Lincoln Cent Die Variety Cheat Sheet

2011 Doubled Die Obverse
DDO-001

In the Lincoln Cent series there are THOUSANDS of die varieties.  Every date and mintmark can also have errors.  With 108 years of production at 3 mints, 3 metal compositions, 3 major reverse die designs (plus the Bicentennials) there are hundreds of business strike issues to collect.  I've had quite a number of people asking about a short list of varieties to look for so I figured I'll put one together with some of the more valuable and easy to identify varieties.  This serves as a starting point for you while coin roll hunting.  IT IS BY NO MEANS COMPLETE.  Some of the varieties listed here have a number of attributed dies-the 1960D RPM has over 170 DIFFERENT examples.  Some of these listings are easy to identify, others downright tough.  Some are valuable and highly prized, some are good for pocket change.  All are collectible.

Much of this needs to be laid out in table form so I can add attribution nomenclature, PUPs, photos, links to videos and full articles about the particular variety, and brief description.  Should add a little icon for how easy it is to identify, another for rarity.
A Market Value sure would be handy on this stuff.  The first two things people want to know: What is this?  What's it worth?

Glossary of terms used here.
For more information, including photos of some of the coins in this list, check these sites:

1955-S Clashed Die
John Wexler's Doubleddie.com
CONECA listings at Varietyvista.com
Cuds, cracks, BIEs at Cuds-On-Coins.com
Lathe Lines at Jason Cuvelier's ErrorVariety.com
Clashed Dies at maddieclashes.com
General Information at LincolnCentResource.com

Major Design Varieties
1909-1958 Wheat Reverse Design
1959-2008 Memorial Reverse Design
2009 Bicentennial Reverse Design (4 variations)
2010-Date Union Shield Reverse

Metal Composition Changes
1909-1942 Copper Alloy
1934 DDO
1943 Steel composition
1944-1981 Copper Alloy
1982 Transition Year, Copper and Zinc
1983-Date  Zinc Core, Copper Plating


DIE VARIETIES

1909 DDO
1909 S Key Date
1909 S RPM $$
1909 S VDB Key Date
1910 S RPM
1910-S SRPM-002
1911 D RPM
1911 S RPM
1914 D Key Date
1915 D DDO
1917 DDO $$
1922 No MM $$$$
1924-S 'Goiter' Die Subsidence
1927 DDO
1928 S Large Mintmark
1928 S RPM 
1930 BIE
1930 S RPM
1931 S Key Date
1934 DDO
1934 D DDO
1936 DDO $
1940 D DDO
1941 DDO
1911-S RPM-002
1941 S Small Mintmark
1941 S RPM
1942 D RPM
1943 Copper $$$$
1943 D RPM
1943 PDS Steel
1944 PDS Steel $$$$
1944 D/S OMM $
 1946 S S/D OMM $
1946 S Inverted Mintmark
1947 S RPM
1949 S DDO
1950 BIE
1950 D  BIE
1951 D RPM
1953 D RPM
1954 D RPM
1934 D DDO -Note the wide numbers in the date
1954 S RPM
1955 Poor Man's Doubled Die *this is a worn die
1955 DDO The King $$$
1955 S Clashed Die
1956 BIE
1956 D BIE
1956 D RPM
1957 BIE
1957 DDO
1957 D BIE
1957 D DDO
1969 D No FG
1959 D LL
1960 P&D SD/LD
1960 D LD RPM
1961 LL
1963 D DDO, Date, eyelid, Trust, L in Liberty
1964 LL
1964 Special Mint Set
1964 D LL
1964 D DDO
1964 D DDR
1968 D DDR PUP:USA
1968 D RPM
1968 S RPM
1969 D No FG
2006 DDR
1969 S DDO, Date $$$$
1969 S Clashed Die
1970 DDO
1970 D RPM
1970 D DDO
1970 S SD  
1970 S LD  DDO
1971 DDO $$
1971 D No FG
1971 S Proof-DDO
1972 DDO  $$
1972 D No FG
1972 D Split Die
1972 D Rotated Reverse 110 degrees
1974 PDS LD/SD
1974 Broken Die and Cud
1983 Counterclash in Motto
1974 D DDO
1980 DDO, Date/vest/Liberty $$
1982 PD, LD/SD, Copper or Zinc 
1982 BIE
1982 DDR
1983 DDO, 1¢ $
1983 BIE
1983 DDR
1983 Copper
1983 Counterclash Extra Letters in Motto
1983 Counterclash "IBE" by date
1983 D DDO-Earlobe
1984 DDO EAR $$
1984 D DDR
1985 LL
1987 D RPM
1988 LL
1996 D with Lathe Lines
1988 No FG
1988 DDO, Double Ear $
1988 RDV-006 Flared FG
1988 D RDV-006 Flared FG
1989 DDR
1989 LL
1990 LL
1990 DDO Liberty-Tough
1990 S Missing Mintmark $$$
1991 LL
1992 RDV-007, Close AM $
1992 D RDV-007, Close AM $
1993 D LL
1993 D DDO Doubled Ear
1994 BIE
1994 DDR Doubled Columns
1995 DDO $
2016 Clashed Die
1995 BIE
1995 D DDO
1996 BIE
1996 D LL
1997 DDO Doubled Ear
1997 D DDR Doubled Columns
1998 RDV-006, Wide AM
1998 DDR
1998 D DDR
1998 S RDV-007, Close AM $$
1999 RDV-006, Wide AM
1999 S RDV-007, Close AM
2000 RDV-006, Wide AM
2004 DDR
2005 DDR
2006 DDR
2006 DDO Double Ear
2009 3 Mints, 4 Reverse Designs, Business Strike/Proof/Satin, 20 different 
2009 T2 DDR
2009 T4 Proof LL
2010 LL
2010 DDO
2000 Wide AM
2010 D DDO
2011 DDO Date, Lib
2011 DDR
2012 DDO
2013 DDO
2013 DDR
2014 BIE
2014 DDO
2015 DDO
2015 DDR
2016 DDO
2016 DDR DI
2016 Clashed Die
2016 Split Die
2017 P Clashed Die


