Penny · 1973
1973 Memorial Penny Value
A 1973 penny is worth $0.02 to $0.43 in circulated condition, depending on its mint mark and wear.
Prices updated:
About the 1973 penny
The 1973 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 Philadelphia, Denver, San Francisco — 7,594,998,883 coins in all.
For scale, 1973 mintage was 24% lower than in 1975, when 9,956,751,442 were struck.
San Francisco made the fewest at 317,177,295, against 3,728,245,000 from Philadelphia — a 12-to-1 difference, and the one number on this page most likely to matter if the date is ever collected seriously.
Value chart by grade
| Mint mark | Mintage | G | VG | F | VF | XF | AU | UNC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No mint mark | 3,728,245,0003728.2M | $0.02 | $0.03 | $0.11 | $0.13 | $0.14 | $0.14 | $0.43 |
| D | 3,549,576,5883549.6M | $0.03 | $0.05 | $0.06 | $0.12 | $0.15 | $0.24 | $0.30 |
| S | 317,177,295317.2M | $0.02 | $0.09 | $0.09 | $0.14 | $0.23 | $0.23 | $0.34 |
What the grades mean
Grades run G to UNC, then MS60–MS70, where most value sits. How coin grading works →
How to identify your 1973 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 1973 1973 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 2,760,339.
| Format | Mint | Mintage | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proof | S | 2,760,3392.8M | $1.53 |
What to do with your 1973 penny
Don't clean it
Leave the surface alone — see the warning above.
Is it worth grading?
Grading costs roughly $50–100 per coin. Against a mintage of 7,594,998,883 and a best circulated value of $0.43, 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 1973 penny worth?
A circulated 1973 penny is worth $0.02 to $0.43 depending on condition and mint mark.
How many 1973 pennies were made?
About 7,594,998,883 in total — Philadelphia 3,728,245,000, Denver 3,549,576,588, San Francisco 317,177,295.
Are there rare 1973 penny varieties?
No varieties are catalogued for this date.
What is the S penny from 1973?
An S mint mark on a 1973 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 2,760,339. They are not found in change.
Should I get my 1973 penny graded?
Grading costs roughly $50–100 per coin. For this date the best circulated examples guide at $0.43, from a mintage of 7,594,998,883 — the fee is many times what the coin returns, so keep it raw unless you suspect a genuine error.
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