1960 Penny Value: How Much Is a 1960 Lincoln Penny Worth?

The Lincoln coin was the final year the United States Mint produced Lincoln cents with the original wheat-ear reverse design before the transition. The item is worth a huge USD range, from nominal 5 cents to $2,000 for special occasions.

How to identify coins with your phone?

1960 Lincoln Penny Overview

Note: To raise numismatic awareness, check the same year issues – Roosevelt Dime and Franklin Half Dollar.

The Design

• Obverse

Designer – Victor David Brenner

In 1909, the obverse remains one of the most recognizable designs in the world. The Portrait is a right-facing profile of Abraham Lincoln, based on a 1864 photograph taken at Mathew Brady's studio.

The Mottoes arc across the top and to the left of Lincoln. The year is to the right. Designer Initials, you can find these tiny letters at the base of Lincoln’s shoulder truncation.

• Reverse

Designed – Frank Gasparro

The reverse was introduced only one year earlier, in 1959, to replace the original Wheat design. The Landmark is a straight-on view of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.

If you look closely at the center of the Memorial with a magnifying glass (or 10x loupe), you can see a tiny statue of Lincoln sitting inside. Designer Initials (FG) or Gasparro's initials are located to the right of the Memorial’s steps, near the shrubbery.

1960 Pennies Value by Mint Mark

The Lincoln coin market in March 2026 is dominated by the scarcity of the Small Date 1960 no mint mark penny and a few high-value Denver varieties. While most pennies are common, the difference between a few dollars and a few thousand dollars often comes down to the mint mark and the size of the digits.

The Philadelphia Mint is where the Small Date rarity originated. Because the mint switched dies mid-year, the early Small Date coins are significantly harder to find than the Large versions.

Denver produced over 1.5 billion pennies in the year, making them very common. However, Denver is the only mint where the famous Small Over Large Date 1960 D penny error occurred, which is a major prize for collectors this year.

Small Date – $1.00–$300.00

Large Date – $0.50–$600.00

1960 Penny Small Date vs Large Date: Key Differences

For perfect identification, you should use the special numismatic equipment. Use a 10x loupe to examine the date on the obverse. The Small one is characterized by a tighter, more compact design.

Tip: While the Philadelphia Small Date is the primary goal, don't ignore the Denver (D) coins. The D Small Over Large one is a doubled die error where you can see the shadow of the large digits behind the small ones; these are highly sought after in current 2026 auctions.

1960 Penny Error List with Values

What is a 1960 penny worth? These occurred when a die was accidentally impressed with both the Small and Large Date hubs. They are the most sought-after errors of the year.

• 1960 D Small Date Penny Value Over Large Date – look for a shadow of larger digits under the 9, 6, and 0 ($250–$750).

• P Proof Small Over Large – rare doubling on the date; digits look distorted ($900–$2,200)

• P Proof Large over Small – large digits are primary, with thin ghost lines inside ($1,200–$4,500)

• Cracked Skull Die Crack – a jagged line running across the top of Lincoln's head ($5–$25).

• BIE Error is a vertical die crack between the 'B' and 'I' of LIBERTY, making it look like “L I B I E R T Y” ($10–$30).

• Off-Center Strike (10 %–50 %) - the design is missing a portion because the blank wasn't centered ($50 – $500+).

Note: Look for other US penny errors.

Factors That Affect the Value of a 1960 Penny

• Item Variety

The most famous factor is the mid-year change from Small to Large Date dies. Only about 2 million were struck Small Dates in Philadelphia. With nearly 584 million Large Date struck, these are common.

Unless they are in perfect condition, they trade for their metal value. Denver Issues produced both varieties in massive quantities. Small Dates from Denver carry a lower premium than their Philly cousins.

• Condition & Color

Grading services (PCGS/NGC) categorize copper pennies by their original mint color: Brown (BN), Red-Brown (RB), or Red (RD).

A Red (RD) item that still looks like it was minted yesterday is the most valuable. In 2026, an MS-66 Red 1960 penny D is worth $30. However, if it reaches MS-67 RD, the price jumps to $400+. If it hits the ultra-rare MS-68 RD, it can exceed $5,000 at auction.

• Intrinsic Metal Value 

As of March 2026, the price of copper has seen significant volatility because of industrial demand. Because the melt value is nearly 3x the face value, many collectors in 2026 are bulk-sorting pennies simply for their metal content, regardless of their numismatic value.

1960 Lincoln Penny Value Chart

“In 1960 there were two dynamic influences on the coin market that attracted countless new participants. The 1960 Small Date Lincoln cent was made in relatively small quantities. A $50 face-value bag sold for $12,000, which made national news, causing a sensation and a mad rush to search for such pieces.”
– Q. David Bowers, expert
Cycles of the US Rare Coin Market 1900 to Date

The following chart reflects current market values for coins in Red (RD) condition, which is the standard for uncirculated collector value. Proof 1960 penny no mint mark were minted only in Philadelphia and are found in Proof Sets. About 12% of Proofs are the Small variety.

Note: The Large Date 1960 D penny value has a significantly higher top value because it is extremely rare to find in a perfect MS-67+ or MS-68 grade despite its high mintage.

Is a 1960 Penny Worth Anything Today?

Every piece contains copper worth approximately 2.5 cents, so no 1960 D penny worth only its face value. Even common large date examples trade for 5 to 10 cents in circulated condition, providing modest but real value above face value.

The value of 1960 penny extends significantly upward for specific varieties - the Small Date Philadelphia cent in uncirculated condition routinely sells up to $400. The D Small Date represents the true prize, with even circulated examples worth $50 or more and uncirculated specimens reaching into the thousands.

The error varieties, including doubled dies and off-center strikes, bring in a lot of dollars, often exceeding standard-issue values. Numismatists actively seek these anomalies and create consistent demand across the error spectrum on the online markets.

Auction Records

P Small Date (MS-67 RD): Auction records for this nearly perfect grade have reached $4,600.

D Large Date (MS-67 RD): Surprisingly, the common Large Date is incredibly rare in perfect condition; an MS67 example has a record of $20,000.

How to Identify a Valuable 1960 Penny

• Step 1: Small or Large Date Test

This is the most critical distinction. The U.S. Mint changed the date mid-year because the small "0" was breaking the dies.

• Step 2: Check the Overdates

In the year, the Mint accidentally struck some coins with both Small and Large date hubs. These are significantly more valuable than standard pennies.

D Small Date Over Large Date: Look for a ghost or shadow of larger numbers underneath the smaller ones. This is a wide variety that can be worth $200–$600 in high grades in the 1960 to 1969 pennies worth money list.

Proof Overdates: If you have a Proof Set, check the item. There are Large Over Small and Small Over Large versions. In PR-67 or higher, these have been hitting $1,500–$2,000 in 2026 auctions.

• Step 3: Check the Mint Mark

The year was a peak year for Repunched Mint Marks (RPMs). The FS-502 variety is a D Large Date where the D was punched twice, with the second D shifted clearly to the West. A certified MS66 Red example of this variety recently sold for $195 in March 2026.

FAQ

Related Coin Value Guides:

• 1959 Lincoln Wheat Penny Coin Value
• 1971 Eisenhower Coin Value
• 1961 Half Dollar Coin Value
• 1960 Quarter Coin Value
• 1974 Nickel Coin Value
• 1961 Dime Coin Value