at the word Liberty if the L is touching the rim this is an error.

How much is a 1961 Penny (No Mint Mark) worth?

In Average Circulated (AC) condition it's worth around 1 cent, one in certified mint state (MS+) condition could bring as much as $28 at auction. This price does not reference any standard coin grading scale. So when we say Average Circulated, we mean in a similar condition to other coins circulated in 1961, and mint state meaning it is certified MS+ by one of the top coin grading companies. *** [?].

What are your coins really worth?

Use the handy-dandy calculator below to find the real value of any lincoln penny in your collection.

Specs & Design

This coin has a total mass of 2.5 g, a diameter of 19.05 mm, and a thickness of 1.52 mm. It's edge is Smooth, and the coins are composed of 95% Copper Pre 1982, 97.5% Zinc, 2.5% Copper after 1982.

Designer: Victor D. Brenner (obv), Lyndall Bass (rev)

Front (Obverse): The obverse or front of this coin contains the bust of President Lincoln the 16th president of the United States. The words In God We Trust are engraved in an arching manner on the top most portion of this coin. The date is present along with the mint mark. If the mark is missing the coin was issued from the Philadelphia mint. With the exception of 2017 P, the only year to contain a P mint mark to honor the 225th anniversary of the United States Mint.

Back (Reverse): The reverse of this coin has been described as Lincoln Memorial design. Nice clean lines on the steps and buildings are important for a decent grade. The Lincoln Memorial replaced the reverse after the last Wheat Cent was issued in 1958.