1965 Lincoln Penny Value: How Much Is It Worth?

1965 Lincoln Penny Design

The 1965 Lincoln penny belongs to the Lincoln Memorial Cent series (1959–2008). It’s called that because it features a Memorial building on the reverse, designed by Frank Gasparro.

a 1965 Lincoln penny, featuring the President and the Memorial building.

Obverse (front): The portrait of Abraham Lincoln, facing right. The inscription "IN GOD WE TRUST" is at the top edge. The word "LIBERTY" is on the left side. The date "1965" is on the right side.

Reverse (back): The Lincoln Memorial. If the coin has well-preserved details, you can see a Lincoln between the columns. The inscription "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" is at the top. Just above the memorial is an inscription "E PLURIBUS UNUM". The denomination "ONE CENT" is at the bottom.

Lincoln Penny Overview

The main characteristics of the 1965 Lincoln cent
Country	United States
Years of Minting	1959-2008 (Memorial reverse)
Type:	Standard circulation
Shape:	Round
Composition and metal content	Bronze (95% Copper, 5% Zinc)
Diameter	19 mm
Weight	3.11 grams
The Mints	United States Mint of Philadelphia

Lincoln Penny Varieties

Usually, coins are categorized according to their mint marks. But all 1965 Lincoln cents were intentionally struck without mint marks: no "D" (Denver), no "S" (San Francisco), and no "P" (Philadelphia).

The U.S. Mint removed all mint marks from coins between 1965 and 1967 due to a nationwide coin shortage. As an effort to discourage collecting minor mint variations and keep coins in circulation, the US Mint had to hide the mint marks.

So, even though 1965 pennies were struck at multiple facilities, including Philadelphia Mint, Denver Mint, and San Francisco Mint, they were all made to look identical. Later pieces, like a 1969 dime, had mint marks.

1965 Penny No Mint Mark Value

Look for: 1965 no mint penny has a blank space on the date, where one usually expects a mint mark.

Mintage: 1,497,224,900.

Estimated Value: $0.15 – $10+. 1965 penny value no mint mark is generally low.

1965 no mint mark penny is the only variety, even if technically it is composed of coinage from the Denver and San Francisco mints.

What Makes a 1965 Penny Rare

You might think that since this coin barely has any varieties, all pieces should be more or less equal. But several factors can make this piece rare and valuable enough to get onto a top 100 pennies worth money list.

Mint Errors. Certain minting mistakes can make a 1965 penny rare. These include:

Off-center strikes
Double die errors
Clipped planchets
Wrong planchet errors
"BIE" errors

High-Grade Condition (Mint State). A 1965 penny in mint condition (never used in circulation) can be valuable, especially if it has bright, original red copper color.

Common uncirculated coins in lower grades may be worth $1 to $5.
Higher-grade coins with a strong red color, such as MS65 or better are worth more.
Exceptionally high-grade coins (MS66–MS67+ Red) are harder to find. Red penny value can exceed $250.

Special Mint Set (SMS) Strikes

In 1965, the U.S. Mint did not issue proof sets but instead released Special Mint Sets (SMS).
These coins were struck with extra care and often show mirror-like or satin surfaces.
Special strikes have sharper details than regular circulation coins.

1965 Penny Grading

The value of 1965 penny depends on grading. The cents are graded depending on how well they are preserved. The higher the grade, the more valuable the piece is.

Grade	Condition	Description
G-4	Good (Circulated)	Heavily worn, Lincoln and lettering are barely visible.
VG-8	Very Good	Major details are visible but appear flat, rims are mostly intact.
F-12	Fine	Moderate wear, Lincoln's face and coat are clear but worn.
VF-20	Very Fine	Light even wear, the details like hair and jacket are still sharp.
EF-40	Extremely Fine	Minor wear on high points, clear detail overall.
AU-50	About Uncirculated	Nearly full detail, a slight wear on cheek and jaw.
MS60	Uncirculated (Mint State)	No wear, but may have noticeable marks or dull luster.
MS63	Choice Uncirculated	Minor contact marks, above-average strike and luster.
MS65	Gem Uncirculated	Sharp details, minimal marks, strong luster.
MS66	Premium Gem	Excellent eye appeal, nearly flawless surface.
MS67	Superb Gem	Top-tier quality, a rare grade for this coin.

