1989 Lincoln Penny Coin Value: How Much Is It Worth?
Most 1989 Lincoln pennies you pull from a jar are worth face value. A USA Coin Book guide estimate places an ordinary example at about $0.36 in MS65 condition, while the 1989-S proof sits around $11.00 in PR65.
The real action comes from original high-grade surfaces, proper finish and color matching, and authenticated striking errors.
Fast Way to Identify Your 1989 Lincoln Penny
Snap clear photos of the front and back of your 1989 penny and upload them here for a preliminary identification. This helps narrow down which mint branch you have, whether the surfaces look original, and if any obvious error features are present.
It is not a substitute for professional authentication, but it gives you a solid starting point.
1989 Penny Value
Upload both sides of your 1989 Lincoln Penny.
Front Obverse
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Back Reverse
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Which 1989 Lincoln Penny Versions Are Worth Money?
- High-grade uncirculated 1989 pennies with original red surfaces command more than face value, though guide estimates remain modest at $0.36 in MS65.
- The 1989-S proof in PR65 carries a guide estimate around $11.00; finish, contrast, and color matching matter for accurate comparison.
- Authenticated off-metal errors, such as a cent struck over an already-struck dime, have sold individually in the thousands.
- Dramatic striking errors like significant off-center strikes can bring a premium even when guide prices for normal coins are low.
Step 1: Identify Your 1989 Lincoln Penny Mint Mark and Version
The 1989 Lincoln cent carries the Lincoln portrait on the obverse and the Memorial reverse, with a plain edge. It is struck on copper-plated zinc, weighing a nominal 2.50 grams, composed of 97.5% zinc with 2.5% copper plating overall.
A copper color does not mean solid copper.
Three branches exist for this year. The Philadelphia issue has no mintmark.
The Denver issue carries a small D below the date. The San Francisco issue carries an S and was produced exclusively as a proof.
There is no normal P-letter or S circulation branch for 1989.
To identify your coin, check below the date for the mintmark. The absence of a mintmark alone does not mean you have a rare proof omission.
Color designations like BN, RB, and RD describe the remaining copper tone on the surface and are grading filters, not indicators of a different alloy.
Step 2: Check Your 1989 Lincoln Penny Grade
Start with Lincoln's cheekbone, jawline, and hair detail on the obverse. These are the highest points and wear first.
On the reverse, check the roof of the Memorial and the column details for any flattening.
Grade your coin by evaluating remaining luster, surface marks, and actual wear rather than redness alone. A bright red coin with bag marks is not automatically worth more than a lightly toned coin with clean fields.
Plating splits, bubbles, corrosion spots, and signs of cleaning are surface issues common on copper-plated zinc cents. An exposed zinc patch does not create a premium.
Compare your coin's overall condition to the reference image to get a rough sense of where it falls on the grading scale.
Step 3: Check 1989 Lincoln Penny Value by Mint and Version
1989 Lincoln Penny
The 1989 Philadelphia penny has no mintmark below the date. It is a copper-plated zinc coin weighing about 2.50 grams, with 97.5% zinc and 2.5% copper overall.
This is the most commonly encountered branch for the year.
A USA Coin Book guide estimate places this coin at roughly $0.36 in MS65 grade. Circulated examples are worth face value.
To get anywhere near the guide figure, you need a coin with full original luster, minimal contact marks, and ideally a Red color designation.
| Range | Grade | Price | Auction Records | Appraisal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PO | PO 1 | — | Coin Identifier | |
| FR | FR 2 | — | Coin Identifier | |
| AG | AG 3 | — | Coin Identifier | |
| G | G 4 | — | Coin Identifier | |
| G 6 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| VG | VG 8 | — | Coin Identifier | |
| VG 10 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| F | F 12 | — | Coin Identifier | |
| F 15 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| VF | VF 20 | — | Coin Identifier | |
| VF 25 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| VF 30 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| VF 35 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| XF | XF 40 | — | Coin Identifier | |
| XF 45 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| AU | AU 50 | — | Coin Identifier | |
| AU 53 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| AU 55 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| AU 58 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| MS | MS 60 | — | Coin Identifier | |
| MS 61 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| MS 62 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| MS 63 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| MS 64 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| MS 65 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| MS 66 | Coin Identifier | |||
| MS 67 | Coin Identifier | |||
| MS 68 | Coin Identifier | |||
| MS 69 | — | — | — | |
| MS 70 | — | — | — |
1989 Lincoln Penny — D
The 1989-D penny was struck at the Denver Mint and carries a small D mintmark below the date. Same composition as the Philadelphia issue: copper-plated zinc, 2.50 grams nominal.