Glossary of terms used here.

This is no where near being either ready or useful but you can watch it take shape:
The Die Varieties Index


34 comments:

  1. This is awesome! Waiting for the next post Ken thank you for your HARD WORK to help us noodles to the hobby...

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  2. Thanks for testing the comment feature. Looks like its working perfectly. Should add some dimension to the site.

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  3. What a great blog. Very informative and I even learned something as I've been a coin collector for over 15 years. Ive done topical searches but haven't taken the time to do a deep search. Good Job!!

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  4. Absolutely the best and every time I think I've found something I come here.Thank you so very much for your time.You really are a part of history. Sincerely : Ray Hepburn

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  5. This cool, but I have something not on the list 1952- S "BIE.

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    Replies
    1. This is just a "Short" list. I'm compiling a more complete list. With thousands of die varieties it is proving to be a longer term project.

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    2. I feel you there! I've got at least 10 to 20 RPM's and double die's not listed from 1925 to 2022. Most notable is my 1943 S/D RPM steel penny. 1968 DDO,DDR,RPM S/D.

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  6. Ken, Love your list, obviously you've spent a lot of time putting it together. Thank you for all the effort. I wish to contribute something to your page. There was another alloy used after WWII, the "Shell Case" alloy that was made from salvaged Naval Artillery Shells. Here is an excerpt from the US Treasury website.
    "On January 1, 1944, the Mint was able to adopt a modified alloy, the supply being derived from expended shell casing which when melted furnished a composition similar to the original, but with a faint trace of tin. The original weight of 48 grains was also restored."

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  7. Ken, Love your list, obviously you've spent a lot of time putting it together. Thank you for all the effort. I wish to contribute something to your page. There was another alloy used after WWII, the "Shell Case" alloy that was made from salvaged Naval Artillery Shells. Here is an excerpt from the US Treasury website.
    "On January 1, 1944, the Mint was able to adopt a modified alloy, the supply being derived from expended shell casing which when melted furnished a composition similar to the original, but with a faint trace of tin. The original weight of 48 grains was also restored."

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  8. Hi Ken! Would you be kind enough to add me to your YouTube / Livestream list? Reiser’s Treasure Hunting Emporium; and, the Livestream is broadcasted on Tuesdays at 7pm est. Many thanks! Charlie

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  9. Thanks Ken for your hard work and research.. Your list has confirmed a couple of die varieties I've been searching for.. Keep up the awesome work..hats off to you! JC

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  10. Thanks Ken for your hard work and research.. Your list has confirmed a couple of die varieties I've been searching for.. Keep up the awesome work..hats off to you! JC

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  11. Man I gotta thank you coin collecting can be I just gotta say it Frustrating at times Especially with these eyes but with your list and just the way you communicate, well Sir I have to remember just why I love collecting coins and I get back into it and that I appreciate .The things you bring up and the presentation well you SHINE SO THANKS for being you cause you ROCK

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  12. Ken ,. Any chances at all you have added to this list ?

