1914-D

The 1914-D Lincoln cent is one of the great key dates in American numismatics. The Denver Mint struck only 1,193,000 cents in 1914, a figure so low that the coin was recognized as scarce almost immediately. The low production is attributed to reduced demand for cents in the Denver Mint's distribution area and the facility's allocation of press time to other denominations. Whatever the cause, the result is a coin that has been pursued by collectors for over a century.

Most surviving 1914-D cents are in lower circulated grades. Good to Very Good is the typical condition. The coin circulated in commerce like any other cent, and the people who spent it in 1914 had no particular reason to save it. A few collectors recognized the low mintage and set aside examples, but the saving rate was nothing like what the 1909-S VDB experienced. The 1914-D earned its rarity the hard way: through low production and normal attrition.

Fine is a grade that takes real effort to find. Very Fine enters premium territory. In Mint State with Red color, the 1914-D is actually rarer than the 1909-S VDB. PCGS has certified more MS66 Red 1909-S VDB cents than 1914-Ds in Red in all Mint State grades combined. The 1909-S VDB is the more famous coin, but the 1914-D is the harder one to find in top condition. Carbon spotting is endemic to the issue; even the finest known specimens often show dark spots, a characteristic quirk of the 1914 Denver planchets.

Counterfeits are a major concern. The 1914-D is one of the most frequently counterfeited Lincoln cents. Added D mintmarks on common 1914 Philadelphia cents are the primary risk: a forger removes material from the coin to make space and stamps a D into the field below the date. Genuine 1914-D cents can be authenticated by four known mintmark positions and several die diagnostics: a small die crack extends from the rim at the right edge of the bust upward through the coat; a tool mark curves downward from the left serif of the T in LIBERTY; and distinctive circular hub marks appear inside the upper loop of the 9 in the date. These features are absent on altered Philadelphia cents. Third-party certification is not optional for this coin. It is the minimum standard of due diligence.