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1962

Small Cents · Lincoln Memorial Cents · 1959–2008
Regular
Weight3.11 g
Diameter19.05 mm
MintPhiladelphia
StrikeCirculation strike
Mintage 609,263,019
EdgePlain
Alignment↑↓ Coin
Composition95% Copper, 5% Zinc
DesignerVictor D. Brenner / Frank Gasparro
Collector's Key IDCK-616

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About this coinHistory

The Philadelphia Mint produced about 609 million cents in 1962, a year when the Cuban Missile Crisis brought the world closer to nuclear war than at any point before or since. For thirteen days in October, President Kennedy and Soviet Premier Khrushchev faced off over the placement of nuclear missiles in Cuba. Americans watched their televisions and waited.

Against that tense backdrop, the penny remained utterly unchanged. The 1962 Philadelphia cent carries no mintmark and circulated widely. It is common in all grades and inexpensive for collectors. Its ordinariness stands in sharp contrast to the extraordinary year in which it was made.

Price guideReference

Reference data only — not an appraisal.

GradeDescriptionLowHigh
G-4 Good (G) $0.01 $0.01
VG-8 Very Good (VG) $0.01 $0.01
F-12 Fine (F) $0.01 $0.01
VF-20 Very Fine (VF) $0.01 $0.01
EF-40 Extremely Fine (EF) $0.01 $0.01
AU-50 About Uncirculated (AU) $0.01 $0.01
MS-60 Uncirculated (MS) $0.10 $0.15
MS-63 Choice Uncirculated (MS)
Frequently Asked QuestionsFAQ
How much is a 1962 Lincoln Memorial Cent worth?
In Good condition it runs about $0.01, rising to roughly $0.10–$0.15 in Uncirculated. These are reference values, not an appraisal.
How many 1962 Lincoln Memorial Cents were minted?
609,263,019 were struck.
What is a 1962 Lincoln Memorial Cent made of?
95% Copper, 5% Zinc, weighing 3.11 g.
What is the melt value of a 1962 Lincoln Memorial Cent?
Its melt value is its metal content multiplied by the current spot price. See our melt calculator on the metals pages for a live figure.
Is the 1962 Lincoln Memorial Cent a key date?
It's a more common date overall, though scarcer die varieties may carry a premium — see the varieties list.