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The Lincoln coin series is very popular and iconic. 1987 Penny is a member of this long-running family. It has many varieties, but they’re not made equal.
How much is a 1987 penny worth? Be sure to learn in this article. You will also learn about errors and forms this penny can take.
It’s hard to identify coinage. You have to know many facts. Gladly, a Free Coin Identifier App can help you now.
1987 Lincoln Penny Overview
The Lincoln cent was actively produced in 1987 as part of the regular U.S. coinage. The piece has two designers. Victor David Brenner designed the obverse, and Frank Gasparro created the reverse design.
Obverse: Abraham Lincoln’s profile. You will find inscriptions "IN GOD WE TRUST" and "LIBERTY". The date “1987” is on the right.
Reverse: The Lincoln Memorial. You will find inscriptions like "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" and "E PLURIBUS UNUM". The denomination "ONE CENT" is at the very bottom.
The main characteristics of the 1987 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, United States Mint of Denver, United States Mint of San Francisco |
What Makes a 1987 Lincoln Penny Valuable
Several key factors can make a 1987 penny (or any modern penny) more valuable than its face value:
1. Mint Errors
Coins with minting mistakes can be worth significantly more than regular coins.
Some common and collectible errors include Off-Center Strikes, where a part of the coin's design is missing because it was struck off-center, and Broadstrikes, when the coin looks squashed.
2. High-Grade Condition (Mint State or Proof)
Coins with no signs of wear, especially those struck sharply and stored carefully, can carry a premium:
Circulated coins: Typically worth only face value (1 cent).
Uncirculated (MS60–MS65): These coins show no wear and may be worth tenfold or more of their face value.
Color also matters for copper-based pieces. Red penny value is higher than brown coins.
3. Certification and Rarity
After coin certification, you can confidently sell the piece for higher prices due to collector demand and population rarity.
1987 Penny Mint Marks
It’s practically a tradition categorizing coins according to their mint marks. There are 3 varieties of the 1987 penny.
1987 (No Mint Mark): Signifies the Philadelphia Mint.
"D" Mint Mark: Signifies the Denver Mint.
"S" Mint Mark: Signifies the San Francisco Mint.
1987 Penny No Mint Mark Value
How to identify: No mark on the coin’s front.
Mintage: 4,682,466,931
Estimated Value: $0.10 – $12 in circulated condition. 1987 penny value no mint mark is generally low due to copper material and a big mintage.
1987 No mint mark penny, like many coins released in Philadelphia, has no mint mark. It was a common tradition for that time, broken by the 1941 Jefferson nickel.
1987 D Penny Value
How to identify: There should be a “D” mark under the date on the front side.
Mintage: 4,879,389,514.
Estimated Value: 1¢ to $1 in circulated condition.
The D-penny had the biggest mintage in 1987, though its value is mostly similar to the Philadelphia variety.
1987 S Penny Value
How to identify: There should be an “S” mark under the date on the front side.
Mintage: 3,792,233.
Estimated Value: $5 – $14+.
The San Francisco pieces are found in proof sets only. Such coins have excellent quality and the level of detail. The only downside is that they rarely have any errors.
1987 Penny Error List with Pictures
Coins had more errors in the past. Though 1987 is not that far away from our modern age, the machines were not as refined. Let’s see some of the most prominent eros this coin may come with.
1987 Penny Rim Error
How to identify: The rim looks uneven. Possibly because the design is shifted to the side or the coin looks flattened.
Estimated Value: $20 – $50+.
Error Cause: The planchet was shifted to the side before the coin was struck.
The rim of a coin is the raised edge that runs around the outer boundary of the coin's front (obverse) and back (reverse). Usually, 2 flaws are categorized as “Rim Errors”, broadstrucks and off-centered strikes.
Repunched Mint Mark
How to identify: There should be a second "D" slightly offset from the main "D" mint mark.
Estimated Value: $30 – $75+.
Error Cause: The mint mark was punched into the die more than once, and the punches didn’t line up perfectly
This error applies only to the D-marked coins. Philadelphia coins have no letters to be repunched, and S-pennies are made with better care. The error itself is quite valuable and often appears on a 1987 D penny error list with pictures.
1987 Penny Large 7: Not an Error
One misconception people have with the series is the number 7 in the date. Some think it’s an 1987 error penny.
As of now, there is no officially recognized or widely documented “Large 7” variety for the 1987 Lincoln cent. The “7” is naturally long because of the font used for the design.
1987 Penny Value
Let’s see what this Lincoln piece has to offer in terms of value.
Philadelphia (no mint mark) | Circulated | $0.01 (face value) | |
Uncirculated (MS60–MS65) | $0.10 – $12 | ||
High Grade (MS66–MS67) | $20 – $34+ | ||
Top Pop (MS68) | $175+ | ||
Denver (D mint mark) | Circulated | $0.01 (face value) | |
Uncirculated (MS60–MS65) | $0.10 – $12 | ||
High Grade (MS66–MS67) | $22– $42+ | ||
Top Pop (MS68) | $200+ | ||
San Francisco (S mint mark) | PR60–PR65 | $4 – $5 | |
PR66–PR69 Cameo/DCAM | $5 – $14 | ||
Perfect PR70 Deep Cameo | $85+ | ||
Surprisingly, the proof S-pennies are not so valuable at higher grades compared to Denver and Philadelphia releases. The reason is that there are many mint-state S-pennies and only a few Philadelphia and D-varieties.
Coin ID Scanner
Coin ID Scanner is a helpful app for anyone interested in coins. The app scans your collectible and gives you an extensive overview.
Here are some of the app’s features:
Instant coin identification: Snap a photo to get the year, country, mint, denomination, metal content, brief history, and market value.
Extensive database: Over 150,000 coin types, including modern and historical international issues.
Collection management: Store images, notes, per-coin value, and organize into personalized collections.
AI assistant & grading: Chat with an in-app bot to validate coins or request extra info.
Numismatic news feed: Updates on coin-related content, tips, and expert insights.
If you’re interested in the app, Coin ID Scanner is compatible with iOS and Android devices.
FAQs
Is There A 1987 Steel Penny?
There is no officially released 1987 steel penny issued by the U.S. Mint. Often people confuse the colouring. Steel pennies were only in the 1940s, for example, the 1943 steel penny. The wartime pressure made the US Mint switch to cheaper materials.
Is There a 1987 Silver Penny?
No, the U.S. Mint did not produce any silver Lincoln pennies in 1987. If you have a 1987 penny that looks silver or gray in color, it is not made of silver. Some 1987 pennies were coated with chrome, nickel, or zinc after leaving the mint, which left the coins with confusing silver coloring.
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