1974 Lincoln Penny

Notes: The mint was still using copper as the primary ingredient in Lincoln Cents, and would continue to do so for another 7 years.

1974 Penny Error Guide

(Click to Enlarge Image)

1974 Off Center Strike

Off center strike by up to 90% are known to exist. When the die is misaligned and strikes the planchet off center this is the resulting error. These are pretty easy to identify and valuable.

1974 Struck on 10C

Instances are known to exist of pennies with 1974 date marks that were accidentally struck on dime planchets. Resulting in a sort of silverish penny.

1974 Aluminum Penny Error

Pennies from this year were made from 95% copper and 5% zinc, and because of this composition they cost nearly 2c to produce each one, meaning the US Mint was operating at a loss. An experimental solution was put forth, and approved for testing. These test coins were given to officials for approval, and a few were not returned. These coins were considered US Mint (government) property and are now considered illegal to own. In 2016 one of the last known specimens which had been owned by Harry Edmond Lawrence, former assistant superintendent at the Denver Mint, was returned to the Mint. What the future for these coins holds we are not certain, all we know is that these are a unique bit of coin history.

Mintages

How much is a 1974 Lincoln Penny worth?

In Average Circulated (AC) condition it's worth around 1 cent, one in certified mint state (MS+) condition could bring as much as $9 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 1974, 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.