The USA Coin Book guide estimate for this coin is also $0.36 in MS65. Circulated pieces are worth one cent.
Look for clean surfaces, strong luster, and original copper color when evaluating uncirculated examples. Denver production was large, so finding one is easy.
Finding one in pristine condition is the harder part.
| Range | Grade | Price | Auction Records | Appraisal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PO | PO 1 | — | Coin Identifier | |
| FR | FR 2 | — | Coin Identifier | |
| AG | AG 3 | — | Coin Identifier | |
| G | G 4 | — | Coin Identifier | |
| G 6 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| VG | VG 8 | — | Coin Identifier | |
| VG 10 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| F | F 12 | — | Coin Identifier | |
| F 15 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| VF | VF 20 | — | Coin Identifier | |
| VF 25 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| VF 30 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| VF 35 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| XF | XF 40 | — | Coin Identifier | |
| XF 45 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| AU | AU 50 | — | Coin Identifier | |
| AU 53 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| AU 55 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| AU 58 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| MS | MS 60 | — | Coin Identifier | |
| MS 61 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| MS 62 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| MS 63 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| MS 64 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| MS 65 | Coin Identifier | |||
| MS 66 | Coin Identifier | |||
| MS 67 | Coin Identifier | |||
| MS 68 | Coin Identifier | |||
| MS 69 | Coin Identifier | |||
| MS 70 | — | — | — |
1989 Lincoln Penny — S PR
The 1989-S proof was struck at San Francisco exclusively for collector sets. It carries an S mintmark and has the mirror-like fields and sharp detail typical of the proof manufacturing process.
Proof is a finish, not a grade above Mint State.
A USA Coin Book guide estimate puts this coin at about $11.00 in PR65. When evaluating a proof, keep contrast designations like Cameo and Deep Cameo separate from the numerical grade, and keep color designations like RD separate from both.
A hazy or fingerprinted proof loses appeal quickly regardless of its technical grade.
Coin Value Lookup is a useful place to look up guide values for other years and denominations in the Lincoln cent series if you are working through a collection.
| Range | Grade | Price | Auction Records | Appraisal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PR | PR 1 | — | Coin Identifier | |
| PR 2 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| PR 3 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| PR 4 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| PR 6 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| PR 8 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| PR 10 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| PR 12 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| PR 15 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| PR 20 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| PR 25 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| PR 30 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| PR 35 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| PR 40 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| PR 45 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| PR 50 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| PR 53 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| PR 55 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| PR 58 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| PR 60 | Coin Identifier | |||
| PR 61 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| PR 62 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| PR 63 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| PR 64 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| PR 65 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| PR 66 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| PR 67 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| PR 68 | Coin Identifier | |||
| PR 69 | Coin Identifier | |||
| PR 70 | Coin Identifier |
1989 Lincoln Penny Error List
1. 1989 Lincoln Penny — Cent Struck over a Dime
A 1989 cent struck over an already-struck 1988 Roosevelt dime is a dramatic and scarce error. Because the host coin was already a finished dime, traces of both the Roosevelt portrait and the torch reverse survive underneath the Lincoln cent design.
You can distinguish the cent's date from the underlying dime's date, and remnants of the earlier design are visible around the periphery.
This is not the same as a cent struck on a blank dime planchet. The host was already a struck coin, which makes it rarer and more visually complex.
