Penny · 1984
1984 Penny Value
A 1984 penny is worth $0.01 to $0.53 in circulated condition, depending on its mint mark and wear.
Prices updated:
About the 1984 penny
The 1984 cent is a regular circulation issue, struck in copper plated zinc, weighing 2.5 g, 19.05 mm across, from a design by Victor David Brenner. It was struck at Philadelphia, Denver — 13,720,317,906 coins in all.
For scale, 1984 mintage was 38% higher than in 1975, when 9,956,751,442 were struck.
Denver made the fewest at 5,569,238,906, against 8,151,079,000 from Philadelphia.
Value chart by grade
| Mint mark | Mintage | G | VG | F | VF | XF | AU | UNC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No mint mark | 8,151,079,0008151.1M | $0.01 | $0.06 | $0.12 | $0.13 | $0.13 | $0.13 | $0.53 |
| D | 5,569,238,9065569.2M | $0.02 | $0.03 | $0.07 | $0.10 | $0.10 | $0.10 | $0.47 |
What the grades mean
Grades run G to UNC, then MS60–MS70, where most value sits. How coin grading works →
How to identify your 1984 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 1984 1984 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 3,065,110.
| Format | Mint | Mintage | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proof | S | 3,065,1103.1M | $2.58 |
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.
No mint mark — Doubled Die Obverse (Lincoln's ear), mintage included with 1984
Mintage: unknown.
What to do with your 1984 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 13,720,317,906 and a best circulated value of $0.53, 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" (copper plated zinc)
- Composition
- Copper plated zinc
- Weight
- 2.5 g
- Diameter
- 19.05 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 (collector issues only)
FAQ
How much is a 1984 penny worth?
A circulated 1984 penny is worth $0.01 to $0.53 depending on condition and mint mark.
How many 1984 pennies were made?
About 13,720,317,906 in total — Philadelphia 8,151,079,000, Denver 5,569,238,906.
Are there rare 1984 penny varieties?
Yes — 1 are catalogued for this date: Doubled Die Obverse (Lincoln's ear), mintage included with 1984. They are priced separately from the ordinary coin.
What is the S penny from 1984?
An S mint mark on a 1984 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 3,065,110. They are not found in change.
Should I get my 1984 penny graded?
Grading costs roughly $50–100 per coin. For this date the best circulated examples guide at $0.53, from a mintage of 13,720,317,906 — the fee is many times what the coin returns, so keep it raw unless you suspect a genuine error.
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