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  13. I have a 1974 d quarter that is copper is dark brown what that mean

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    Replies
    1. Could be its just dirty. Not enough information here to make an assessment. Try posting photos in the Coin Opp group on facebook

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    2. Dirty coin, missing clad layer, anything is possible. If unsure take it to a local dealer and ask. as not posting pics for us makes it hard to say what you might have. When In doubt, take it to someone who deals in coins and get their expert opinion.

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  14. Good job this sure is handy Thank you

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  15. Thank you for your hard work and dedication ..don't forget to add the 2015,2018,2019 ear as well ! I will be returning to learn more !

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  16. did i hear coeerctly that Ken passed away?

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  17. This is great as I just was given over 1,000 pennies
    Dating back to 1899 Indian heads all the years up
    Till the last wheat penny but no copper 43 yet
    Huge coin collection lots of silver
    But thanks a million for the error cheat sheet
    Now I don’t have to ask dumb questions
    Email me if you like I’m willing to trade or sale

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    Replies
    1. There are a TON of re-punched dates in the Indian series. The new Snow E-book is about 50 bucks or so, and it is an ultimate resource for finding the varieties. The website conecaonline.org is another great resource.

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  18. Thank you for the cheat sheet I just started collecting this summer and I'm having alot of fun.I found some 1986,1987 pennies that looked scratch,when I looked closer it looks like the scratches are under the date or the liberty and the letters and numbers are not scrated any idea what this could be

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  19. Ok, Scratches that are raised on the coin are embedded on the die itself. People have to remember that the details on the dies are impressed on to those dies, so when it strikes a blank planchet, the designs and letters will be risen on the coin. Scratches are sometimes simply polishing lines left behind when the mint workers did maintenance on the dies to make them last a little longer. Dies get maintenance on them over the course of their service life. So, if the scratches are raised and "look" like they go under the coin, it really does not. Lets say the scratches look like it goes all the way across where the date is. Since the numbers are punched into the die, the scratches only are on the flat field (flat areas of the die with nothing impressed into the die). To understand this, get some play dough, take a coin like a quarter and press one side of the coin into the play dough and carefully remove it. That is what a die would look like. All flat field areas are subject to scratches and other effects.

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  20. Hello. I was reading all the comments and just saw that Ken had passed last year? My sympathies to those of you fortunate enough to have met him. I was wondering if there is anyone continuing his work? My email is bebo.vintage.n.coins2021@gmail.com I have dedicated my entire Numismatic life to the Lincoln Cent. After finding these pages he had put together for people like myself, I feel like I have found a person with whom I would be following and learning from for several years. I am thankful he left his knowledge and insight in a manner that canbe used for years to come. From what I've read, watched, and listened to right here over the last few days. I can honestly say He is one of the G.O.A.T.S. of My time. Just ad Mr. Potter and Mr. Wexler are. I am blessed to have the opportunity to learn from him even in his passing. I would also love to help further/continue his work as I have chosen the Lincoln Cent as my main focus from week 1. I hope to hear from y'all. Thank you.


    Please feel free to contact me via email. Bnb10102020@gmail.com
    Callbobby7@gmail.com

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  21. Wow, amazing! Thank you so much!

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  22. I found an interesting penny that looks like a new discovery DDO & it’s in a no reserve auction. Can someone tell me if this is an actual DDO?
    eBay item # 115283526033

    https://www.ebay.com/itm/115283526033?hash=item1ad76f0191:g:9IgAAOSwed5iJoE5

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  23. Hi to all unicorn Taylor's I have a bunch of old money that I would like to stay on that dates back to Z 18 + 96 all the way to 2016 if anyone is interested in buying the whole book you can contact me at James Thomas 44 at gmail.com or text me at 606-273-0240 thank you and God bless

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  24. Is there penny's with a small LI in LIBERTY? I FEEL LIKE I HAVE ONE BUT I COULD BE WRONG

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