Penny · 1969
1969 Memorial Penny Value
A 1969 penny is worth $0.02 to $0.65 in circulated condition, depending on its mint mark and wear.
Prices updated:
About the 1969 penny
The 1969 cent is a regular circulation issue, struck in bronze (95% copper, 5% zinc), weighing 3.11 g, 19 mm across, from a design by Victor David Brenner. It was struck at Denver, Philadelphia, San Francisco — 5,684,117,200 coins in all, which is why an ordinary example is worth close to face value however well it has been kept.
For scale, 1969 mintage was 43% lower than in 1975 (9,956,751,442 that year) — enough to compare, not enough to change how the coin is valued today.
San Francisco made the fewest at 544,375,000, against 4,002,832,200 from Denver — a 7-to-1 difference, and the one number on this page most likely to matter if the date is ever collected seriously.
This is a recent coin, so there is no meaningful spread yet: circulated examples run from $0.02 to $0.65, and the grading data that separates ordinary coins from exceptional ones has not built up.
Legends on this design — obverse: “IN GOD WE TRUST · LIBERTY”. Reverse: “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA · E • PLURIBUS · UNUM · ONE CENT”.
Value chart by grade
| Mint mark | Mintage | G | VG | F | VF | XF | AU | UNC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D | 4,002,832,2004002.8M | $0.02 | $0.06 | $0.12 | $0.12 | $0.16 | $0.21 | $0.51 |
| No mint mark | 1,136,910,0001136.9M | $0.02 | $0.07 | $0.12 | $0.12 | $0.12 | $0.15 | $0.65 |
| S | 544,375,000544.4M | $0.02 | $0.05 | $0.06 | $0.22 | $0.22 | $0.53 | $0.59 |
What the grades mean
Grades run G to UNC, then MS60–MS70, where most value sits. How coin grading works →
How to identify your 1969 penny
What if it has already been cleaned?
Still identifies the same — you lose the premium. Don't try to fix it.
Where is the mint mark
It sits on the obverse, just below the date. No letter means Philadelphia — normal, not rare. What the letter means →
Proof and collector versions
Alongside the coins made for circulation, the Mint sold 1 collector version of the 1969 1969 penny — proofs and special finishes struck at San Francisco and sold directly in sets. These never entered circulation, so if your coin came out of a till or a jar it is not one of them. They carry an S mint mark and a mirror or satin finish that is obvious next to an ordinary coin. The scarcest was struck in 2,934,631.
| Format | Mint | Mintage | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proof | S | 2,934,6312.9M | $1.46 |
Rare varieties of this year
These are the coins worth looking for. Each one is a different die or planchet from the regular issue above, and each is priced separately.
Mint mark S — Doubled Die Obverse
Mintage: unknown.
What to do with your 1969 penny
Don't clean it
Leave the surface alone — see the warning above.
Check the varieties
Go back through the 1 variety above before deciding what you have — the difference between the common coin and the valuable one is usually a single detail.
Is it worth grading?
Grading costs roughly $50–100 per coin. Against a mintage of 5,684,117,200 and a best circulated value of $0.65, the fee is more than the coin returns. Keep it raw unless it is exceptional or you suspect a variety.
Where to sell
Dealer: fastest, pays least. Auction: best for coins worth $100+. eBay: most buyers, most fees.
Specifications
1 Cent "Lincoln Memorial Cent" (Bronze)
- Composition
- Bronze (95% copper, 5% zinc)
- Weight
- 3.11 g
- Diameter
- 19 mm
- Thickness
- 1.3 mm
- Edge
- Plain
- Designer
- Victor David Brenner
- Mints
- United States Mint of Philadelphia, United States Mint of Denver, United States Mint of San Francisco
FAQ
How much is a 1969 penny worth?
A circulated 1969 penny is worth $0.02 to $0.65 depending on condition and mint mark. It is a recent coin in everyday circulation, so condition is the only thing that moves the price.
How many 1969 pennies were made?
About 5,684,117,200 in total — Denver 4,002,832,200, Philadelphia 1,136,910,000, San Francisco 544,375,000. That is a large mintage, which is why circulated examples stay inexpensive.
Where is the mint mark on a 1969 penny?
See “Where is the mint mark” above.
Are there rare 1969 penny varieties?
Yes — 1 are catalogued for this date: Doubled Die Obverse. They are priced separately from the ordinary coin.
What is the S penny from 1969?
An S mint mark on a 1969 penny means a collector coin from San Francisco — 1 proof and special-finish versions were sold in sets rather than released into circulation. The scarcest was struck in 2,934,631. They are not found in change.
Should I get my 1969 penny graded?
Grading costs roughly $50–100 per coin. For this date the best circulated examples guide at $0.65, from a mintage of 5,684,117,200 — the fee is many times what the coin returns, so keep it raw unless you suspect a genuine error.
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