An NGC MS65 example sold for $2,530 at auction in September 2008. That is a single recorded sale, not a broad market range, so individual results will vary depending on the specific coin's condition and visual appeal.
2. 1989 Lincoln Penny — Off-Center Strike
A 1989 off-center Lincoln cent shows the design shifted away from the center of the planchet, leaving an unstruck crescent of bare metal along one edge. The key to value is how far off center the strike landed and whether the date remains visible.
A coin missing the date is far less desirable.
A 1989 no-mintmark cent struck approximately 45% off center, graded NGC MS65 Red, sold for $53 in September 2019. That gives you a ballpark for a dramatic example in top condition, but it is one sale.
Do not confuse a genuine off-center strike with a coin that simply has one misaligned die, irregular edge clipping, or a dateless blank.
3. 1989 Lincoln Penny — Struck on Older Copper-Alloy Cent Stock
A 1989-D cent struck on an older copper-alloy blank weighing around 3.1 grams instead of the standard 2.50-gram plated zinc planchet is a recognized off-metal error. The Mint transitioned to copper-plated zinc in 1982, so leftover copper-alloy blanks occasionally made it into the press years later.
Professional authentication and composition testing are required. You cannot confirm this error with a visual check alone, because a plated zinc coin combined with a scale error or added material can mimic the appearance.
If you suspect your 1989-D penny feels heavier or has a different ring to it, start by weighing it carefully. Value depends on the authenticated identity, condition, and severity, so individual assessment by a grading service is the path forward.
4. 1989 Lincoln Penny — Doubled Die Obverse
Doubled die obverse errors have been reported for the 1989 Lincoln cent. On an affected coin, obverse lettering or design elements show consistent doubling, with separation or notching that repeats in the same direction across multiple features.
This is a die-manufacturing issue, not something that happened when the coin was struck.
Compare your coin's obverse legends and portrait details against a normal 1989 cent under the same lighting. Genuine hub doubling produces uniform separation, while machine doubling tends to create a flat, shelf-like appearance.
Reflections and worn die contours can also mimic doubling to the untrained eye. Value depends on the specific doubled die variety, its visibility, and overall condition.
No numerical price range is available here.
5. 1989 Lincoln Penny — Doubled Die Reverse
Doubled die reverse errors have also been reported for the 1989 cent. These show consistent doubling on reverse legends or design contours, such as the lettering around the Memorial or the building details themselves.
To check, compare your coin's reverse closely against a normal example under good magnification. Genuine doubled die features repeat uniformly and affect multiple letters or design elements in the same way.
Machine doubling, by contrast, tends to look flat and directional without the crisp separation of a true hub-doubled variety. Random post-strike damage can also create misleading marks.
Condition, the visibility of the doubling, and which specific die variety is involved all affect value. No adopted price range is available.
6. 1989 Lincoln Penny — Fold-Over Strike
A fold-over strike occurs when a blank enters the press in a folded or bent position and gets struck while still folded. The result is a coin with design elements crossing over the fold, often with part of the obverse visible on what should be the reverse side, and vice versa.
You will see a distinct crease or fold line with struck detail on both sides of it.
The critical distinction is that the folding happened before or during the strike, not after. A normal coin bent in someone's pocket or by a vending machine will lack design impressions across the fold.
Check the edge and both faces for continuous struck detail bridging the bend. Value depends on condition and the severity of the fold, and no adopted price range is available for this error.
7. 1989 Lincoln Penny — Improper Annealing
Improper annealing errors have been reported for the 1989 cent. Annealing is a heat-treatment step in blank preparation, and when it goes wrong, the resulting coin can show unusual surface texture, discoloration, or a streaky, mottled look that was baked in during manufacturing.
The tricky part is telling this apart from post-mint damage. Heat applied after striking, chemical staining, corrosion, and natural toning can all produce similar visual effects.
Color alone is not enough to confirm an annealing error. Both faces and the edge should be examined for consistency.
Value depends on the coin's condition and the severity of the annealing issue, and no adopted price range is available. Professional attribution helps separate genuine mint-caused problems from environmental damage.