1965 Penny Error List

As said, errors make coins rare, and a rare piece is a valuable piece. Here are some of the most important and common errors Lincoln cents may have.

Off-Center Strike

Look for: One side (or more) of the coin is blank or only partially struck. You may see the date off to the side or partially missing.

Estimated value: $10–$50+.

Error cause: The coin was not properly aligned during striking, so part of the design is missing.

The value for this error is noticeable, but not exceptional. Off-center strikes are ubiquitous, universal US penny errors. Though if the shift is drastic, the value is higher.

Clipped Planchet

A Lincoln penny missing a part of the rim.

Look for: A smooth, crescent-shaped area where metal is missing, often with no rim in that section.

Estimated value: $10–$50+.

Error cause: The metal strip was misfed when the blanks were punched out.

Die Break ("BIE" Error)

A Lincoln penny with an excessive filling between the "LIBERTY" letters.

Look for: Examine the word “LIBERTY” closely for what looks like an odd I-shaped blob between the B and E.

Estimated value: $5–$30+.

Error cause: A crack in the die that was filled with metal during striking.

Double Die (DDO or DDR)

Look for: Parts of the design appear doubled, especially the date, “LIBERTY,” or “IN GOD WE TRUST.”

Estimated value: $100–$300+.

Error cause: A misalignment during the hubbing process (when the design is pressed into the die).

A very desirable error that can increase Penny 1965 value tenfold.

1965 Penny Value Today

Now that we know what makes this piece rare and valuable, time to answer the question: What is a 1965 penny worth?

Grade	Condition	Estimated Value
G-4 to VF-30	Heavily to moderately worn (circulated)	1¢ – 3¢ (face value)
EF-40 to AU-58	Light wear, nearly uncirculated	3¢ – 10¢
MS60	Uncirculated, but with marks	$0.10 – $0.25
MS63	Average Uncirculated	$1 – $7
MS65	Choice Uncirculated	$22 – $60
MS66	Gem Uncirculated	$60 – $100
MS67	Superb Uncirculated	$100 – $400+

Is a 1965 penny worth anything? Yeah, but generally, the value is still low. It’s a common trend for most copper pieces. The metal offers a low face value, and it haunts the price.

Coins ID Scanner

The Lincoln series has many entries, and you probably have some other Lincoln pieces lying around. If you want to identify them and learn their value, you can use Coin ID Scanner.

Coin ID Scanner is an app for coinage identification. You simply take a photo, and with AI, the app scans the piece and gives out the data. Here are some of the features:

Fast and accurate identification with an extensive global database (150,000+ coins). Covers US, foreign, ancient, and even error coins.
Collection management tools. Allows you to catalog coins with photos, notes, and track their value.
Built‑in AI consultant & guides. Offers helpful grading checklists and numismatic advice

Want to download Coin ID Scanner? The app is free and works on iOS and Android devices.

FAQs

What Is 1965 D Penny Value?

Such a coin doesn’t exist. The U.S. Mint did not use mint marks in 1965 due to a national coin shortage. There’s only a no mint mark version that is $0.15 – $10+ worth.

What Is a 1965 Wheat Penny?

It’s a penny that doesn’t exist. The Wheat reverse (often called “wheat penny”) was discontinued in 1958 and replaced by the Memorial design. 1965 is a Memorial penny. If someone tries to sell you a 1965 Wheat design, it’s likely a counterfeit. Be careful and learn to spot fake coins.

What Is 1965 50 Cent Piece Value?

This refers to the 1965 Kennedy half dollar, a different denomination from the Lincoln series. Characteristically for that year, the Kennedy half dollar also didn’t have a mint mark. Its value is $10 – $40+ for uncirculated grades, and $100+ in higher grades.

What Is a 1965 25 Cent Coin Value?

This is the 1965 Washington quarter, a different denomination from the Lincoln cent. Washington quarter is worth $5 – $20 in circulated grades, and $50 – $200+ in uncirculated grades.

1965 Lincoln Penny: Value, Errors, and No Mint Mark Guide

Contents:

1965 Lincoln Penny Design

Lincoln Penny Overview